Review: Nassim Hill @ Killiney Serves Feel-Good Brunch Fare At The Heart Of Orchard Road

With dine-in officially available, for two, this week, it’s high time we treated ourselves to some good food. So while, yes, a generous piece of avocado toast can technically be recreated at home, sometimes, we deserve to be a little lazy, and a little more fancy — which makes Nassim Hill @ Killiney a great fit if that’s what you’re looking for.

The new space

Located in the heart of town, Nassim Hill Bakery Bistro Bar’s latest pop-up restaurant serves up feel-good, casual brunch fare alongside coffee, draught beer, and wine. Convenience is clearly a big thing here. Where the first outlet is at Tanglin, which might be a little off-the-radar for some, this one’s located just opposite Orchard Central, on Level 2 of the Killiney Post Office building.

Setting of Nassim Hill @ Killiney. Images courtesy of Nassim Hill.

The spacious setting is a win for those looking for some respite after shopping or, you know it, running errands along the Orchard Road stretch. We’re talking about a real respite as well — a partial glass roof lets sunlight comfortably stream into the indoor space, while lush greens and rustic natural wood tables complete the greenhouse-like feel, that’s air-conditioned too we might add.

On the brunch menu

Nassim Hill is known for their fresh bakes and sourdough loaves, as well as their signature Brioche Donuts, a trend that has been gaining traction across social media lately. The latest brunch menu expands past this, and serves up an extensive array of classic brunch staples such as Eggs Benedict, Buttermilk Pancakes, Brioche French Toast, and more.

The brunch menu is available from 9am – 3pm, from Tuesday to Sunday.

Then again, they do play it up with soups and sharing plates; Cheddar Cheese Bacon Waffles, a savoury twist to the usually sweet variety; as well as salads, sandwiches and pastas. It’s a full menu alright, everything from truffle pizzas for one, to a hummus dip where you get to enjoy their freshly-baked bread too. Those famous donuts will also be available in limited quantities daily, while the restaurant offers a generous range of draught beers, wines, juices, and even cocktails.

The Food

above: sourdough basket, $4. spicy prawn soup, $12.

A great way to check out Nassim Hill’s baked goods would be to start your meal with the Sourdough Basket, served with premium Bordier butter. At just $4, I consider this quite the steal, given how fluffy and airy the bread was. Best still, this is Bordier butter we’re talking about, an artisanal butter that’s just as common in high-end restaurants. Butter and bread sounds simple, but it’s a classic for a reason.

For the Spicy Prawn Soup, I almost passed on the order because it wasn’t something I usually associated with brunch — until I tried it. The spicy tomato broth was tangy, full, and a nice balance of sweet and sour that makes this a great started option. It’s served with fresh prawns and warm baguette on the side too, which, needless to say, we used to mop up the soup.

Above: cheddar cheese bacon waffles, $20.

Waffles are a brunch staple indeed, but surprise, I’m actually partial to savoury ones, perhaps a tinge more than those served with ice-cream. Nassim Hill’s version of the savoury waffle is denser than the dessert sort, which makes sense since this is meant to complement cheddar cheese and strip bacon. A chive sour cream is served on the side to break up the hearty flavours, and adds a refreshing zest to the dish. I personally could do with more cheese and richer flavours, but this is a good option if you’ve never considered savoury waffles.

Above: Skillet eggs ‘shakshouka’, $21.

The traditional Middle Eastern dish has certainly found its way into brunch menus here, mainly because it’s such comfort food. Think, poached eggs in a red pepper harissa ragout, spiced with cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper and more for full flavour. This one’s paired with Spanish chorizo sausages and a side of baguette — oh and served right off the stove in a skillet, of course. A good option if you prefer more savoury brunch items.

Above: brussels sprouts, $10. chilli crab pasta, $17 / $25.

When I first ordered the brussels sprouts, it was kind of a “well maybe I should have some vegetables” choice, but we ended up loving this dish! Veggies that are a joy to eat? Sign us up. These ones are seasoned with just sea salt, with sesame seeds sprinkled atop, but they’re done well, smokey in flavour and crunchy in texture, so much so that it doesn’t even feel like you’re eating greens.

Then, there’s the crowd-favourite Chilli Crab Pasta, which once again delivers on the tangy-sweet umami flavour, especially when served with jumbo lump crab meat. It’s one of the rare fusion dishes that works on pasta and the sauce has a nice kick of spice. I’d prefer it there was more bite to the spaghetti noodles though (and maybe I’ve been spoilt by handmade pasta options).

Above: lesley gracie, $15.

Those who love a boozy brunch can go for the many beers and wines on the menu. For drinks, I opted for one of the special concoctions, the Leslie Gracie, which combines Hendrick’s gin, elderflower, tonic. It’s a decent G&T, with a refreshing profile that cuts through the hearty dishes. The other available cocktail pairs Hendrick’s gin with lemon and prosecco.

Above: Brioche donut — Kaya & Chocolate, $3.80 each.

If you don’t already feel stuffed, these Brioche Donuts are indeed as amazing as their reputation. One word: fluffy. The chocolate is decadent as a filling and generous too, oozing out with every bite and pairing well with the light, not-at-all-oily dough. Kaya’s a more unique flavour compared to the conventional ones you’ll find out there, that theirs particularly dials up on the coconut flavour for a nice, rich spread that feels a little old-school too.

Nassim Hill @ Killiney

- Location: 1 Killiney Road, Level 2, Singapore 239518
- Tel: 8339 5368
- Opening Hours: Tues – Sun, 9am – 3pm
- Nearest MRT: Somerset MRT (3 mins walk)