It’s not often that we find a place that we can’t wait to go back to again, but that’s the feeling we get at Crackerjack, touted as an “all-day drinking and dining venue” that’s made famous by their association with bar favourites 28 Hong Kong Street. Not only do they serve great comfort food, with a healthy twist that respects the produce by focusing on glorious flavour, but the ambience as we settle in for their new weekend brunch menu was lovely too.
The space, right at Tanjong Pagar, has a welcoming, modern vibe, with plenty of wood-and-metal elements softened by enamel mugs and earthenware, plus cool murals that take up entire feature walls. Then, there’s that high ceiling and full-length windows that let the light in. It’s like the home you wished you had. Somehow, even the majestic bar feels okay in this casual joint. But, let’s get on to the food, shall we?
Their brunch menu (10am to 4pm) caters to the hangry eaters who can’t be bothered to wake up for breakfast, the hipster who’s looking for something more unconventional than an Eggs Benedict, those fresh from a gym or session of hot yoga, and of course, families, which covers pretty much a wide scope of people who drop by. Yep, there was literally a bunch of girls in exercise gear who look like they just came from a gym class, no kidding. That’s the beauty of being here though, no one will judge your attire. As for the food, plenty of the ones we tried tend to find a balance between being healthy and wholesome, and still yummy, which is pretty apt since it is brunch we’re talking about.
Here’s a lightweight way to start your meal: the Rich Hippie Granola ($12) made with home-made organic Dutch milk yoghurt. There’s of course sweet pineapples, pomegranates, and pomelo thrown in the mix, along with crunchy granola, topped off with a bout of sweet honey. The mix is more interesting than most — and something that you wouldn’t normally create at home, which justifies the price — though it wouldn’t be our top pick when compared to the other options. Still, it will appeal to the health-conscious, and the clean, balanced flavours aren’t bland at all.
Now, doesn’t this make for a more exciting dish? We’re biased, but this Quinoa Fried Chicken ($18), also dubbed qfc, definitely hits the spot, while earning extra points for how wholesome it still is. It’s one that’s hovering at the thin line between healthy and delicious; rather than traditional breading, the chicken is surrounded by a crispy outer layer made entirely from quinoa (healthy!), then fried (maybe less healthy), which delivers on the whole tender-on-the-inside, crunchy-on-the-outside factor.
That the chicken was seriously tender when we sliced through it makes the contrast even more delightful. And yep, this proves that fried chicken can totally be healthy. The alternative quinoa, of course, has a different texture compared to normal breading — the good thing is that it doesn’t go soggy and retained its crisp texture for longer, though grandma might find the grain too hard to chew on. Still, it’s a smart dish that’s made better with a housemade spicy banana ketchup, inspired by the Philippines, and something that cuts through while adding a nice kick to the dish. We’d go back for this, though take note that this is only on the brunch menu!
Another one for the hearty eaters is this, a Sweet Potato Hash ($14) that takes cues from the classic potato hash, though obviously less sinful. The substitution of carbs from greasy potatoes to the bright orange roasted sweet potatoes is a deft one, and makes the dish feel lighter on the palate, yet also slightly earthy — plus we all know how they’re loaded with all sort of healthy vitamins, so it doesn’t hurt to have that on the back of your mind.
Then, the sweetness is balanced out by generous servings of kale and red peppers, and the well-seasoned housemade breakfast sausage that’s the savoury heart of the dish. And that photogenic egg of course. Our gripe is that we could do with more sausages (or, they could have mysteriously disappeared thanks to our dining partner), though that feeling of not being too full at the end of this dish is pretty rewarding too.
You can also opt for The Crackerjack ($20) that’s like a big breakfast-style plate, the Bourbon Mashbill Grits ($13), or the House Bone Broth ($15) if you need some salt to fuel your day. There’s also the family-style Whole Roast Chicken ($55) with a chermoula herb sauce and smashed garlic potatoes for the eternally hungry.
There are fun dishes, and then, there’s this Funnel Cake ($14), still fun in its own way. You’ll find this loaded American snack at most of their funfairs, and normally, the pastry tends to be too floury and hardly crispy enough. It’s a lot. Crackerjack’s funnel cake though fares way better than its predecessors, though we must say, still falls on the indulgent side.
The piped pastry here isn’t cloying, exactly how it should be, with its exterior nicely browned and holding the crunch, though still soft when you’re a few bites in. This is balanced with caramel, amaretto cream and slices of banana, that take away the richness of the dish; the creamy whipped texture of the cream works especially well here as its texture contrasts so well. Of course, the candied bacon with its unique sweet-salty hit makes the dish something you’d wanna go back to again.
Other sweet options on the menu include Horchata Pancakes ($11), and Bircher Muesli ($11).
For drinks, it is an all-day drinking hangout, so feel free to order yourself some brunch cocktails. Don’t let the subtly-titled Coffee Drink fool you; it actually brings together cold brew, angostura and whisky barrel bitters, while the Freisling ($18) comes in a slushie form, of frozen riesling wine with hints of citrus, spiced pear and black tea. There’s also fresh-pressed juices and healthy smoothies.
However, we like our
Crackerjack
Location: 43 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088464
Phone: +65 8121 1462
E-mail: hello@crackerjack.sg
More info at crackerjack.sg
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