An offbeat brunch date worth rolling out of bed for this long weekend

Not saying that there’s anything wrong with classic eggs benedict or ricotta pancakes drizzled in honey (of which we’re hands down a fan of) on a lazy Sunday, but switching things up every now and then won’t hurt.

For that, may we suggest the memorably monikered (and amusingly alliterative) Fat Prince Kafe and Kebabs, brought to you by the good folks behind contemporary Japanese Izakaya Neon Pigeon.

A gem nestled right smack in the midst of hipster central Tanjong Pagar, the dark wood panels and glass doors do a pretty good job of concealing the bright noshery.

On our virgin visit, we set foot inside and were instantly charmed by its surprisingly sunlit open space, which seems to take its design cues from a traditional Turkish coffee bar with some European cafe influences thrown in for good measure.  We’re reminded of the bohemian cafes dotting Istanbul’s hippest district Karakoy, where upmarket seafood eateries, traditional bakeries and other food shops also reside. (This is only apt, seeing as spices are brought in from Turkey, Morocco, and Lebanon.)

Clockwise from left: avocado toast, modern turkish breakfast, housemade almond yogurt, and falafel scotch egg

Here, Canadian Chef Hunter Moyes and his team have given a playful spin on Middle Eastern favourites such as kebabs and falafels. Go savoury with Menemen, a typical Turkish breakfast dish that’s served as sizzling scrambled eggs with a spicy kick in a hot skillet. Fat Prince offers both a Roasted Mushroom Menemen ($23) – eggs, shaved Antep cheese, candied fennel, and crispy kale for the vegetarian – and a Cyprus Pork Sausage Menemen ($26), which comes with eggs, sundried olives, crispy potato and harissa for your carnivorous boyfriend.

Another blockbuster hit worth sussing out is the Falafel Scotch Egg ($22), which is accompanied by a deliciously crunchy Fig and Fennel Salad (our mouths are watering just thinking about it). ‘Safe’ eaters can opt for the perfectly respectable smoked salmon toast ($17).

Smoked cheese and rocket pide

On the sacchariferous side of the spectrum is the healthy yet hearty Housemade Almond Yogurt ($16); thrown into the mix are spiced buckwheat granola, a hint of vanilla, a sprinkling of poached pear, and an assortment of nuts and seeds. How it’s made: The chefs add probiotics to an almond milk base, then leave it to sit for a couple days to culture. Taste-wise, all we have to say is, we’re not sure we can go back to regular supermarket yogurt after this.

Housemade almond yogurt

But what’s a brunch hotspot without delectable beverages? Its drinks menu is elaborate with cocktails and coffee from Sarnies. If you have a penchant for the sweet and fruity, Cyprus Isolation’s cheeky mix of cinnamon spiced gin, koko kanu, lemon, strawberry, and prosecco ($21) is a winner. A reinvented Bloody Mary dubbed the Moroccan Mary ($18) – THE definitive brunch drink, which some claim is the holy grail of hangover cures – packs a punch with a pinch of Harissa and Za’atar salt.

On the coffee front, pistachio latte ($7) and orange chilli mocha ($7) piqued our interest. The trace of nuttiness in the pistachio latte was interesting but all in all, a rich Turkish coffee made using traditional coffee pots of silver cerves might be a better choice to tame the array of flavours enjoyed earlier.

Moroccan Mary

If Fat Prince is a bright noshery, The Ottoman Room is its darker, more mysterious sibling, with lavish sofas and Arabic embedded in the walls. A dimly lit social dining house nestled behind that opened last October, it offers a second menu of more muted mezzes, salads, and kebabs. It is here that you’ll get your Baharat Honey Chicken and Duck and Pistachio Kofte.

Channeling the opulence of another era fit for a sultan, it’s immaculately set up for groups to kick back and enjoy the evening. For nosh, you have an array of Mezze-carrying trolleys, which roam the room dim sum-style under a sky of oil lamp candles. Fun fact: there are no electric lights in Ottoman Room.

Opening in the next two months is the group’s third venture on Robertson Quay. Word on the street is that it’ll marry the cuisine of the coastal Mediterranean kitchens with a relaxed outdoor alfresco setting. And we’re keeping our peepers peeled for what else they have up their sleeves.

Fat Prince is located at 48 Peck Seah Street. For more information, visit www.fatprincesg.com or call 6221 3683.

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