The Communal Place – Flaming Pork Ribs, Bouillabaisse & Tiramisu

The Communal Place has added several new entities to their menu this month. Since it’s opening last year along Joo Chiat Road, this humble cafe bar has been receiving regulars and a brunch crowd over the weekends. Besides serving beers and other boozes, the reasonably-priced comfort food would have both your belly and wallet happy.

New mains include the flaming Pork Ribs $20, Yuzu Butterfly Chicken $20, Spanish Barramundi $24, Spicy Flower Clams $18 and Bouillabaisse $18. 

The Pork Ribs are flamed in liquor while the torched cinnamon sticks released a smokey spice flavour.

The best part of the ribs were the skins – ultra crispy thin and they crackled between your teeth. Along with the fall-off-the-bone tender meats, this would make a great pairing with beer.

Seafood lovers would enjoy this tantalising bowl of Spicy Flower Clams, where the clams sat plump and juicy in their shells. The soup was tasty yet light, while lacking in the fragrance of the garlic. There were parsley and chilli padi but it wasn’t as spicy as I thought.

The butter toasts were crunchy. Garlic butter would be nice.

The Bouillabaisse comes with a medley of seafood like prawns, mussels, dory and octopus and a small jar of thick seafood broth. The thick savoury sauce was flavourful on its own and you might just want to lap up every morsel of it. On the other hand, the chewy octopus required some jaw work and we wished it came in smaller bites.

Don’t miss the tapas which boast a list of selections such as the Spam Fries $10, Pork Katsu $12, Banger and Mash $12 and Pull Pork Taco $13. Their signature Lil’ Peckers $12 is made of half a dozen chicken tulip, fried till crispy with a layer of soft juicy fats directly underneath. Fire it up with the homemade sambal chilli on the side or simply dunk it into the tartar sauce. This was addictive enough to keep us going.

Another crowd favourite is the Miso Salmon $20, featuring a giant slab of salmon steak on a bed of miso paste and bouillabaisse foam. There’s a hint of sweetness in the sauce and mouthfeel that I like. The glazed vegetables were nicely cooked, neither too soft nor overly firm.

Dessert was the Chocolate Dome $18 which appeared as an innocent chocolate egg topped with cheesecake ice cream. The surprise lies within where diners are to drop it on the plate and watch the fillings scatter aesthetically.

Our chocolate shell broke apart to reveal popping candies, chewy honeycombs, butter cake cubes, nuts and fruits. With each bite of everything in the mouth, it was a triumphant explosion of delight.

New on the dessert list is the Tiramisu $13 – a spin-off from the typical ones out there.

Served cold, the mascarpone is almost custard-like while studded with Kahlua and coffee-infused sponge. The taste of liquor was prominent against the smooth creamy layers.

 

The Communal Place

465 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427677

Tel: +65 6282 3359

Website: https://www.facebook.com/thecommunalplace/

 

Check out our previous visit here!

The Communal Place – Homely Cafe Bar with Affordable Food & We Bare Bears plushies at Joo Chiat Road

 

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