Trooped here for some desert after a very hearty Japanese meal a few doors away (more on that in another review). As it was Friday night, the outlet was pretty crowded, leaving only the outdoor seats available. We settled on the metal chairs and table, which wasn't that comfortable. We didn't go inside but from what we saw, the interior looks lovely.

I was a little shocked at the one item per customer rule..its the first time I came across this anywhere. Once I got over that, we promptly placed our order: Peanut butter cheesecake, peach with jelly cheesecake and chocolate banana. The food came over just as quickly (one minute at the most). My personal opinion was that there was no 'wow' factor in all three of them. The peanut butter was not too bad, but the chunky taste was heavy and overwhelmed whatever cheese there was. I got sick of it pretty quickly. Luckily the peach with jelly was light enough to provide a good balance. The choc banana was so-so, tasted like pretty much your run of the mill cake you can find at any bakery. And oh did I mention I had to ask for the bill twice before it came?

Still I like the whole concept of just sitting down for desert and watching the world go by. I wouldn't mind coming back here again to chill but I wouldn't classify this as a must try place.

I have to give 10/10 for the decor and ambiance as it allows you walk into a surreal Victorian cum Elizabethan age old room of a castle. The solid colors of gold, black and dirty yellow blend perfectly with the accompany of arranged fountains and magnificent mirrors. They also have attentive and charming hosts that comes to any food service you need.

However when it is time to take an order, 2 things happened:

1) They were out of cheese cakes
2) They explained "hard" to allow me to come to terms that they have a rule that every customer that comes within their premises must order an item of their menu.

Now here is the problem. They are named the "CheeseCake" Cafe! Granted that they are out of cheesecakes! But to force a rule like this on a customer that perhaps comes from the other side of Singapore just to be there for their cheesecakes makes the place comparable to a PIRATE INN. I mean the most polite way to tell a cheesecake lover that walks into a cheesecake joint like this, is to waive that rule away. I understand that rule is meant for perhaps customers who just don't order anything and takes up the glamorous seats and the expensive smell the decor breathes out but what of those that are genuine cheese cake lovers?

This rule only gives me the impression that the owners only have the dollars in their sights. With the price tag they are putting on the cakes, if their cakes are really that good, I don't mind falling into their trap BUT with no cheese cake as the bait, please waive that rule to save yourselves from horrid impressions.

As you can understand till this point of the review, I did not have any cheesecakes! But I was force to get a drink. They aren't famous for drinks but I have to say it is only trying to be a wannabe classy beverage that leaves to much peppermint leaves in my mouth and only honey to speed up my possibility of having diabetes.

Advice: Go there ONLY when they have cheesecakes or when they waive that ridiculous rule! Perhaps that Elizabethan place influences monarchy onto the owners to have that inflexibility. Lucky I still have my head! God save the Queen they say and I say God save the Cheesy Queen.

My first time to this cafe as this place is so far from my house...Just came here to chill out and have their cheesecakes... The cakes here are really moist unlike those I get at Canele..
We ordered 4 types of cheesecakes in total;
Rum and Raisin, Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Oreo..
I personally prefer rum and raisin out of these 4.. The taste is lighter compared to the peanut butter which is super heavy... But i feel that the rum is not spread evenly... Sometimes is just luck when comes to food.. But i do agree that the cakes are quite costly for their portion...
Luckily this is not a everyday's affair.. I certainly will come again...

Order:
Cheesefries, Half-dozen Escargots, Ice Tea with Honey, Port Wine, Oreo Cheesecake and 2 pint Hoegarden.


Food/Beverage:
The escargots are really good, served with chopped garlic and olive oil (I think...), its a dish that definitely should not be missed! While the cheese cakes were good, they aren't really much to shout about. The beverages are pretty much standard, with a basic list of wine to pick from - Average.

Ambience:
(Indoor) Pale yellow walls illuminated by the dim orange lighting throughout the cafe, thus creating a very warm and comfortable atmosphere. The general decore is a mixture of richness, yet reeks of natural undertones. The sparkling clean toilet makes me think they really take the effort to maintain the cafe - Very Good.

(Outdoor) A vast disappointment as compared to the effort that was put into for the indoor setting. The old, flimsy metal furniture makes the place feel cheap. While the umbrellas are flimsy, the few fans placed on the ground creates a persistant distraction - Poor.

Value:
Its definitely not worth its while. I was horrified to be informed that I needed to pay an additional $2 for an extra serving of melted cheese for the cheese fries that I ordered. I don't expect to fork out extra cash for the condiments and such when I am already paying a premium for the key items - Poor.

Service:
The servers are as attentive to the outdoor customers, as to the indoor, and there's usually something to help me with the main door while I sashay to and fro the indoor and outdoor area. While I had to wait for a few moment before the food gets services, because it really gets crowded over the weekend there's nothing much to complain about - they've got the basics covered well - Good.

Conclusion/Reccommendation:
It is a really nice change from the usual coffee joints, and it is without a doubt that great efforts have been made into putting up and maintaining the place. Having said that, the outdoor area seriously needs to be improvised - the flimsy furnitures and temporary measures (i.e.: fan and broken umbrella) really cheapens the place by alot. In short, I find this place an overly-hyped, overly-priced, pretty look cafe.

I've been hearing about this place through the grapevine and finally went there one Sunday night to check the place out with some friends...

It's located in some corner in Siglap ( down the row of eateries, near Siglap Center) and you may miss it if you drive by really quickly despite its huge signage.

The place seemed really popular that you kinda have to make reservations to get in ( indoors anyway, the alfresco area had plenty of seats..). They said that they will free up your reserved table even if you are 2 minutes late. When we get there personally, they refused to let us change our reservations to a later hour and said that we have to walk-in and there would be no guaranteed seats inside.

I was thinking, 'What is this place- does it think it is 6 Michelin star eatery that justifies its reservations policy? ( granted, many restaurants probably have the same policy but I'm sure its much more relaxed or negotiable for its customers. Its a freakin cafe for christ's sake!) As I walked in, I thought the cakes better be worth it.

Ambience:
The interior is kinda cosy and posh - all decked out in Victorian design while the alfresco area is nothing to shout about, positioned next to a concrete slab of unkempt grassland with roaming stray cats.. However the bustling activity behind the counter and the frenetic behavior of the waitstaff sort of spoils the 'quiet' time you would like to have with your cakes and company.

Food :
The prices are EXORBITANT for the serving size of the food portions. Ok, I've only tried the cakes and not the finger foods but are you kidding me? 6 -7 bucks for a slice of cheesecake which is about half the size of a slice of cake you can get from secret receipe which costs $4.50. Oreo cheesecake: no big deal for such an ubiquitous dessert while the vanilla choc chip one was okay. People kept raving on about the peach jelly, rum & raisin and choc banana so go knock yourself out with them. The coke float we ordered at a whopping movie-ticket-price of $9.50, was DAYLIGHT ROBBERY. We reckoned the coke was from a $1 can and the plain jane vanilla ice cream was from a tub bought from NTUC.

Oh, have I mentioned the ludicrous policy of a minimum order of one item from each customer? What if one customer is a baby who only eats mashed food from a jar or a pet shih tzu who tags along for company? Must I order cakes or coke floats for them too?

Service:
The waitstaff greeted us when we arrived and service was brisk and efficient. Too efficient. What's with waiters coming up to you and eagerly asking to clear away your plates although your fork was still poised over the plate, trying to finish up the $7.50 worth of cake crumbs? Is there a worldwide plate shortage like that of rice?

Lastly, you must pay at the counter as they will not serve the bill to your table. Ok, quite a common policy although may I point out that even at heartland coffeeshops ( e.g. Simpang, AB @ Joo Chiat etc), the staff will come to you with the bill after you have finished your meal ( your plates left safely untouched until after you gobbled up every food remnant ) and beckon to them.

Nuff' said. You can check out this place if you do not mind the much ado about nothing cakes and nice ambience but I would probably not come here again. If you are wondering why I am such a bitter and jaded customer, well, its my review and I'd rant if I want to. Don't email me.

Cya!