Oriole Coffee + Bar reopened in January after two months of what seemed like renovation work.
The space looks much bigger now with the sturdy common tables in the alfresco area, opening up to the busy human traffic on Somerset Road. Inside, the coffee bar is also more accessible to those really interested about Oriole's specialty.
Photo: High common tables spread out across the alfresco area make Oriole seem bigger
And you should be. In that two months the staff were also attending intensive coffee training by some of the industry's most recognised professionals, American Benjamin Kaminsky and Matt Perger from Melbourne.
Kaminsky recently helped refine Oriole's two signature blends, the bright and chirpy Yellowbird, as well as the bolder, darker Raven. Both are available at $18 for a 250g bag of coffee beans. Single-origin beans are also on sale at $20 each.
Photo: Coffee still the main star at the new and improved Oriole
You can order Yellowbird and Raven as espresso or long black ($4.50), cappucino, flat white or piccolo ($5.50) and filtered hand brew or batch brew ($4.50/$5.50). Fans of Yellowbird will be happy to note that the brighter brew features in Oriole's new Shakerato ($6), which is a bit like martini — lightly sweetened and served shaken. Raven lovers can order the Coffee Milkshake ($9) — also new — made with generous dollops of vanilla ice-cream.
I always look forward to cold brews and I'm glad Oriole's brought back their Taisho Black ($6) and White ($7). This time they've included a dairy-free version at $8. It uses a cold-pressed nut milk concoction of macadamia, almond and date and is cheekily named M.A.D. Milk. You can buy it on its own for $10 or add it to your hot coffee for $2.50.
Caffeine not doing it for you? Oriole's also got a series of new cocktails — coffee-based, of course — for different personalities. There's the alcoholic version of the Shakerato, which is the $15 Oriole Martini, the more refreshing Kofirinha ($16) and the Espergroni General ($16), both of which represent the classic Caiprinha and Negroni, respectively.
The breakfast element of the expanded food menu is pretty prominent at the new Oriole. Diners can pick their choice of two eggs plus two muffins for $15, and top it with items like smoked salmon ($5) and even pan seared foie gras ($7). There's also a host of healthier options such as the Bircher ($11), a bowl of greek yoghurt mixed up with some rolled oats, green apples, orange juice, honey and M.A.D. Milk, and sprinkled with granola and fresh berries. The B.Q.K. ($9) is a salad filled with delicious things like pickled beetroot, quinoa, kale and fresh orange, drizzled with sherry and red wine vinaigrette.
Photo: The Cubano, one of Oriole's more filling menu options
For something hearty later in the day, go for the Cubano ($17) or the beef cheek tagliatelle ($22).
Need a break from shopping and feeling peckish? Oriole now offers small plates such as the Mantou Sloppy Dog ($15, three beef and pork wienerli minis served with deep fried buns, green chilli mayo and belachan ketchup) and lamb cutlets ($22), garnished with pickled apricot, roast cumin puff and mint.
Photo: One of the small plates at Oriole: Mantou Sloppy Dog
If you're headed there, take note of their killer happy hour: 3 — 9pm.
One more thing: if you're in a hurry the cafe's also just installed a Grab & Go takeaway counter, which operates from 8am — 5pm daily selling coffee, pastries, sandwiches and salads.
Read more Coconuts Hot Spots:
The New Black: Coffee in a cleanroom environment
Makgeolli on tap at Joo Bar
Oriole Coffee + Bar reopened in January after two months of what seemed like renovation work.
The space looks much bigger now with the sturdy common tables in the alfresco area, opening up to the busy human traffic on Somerset Road. Inside, the coffee bar is also more accessible to those really interested about Oriole's specialty.
Photo: High common tables spread out across the alfresco area make Oriole seem bigger
And you should be. In that two months the staff were also attending intensive coffee training by some of the industry's most recognised professionals, American Benjamin Kaminsky and Matt Perger from Melbourne.
Kaminsky recently helped refine Oriole's two signature blends, the bright and chirpy Yellowbird, as well as the bolder, darker Raven. Both are available at $18 for a 250g bag of coffee beans. Single-origin beans are also on sale at $20 each.
Photo: Coffee still the main star at the new and improved Oriole
You can order Yellowbird and Raven as espresso or long black ($4.50), cappucino, flat white or piccolo ($5.50) and filtered hand brew or batch brew ($4.50/$5.50). Fans of Yellowbird will be happy to note that the brighter brew features in Oriole's new Shakerato ($6), which is a bit like martini — lightly sweetened and served shaken. Raven lovers can order the Coffee Milkshake ($9) — also new — made with generous dollops of vanilla ice-cream.
I always look forward to cold brews and I'm glad Oriole's brought back their Taisho Black ($6) and White ($7). This time they've included a dairy-free version at $8. It uses a cold-pressed nut milk concoction of macadamia, almond and date and is cheekily named M.A.D. Milk. You can buy it on its own for $10 or add it to your hot coffee for $2.50.
Caffeine not doing it for you? Oriole's also got a series of new cocktails — coffee-based, of course — for different personalities. There's the alcoholic version of the Shakerato, which is the $15 Oriole Martini, the more refreshing Kofirinha ($16) and the Espergroni General ($16), both of which represent the classic Caiprinha and Negroni, respectively.
The breakfast element of the expanded food menu is pretty prominent at the new Oriole. Diners can pick their choice of two eggs plus two muffins for $15, and top it with items like smoked salmon ($5) and even pan seared foie gras ($7). There's also a host of healthier options such as the Bircher ($11), a bowl of greek yoghurt mixed up with some rolled oats, green apples, orange juice, honey and M.A.D. Milk, and sprinkled with granola and fresh berries. The B.Q.K. ($9) is a salad filled with delicious things like pickled beetroot, quinoa, kale and fresh orange, drizzled with sherry and red wine vinaigrette.
Photo: The Cubano, one of Oriole's more filling menu options
For something hearty later in the day, go for the Cubano ($17) or the beef cheek tagliatelle ($22).
Need a break from shopping and feeling peckish? Oriole now offers small plates such as the Mantou Sloppy Dog ($15, three beef and pork wienerli minis served with deep fried buns, green chilli mayo and belachan ketchup) and lamb cutlets ($22), garnished with pickled apricot, roast cumin puff and mint.
Photo: One of the small plates at Oriole: Mantou Sloppy Dog
If you're headed there, take note of their killer happy hour: 3 — 9pm.
One more thing: if you're in a hurry the cafe's also just installed a Grab & Go takeaway counter, which operates from 8am — 5pm daily selling coffee, pastries, sandwiches and salads.
Read more Coconuts Hot Spots:
The New Black: Coffee in a cleanroom environment
Makgeolli on tap at Joo Bar