Next Door Deli

Aptly named since this cafe was set up right next to its parent company, Pine Garden Bakery, I can't believe I took such a long time to check out this hidden gem. I actually wondered whether it'd closed down because I couldn't believe that a cafe could survive for such a long time in the heartlands. I was proved wrong. Next Door Deli serves up a mix of local nosh at wallet-friendly prices, and the food is really quite decent! The menu isn't extensive, but there were a number of items that caught my attention.

I was wavering between the Wok-fried Mee Siam and Wok-fried Laksa ($6.50) and opted for the latter in the end, since it's something I've never heard of before. For the price, the portion was really generous (I couldn't finish the noodles!!) with a bunch of prawns, a whole fishcake and a fried chicken wing on the side. The laksa had a spicy kick to it, but could have been more flavourful. It's a pity that the cafe didn't have green chilli! But the samba chilli did the trick for me as well, adding the final touch to this dish.

Sam ordered the healthiest item on the menu. I feel so ashamed when I eat with him now :P Haha. The Tomato Basil Fish Fillet ($7.90) was really tasty though!! The sauce was lightly tangy, which made the fish appetising, and together with the potatoes and vegetables on the side, made for a rather filling combination. 

The great thing about being located next to the bakery is that you can just get desserts from next door! (: We were greedy after dinner and popped over to get a couple of slices of the highly raved-about alcoholic cakes. We tried the Lychee Martini and Moscato Soursop. Pine Garden is really the place to go for affordable, yummy cakes. While they weren't the decadent, dense cakes that we're used to, but they're delicious in their simplicity. Much lighter, and wonderfully fluffy, the flavour is more like a wisp, rather than in-your-face-tasty. I wished the alcohol aroma could have been stronger, but while it was barely perceptible in the cake, I was pleasantly surprised to find the flavour lingering long after I'd finished the cake. 

Decent food, and very reasonable prices :) Now that I've discovered this place, I'm definitely coming back.

Next Door Deli

Blk 529 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10 #01-2369

Tel.: +65 6458 6180

Mon-Sun 11am-10pm