Grand Jetè Cafe & Bar: Hidden Japanese Inspired Cuisine

In my food hunting adventures, I have had little to no trouble finding my places with the power of google maps. Clearly the owner of Grand Jete Cafe & Bar wants to challenge this record by opening his business at a place so secluded, you would think he just did it for the lulz. Make no mistake, Ngee Ann City is perhaps one of the most popular shopping destinations in Singapore, but this bistro is hidden well on the outside of the mall, at a place i didn't even know shops existed.

As a result of its ulu location, getting a table was relatively easy on a weekday night, save for some Japanese regulars when we visited.

The food menu was nicely illustrated with black and white drawings but they weren't exactly the clearest depictions. For example, the Elvis looks like a pile of erasers samdwiched between 2 slices of bread.

Double Decker Tonkatsu Sandwich (Whole) $14.80

Introducing first, their most instagram-able dish, the double pork cutlet sandwich which was what sparked this hunt in the first place. 

Two slices of thick, deep fried pork kiap-ed between two slices of thick, slightly crusted bread, you will require a seriously big set of jaws to fit the whole thing in your mouth. The tonkatsu was a tad dry and not as juicy as i would have liked, but the tangy tonkatsu sauce and crunchy cabbage worked well with the different layers of textures. Nothing out of this world, but it's decent.

6.5 / 10

Oyako (Chicken & Egg Rice) $12.50

I must admit the oyako don came beautifully assembled, but this photo flatters the actual dish. The serving was miniscule and was nowhere near enough to feed a healthy, growing young boy such as myself. Tastewise, it was your average soft cooked egg with chicken chunks that can be found in food courts, but to be fair, it's quite tough for an oyako don to impress.

6 / 10

Asari Clam & Mixed Mushrooms Pasta $15.50

I struggled to come to terms with my pasta being served along with some broccoli which is quite simply unacceptable. That aside, it was a good plate of noodles with a distinct asian influence. The sauteed mushrooms and spaghetti were stir fried together well while the tiny clams were sweet and fresh. Again, the serving could have been more generous.

7 / 10

Cino & Nara $16.50

An asian take on the classic carbonara, the sauce resembled more of scrambled eggs and had too much texture for my liking. The smokiness of the bacon was lacking and the pasta was served with a salad. Hais... some things should just be left the way they are.

5 / 10

Grand Jete Apple Pie $3.40

Moving on to desserts, we could not come here without ordering their famed apple pie. Well.. it was more of a tart than a pie, but it was buttery, flaky and delicious. However, like most of their dishes, the serving is really small and left our sweet tooth craving for more.

7 / 10

Kinako Mochi $5.80 (3 pcs)

Their hand made mochi was well made - chewy and bouncy on the teeth but it was really bland as we expected their roasted soy flour powder to be sweet. After similar experiences in Japan, i am pretty sure by now that i prefer my glutinous rice cakes sweet rather than savoury.
5 / 10

French Fact! : Grand jeté is a classical ballet term meaning “big throw.” It describes a big jump where the dancer throws one leg into the air, much like what i wanted to do with the broccoli on my plate.

Location: Ngee Ann City

Address: 391 Orchard Rd #01-25/26/27, Singapore 238872

Nearest MRT: Orchard NS22

Opening Hours: Daily 8:00am - 10:00pm