CAFES

ISH

 

fragments from an urbanscape 3.5

Text  Selina Lim  Photos  Kelly Cheng

 

B  I  S  T  R  O    O  N    T   H   E    B   A   Y

Of late, the Esplanade has not only played host to numerous overseas acts, but also an overwhelming amount of locals as they flock over for a good and proper "housewarming" party. Amidst the bustle, California Bistro is hard to miss: from the outside, glowing capsules of lime-green on the wall beckons; from the inside: continuous glass panels afford partial views of the bay from the circular courtyard and people milling about by the waterfront. Designed by Ed Poole of Poole Associates, its clean lines achieved through a mixture of raw and polished concrete, pebble-crete and unpainted metal finishes give an overall 1950's modernist feel to the place. Tucked at the corner of the ground-floor eateries, the place offers both indoor and alfresco dining facing the bay. Perfect - for a swig of cold beer with that afternoon smoke you've been craving for.

 

 

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Chill by the waterfront after your performance at the theatre, pause for a tall glass of iced tea and a slice of blueberry cheesecake in the sweltering heat of the afternoon, or enjoy a nice meal with family and friends while being entertained by street performers at the Esplanade.

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California Bistro

Esplanade - Theaters on the Bay, Singapore

 

Update :

This Cafe is no longer in operation

 

Project Design Team :

Poole Associates Private Limited

Ed Poole, Mateo H. Osorio Jr.,

Wong Kim Mei, Norman Anton

e:mail contact@poole-associates.com

T 65 | 6536 | 3928

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Contractor :

Nam Hong Builders Pte Ltd 

207 Balestier Road, #03-10,

Singapore 329683

T 65 | 6258 | 3833

 

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This is a bistro rich in metaphors: suspended industrial-looking car head lamps shed light on the Californian penchant for spending a great part of their life in their cars; the recurring capsule | pill theme depicts the attitude of health-conscious Californians.

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A critical eye may observe that the dining area accommodates up to about 50: a sure sign that it was intended for people to stay for a chat or comfortable chill-out session after food and drinks. A padded banquette seat with its pill-shaped cut-outs lit from behind adds some drama to the dining area. Soft fabric is applied all the way up to the ceiling to help counteract the hard raw cement surface for acoustic reasons. The high ceiling affords a very spacious feel: with several levels of lighting, the space can feel bright and fresh in the day, softer in the early evening and then progress to a sexy warm glow later at night, depending on the crowd. This is a bistro rich in metaphors: suspended industrial-looking car head lamps shed light on the Californian penchant for spending a great part of their life in their cars; the recurring capsule | pill theme depicts the attitude of health-conscious Californians.

 

Elevated upon a platform and hidden well away in a very private corner at the far end is a niche with a table around which the diners are offered a view of the Central Business District. The metal stairs that lead from the ground up have details that bring to mind the exit platforms of airports in the 50's. In a deliberately bright and airy space, allowances have been made for cozy nooks as well as "open" areas for all manners of discussion, in varying degrees of intimacy. Light cyan | lime-green pill-shaped inserts made from synthetic-resin are interspersed on the polished pebble-crete floor.

During lunch and dinner, items ranging from salads and steaks to coffee and cakes fly out of the kitchen. "Everything's good here. Try the pasta!" exclaims Tony, the enthusiastic general manager. Here, portions are generous, cafe prices reasonable and the atmosphere dazzling. Young professionals in chic office wear dominate the weekday | night crowd while the weekenders are generally more family-oriented.

From the extensive menu, we sampled a range of starters, mains and deserts - all of which are healthy, delicious and hugely substantial. We recommend the Chicken Caesar - a classic with spice marinated shrimp [10.75], yummy sautéed garlic shrimps with mushrooms [8.25], a delicately flavored Blackened Cajun Style Sole Fillet with roasted vegetable and white wine butter sauce [15.85] and the pastas [10.25 - 15.95] - which are way better than your average cafe-pastas. For dessert, how about trying a second slice of cheesecake, pecan pie [4.50] or coffee [3.50]? Finger food and alcoholic beverages are also available, but they are best enjoyed when the sun's down. If loyalty cards are the stuff that bring you back, this place offers a 10% discount for those with it.

Chill by the waterfront after your performance at the theatre, pause for a tall glass of iced tea and a slice of blueberry cheesecake in the sweltering heat of the afternoon, or enjoy a nice meal with family and friends while being entertained by street performers at the Esplanade. If good (and reasonably priced) food, great surroundings and interactive street performances appeal to you, this is one place you won't want to miss. 

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