ToMo – new Japanese style café in Joo Chiat

The new cafe in Joo Chiat derives its name from the Japanese word for “friends” – 友達 (Tomodachi). ToMO is a Japanese style café with creative beverage concoctions and typical brunch fare, very good for those lazy catch-ups with friends.

ToMo in Joo Chiat

The new ToMo Cafe is located in one of the old shophouses along Joo Chiat Road, right next to the very popular Common Man Coffee Roasters Joo Chiat.

The small cosy cafe has a minimalist arch entrance with floor-to-ceiling glass frontage. There are a few tables outside for kerbside dining. Inside the cafe, you will see a pleasant space with a contemporary interior design employing various shades of grey and green complemented by tasteful wood elements.

The dining space is compact and fairly narrow. However, the clever use of the layout allows for maximum space utilization. Along one of the walls, a long bench stretches almost the entire length of the café, offering comfortable seating and flexible table combinations to cater to dining parties of various sizes.

Menu of ToMo Cafe

ToMo offers the usual trendy cafe fare – toasts, sandos, pastas and desserts. A few interesting sharing plates, like Red Wine Char Siew and Mentai Tori Karaage, are also on the menu. The beverage menu at ToMo cafe is more exciting, with items such as Iced Honeycomb Latte, Kuro Goma Latte and Lychee Flora Fresca.

The full menu of ToMo can be viewed online (link at the end of the post). Screenshots of selected pages of the the digital menu are below.

Brunch at ToMo

We visited the new ToMo Cafe on a recent weekday. By late morning, the cafe was nearing its full capacity. It would seem that an increasing number of individuals in Singapore have the luxury of not having weekday work commitments.

We ordered Wagyu Beef Ragout Pasta ($21) and ToMo’s Breakfast ($18) for brunch. We also selected a simple Black Coffee ($4.50) and the fancy Iced Cloud White Coffee ($7).

The Wagyu Beef Ragout with tomato, parmigiano and pappardelle was topped with a luscious sous-vide egg. The rich ragout sauce was aromatic and had a smooth consistency that combined well with the al dente pappardelle. It was a delightful dish. We thought a thinner pasta than pappardelle could have been better coated by the luxurious pasta sauce, allowing for an even more delectable experience.

ToMo’s Breakfast was a hearty dish of Scrambled Eggs served alongside crispy Tater Tots, two succulent pieces of Pork Loin, fresh Vegetables and nicely toasted Bread. The tender and flavorful Pork Loin made the simple comforting breakfast into a very satisfying well balanced complete meal good for any time of the day.

ToMo’s Coffee

The iced cloud latte is not something created just to be photogenic. It is actually quite an indulgent treat. The foam on top is like a fluffy cloud. A delicate dusting of cocoa powder on top adds a colour contrast as well as a nice aroma. The cocoa, velvety foam and rich coffee flavours combined to create more than just a coffee drink but a delightful experience.

The straightforward black coffee of ToMo did not disappoint. It was a good cup of barista brewed coffee – smooth with rich chocolatey flavours.

Good Spot for Interesting Beverages

With its pleasant ambiance and welcoming attentive service, it is easy to feel at home and comfortable in ToMo. The food items and prices align with the typical offerings found in cafes across Singapore. However, its array of innovative and unique drinks may set it apart. ToMo in Joo Chiat will be a good choice for anyone in search of a nice spot to enjoy some time with friends over some interesting beverages and classic cafe fare.

Ratings:
Food: 3
Service: 4
Value: 3
Atmosphere: 3
Overall Rating: 3 TOPs

Menu

ToMo
189 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427460

Opening Hours:
Tues-Thurs & Sunday: 9 am – 6 pm
Fri & Sat: 9 am – 9 pm
Mon: closed

Website |

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The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog