Not just sweets: Nesuto’s latest cafe opens at Ion Orchard with new savoury menu

Following two cake-centric stores in Tras Street and Jewel, the Nesuto team has unveiled its most ambitious outing, yet: A third outlet in the heart of Ion Orchard, and with its first-ever savoury menu, to boot!

A new chapter for Nesuto 

Having opened in August, Cafe Nesuto marks the latest milestone in the brand’s journey, from its early days of focusing on sweet desserts and pastries, to serving a diverse range of savoury bites that draws inspiration from European and Japanese fare.

This menu has been in the works for over 2 years, after careful and thoughtful planning by founder Alicia Wong, chef Daren Teo (who is also behind The Pantry Boy on Instagram), Joshua Khoo, head of operations.

There’s a wide range of nosh on the menu, comprising everything from brunch classics of eggs benedict and quiches, to all-day bites such as soups, salads and filling mains. 

There’s even small plates such as the chicken (S$14) and braised oxtail (S$16) open-faced pies, both of which are exclusives at their new Ion outlet. 

We popped by in the evening to try some of Cafe Nesuto’s dinner offerings — here are the highlights.

Comforting flavours with a twist 

To start things off, the roasted potato and leek soup (S$16) was flavourful and smooth, with a mild tang from some sour cream foam. It came paired with a slice of sourdough, which was perfect for dipping in for an extra punch. 

Mains-wise, there’s a variety of European-inspired bites, along the likes of yuzu chicken with charred corn & greens (S$22), and a house-cured salmon with fennel and orange salad (S$26).

We tried the braised miso chicken leg (S$24), which was served with miso sake cream sauce and a bed of creamy mashed potatoes.

The chicken itself was pretty juicy and moist within, and paired satisfyingly with the mashed potatoes and cream sauce — it almost felt like a warm hug in every bite! 

The addition of genmai bits (roasted, unpolished brown rice kernels) sprinkled atop the chicken was also a nice touch, as it added some crunch and a toasty flavour, too. 

Meanwhile, the miso flavour in the sauce was well tempered, without being too overpowering. 

Another main that caught our eye was the 24 hours braised beef short ribs (S$38). Although one of the pricier items on the menu, we found that the dish came together nicely, with fork-tender and succulent ribs that simply melted in our mouths.

The beef was slow-braised, which imparted a silky and moist quality to the meat. And as a final cherry on top, the balsamic sauce added a nice, sweet kick that tied the whole dish together.

If you’d like a drink to wash down those hearty eats, we’d say the housemade cold-brew tea is a reliable choice. 

The lychee oolong tea (S$8), was a fragrant and cooling refresher to wash down the rich dishes from earlier. We found the lychee flavour rather muted, but it was still a delightful choice nonetheless. 

And of course, with Nesuto specialising in sweet treats, how could we miss out on their signature desserts? 

We made a beeline for its cake display, where there are quite a few outlet-exclusives on offer, such as the Singapore Sling and passion fruit vanilla cakes (both from S$12 per slice).

We settled on the matcha red bean cake (from S$12 per slice), a fluffy and soft matcha sponge with a layer of smooth red bean cream. A light and delicate way to end the meal, it was sweet — without feeling too overwhelming. There could be more room for the red bean flavour to shine through, though!

This was a hosted tasting.

For more eats around town, check out newly opened Yoon Yeon Dang bakery from Korea for its viral bakes, or our round-up on what to eat in Ion Orchard.