Otter & Pebbles is a new Japanese-inspired cafe in a tranquil and cosy space

The food at Otter & Pebbles

At first glance, the menu here is extensive, featuring dishes that marry Japanese and contemporary flavours.

A dish that caught our eye was the salmon ochazuke (S$24.90) with pan-seared salmon, rice, umeboshi (salted Japanese plum), and a hot sencha broth served on the side. 

The best way to enjoy this dish is to pour the broth into the bowl, so that its contents can soak up the broth. You get a complimentary refill of the sencha broth, too.

We found ourselves devouring the dish — the light broth is comforting, yet flavourful, with a generous sprinkle of furikake atop the rice. We did find the salmon slightly dry, though.

Another dish that we tried is the tamago san (S$15.90), featuring deep-fried tamago (omelette) sandwiched between two pan-seared slices of bread, and finished with torched mentaiko (cod roe). 

It’s a fried and more indulgent version of a tamago sando (Japanese egg sandwich) — one that we don’t often see served at cafes in Singapore. 

Overall, this dish is on the heavier side, as the torched mentaiko can make you feel jelak, so we’d recommend sharing this with friends.

An exotic, sweet finish

Drinks-wise, Otter & Pebbles has a number of unique espresso-based concoctions under the “Otter’s beverages” section.

We were feeling adventurous and went for the Tiramisu (S$9.50), Da Bom matcha (S$7.50, oat matcha latte with black sesame), and the Wassupbi Miso (S$8) coffee with wasabi and miso (yes, you read that correctly). 

The Tiramisu latte is delicately layered with cheese foam and a fine dusting of cocoa powder — this might just be the coffee of your dreams!

We wished the black sesame tasted stronger in the Da Bom matcha, but the refreshing Wassupbi Miso was hands-down, the clear winner. The wasabi and miso, which can be pretty strong flavours on its own, were not too overpowering and unexpectedly paired well with the acidity of the coffee.

We ended our meal on a sweet note with the Cheese But In Blue souffle pancake (S$15.90) — an interesting combination that needs further fine-tuning. 

While the souffle pancake lived up to its expectations — fluffy and pillowy-soft — we found the texture of blue cheese sauce to be more of a foam, which unfortunately did not work well in its current iteration. 

Alternatively, the pistachio souffle pancake (S$17.90) is an equally enticing option. 

If you’re always on the lookout for new cafes in Singapore, you might want to hit up Otter & Pebbles, to see if it suits your vibe.

For the latest eats, read about Koko Cafe and Patisserie, the new Japanese-inspired dessert spot at Tanjong Pagar, and 2050 Coffee from Kyoto with futuristic interior. 

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine out.

You can also book a ride to Otter & Pebbles to try out its Japanese-inspired menu.