Shared Table at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park is a new pet-friendly wellness cafe that’s all about mindful eating

If you frequent the pretty Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park, or have plans to visit this green space soon, there’s a new concept worth checking out: Shared Table, opening to the public on September 14.

Shared Table is the brainchild of two experienced co-founders — Jeris Su, founder of the chic Average Service cafe at Jalan Besar, and Jazreel Low, spa director of Aramsa – The Garden Spa.

The concept is built around the practice of mindful eating, where the goal is to leave the table feeling good — and to know exactly what’s going into your body to help it feel that way.

Its space plays its part too. Surrounded by greenery, it has a clean, calming ambience furnished in wood and green tones. 

Floor-to-ceiling windows let the sunlight stream in, making the space feel so refreshing and ventilated it feels like a retreat out of the country.

Bonus for pet owners: Its outdoor space is pet-friendly, so your furkid can join you for the meal!

There are also plans for a retail corner down the line, offering products such as local produce and in-house brews. 

Its future plans include a programme of Sunday markets, workshops, and collaborations with health and wellness brands — building a community around Shared Table that extends beyond its menu.

Nourish plate set meals

At the heart of the menu are the Nourish plates, available all day. Prices start from S$21.90, with add-ons from S$3 on selected dishes.

The Nourish plates are inspired by the Japanese principle of “ichiju sansai” (one soup, three dishes). It’s a philosophy that essentially prioritises balanced, varied, and mindful eating. 

You get to select one grain, one protein, two sides, and a rotating soup of the day — essentially a full set menu.

Having a meal here would be fitting if you need to come out feeling energised instead of weighed down.

(PS: Nothing on the menu is fried!)

Grains-wise, if you love your couscous, you can get the couscous with furikake and kombu, cooked in kombu stock for an umami depth. Otherwise, there’s the lemon herbed rice — fluffy short-grain rice with dill, lemon juice, lemon zest, and olive oil for a herbaceous base.

For your mains, you’ll be quite spoilt for choice, with seven proteins to choose from. Of these, we liked the seafood best.

The sweet and sour baked halibut with capsicum escabeche (a cooking method where the cooked protein is marinated in an acidic, vinegar sauce) has these stewed, tangy sweet peppers that cuts through the rich fish. The halibut itself is so soft, it melts in your mouth.

The honey miso salmon was marinated for two hours in a housemade honey-miso mixture, then oven-baked for a crust while staying tender within.

Another protein we really enjoyed was the honey glazed goji smoked duck. The skin was crisp outside, while the meat was succulent within, then glazed in a honey-soy reduction with goji berries for a gentle sweetness. 

We were told that the baked halibut and smoked duck are the founders’ favourite dishes on the menu, too!

For something cleaner, there are chicken options along the likes of a ginger sesame oil chicken thigh, Hainanese sous vide chicken breast, and lemongrass chicken thigh. Again, like the rest of the poultry on the menu, the chicken is oven-baked, rather than fried, to keep things light.

In terms of side dishes, there are five to pick from, but our top choice has to be the gongbao tempeh with cashew nuts — generally everyone’s most-liked side dish from the table. It comes with a sweet-spicy coat, and adds the right amount of crunch. 

The mentai potato salad comes a close second.

The soups rotate, but in particular, its creamy pumpkin soup hit the spot for us — light and comforting.

Beyond the Nourish plates

If you’re just peckish or looking for something to share, one item off the a la carte menu worth a try is the grilled chicken skewers (S$14.90 for two sticks).

The thick chicken thigh is marinated in cumin, paprika, salt and pepper, char-grilled, and served with housemade tzatziki and warm pita. It is well-charred and packed with flavour.

If you’re visiting for brunch, the protein pancakes with caramelised banana, gula melaka, and peanut butter sauce (S$17.90) would be a great pick. It is packed with 32g of protein and makes for a sweet-savoury, satisfying start to the day.

There’s the usual coffee (from S$6.50), but it comes roasted by Brawn and Brains and specially blended for Shared Table. Matcha drinks are available, too.

For something gentler, the herbal teas (from S$7) come from the local brand Tily Tea — with a bunch of soothing options to choose from. I had Perfect Pairing, a clean-tasting pu erh-inspired blend of mulberry leaves, bergamot peel, and jasmine blossoms that made a great accompaniment to the food.

This was a hosted tasting.

For more cafe spots around Bishan and Ang Mo Kio, read on Wad Coffee‘s old-school pandan waffles and Still Cafe‘s speciality coffee and homemade bagels.