The House of Robert Timms, Suntec City

Since travel is out for the count these days due to Covid-19, we’ve been satiating our wanderlust (and bellies) with authentic nosh from around the world in a bid to pretend we’re somewhere overseas.

Those who miss the excellent beaches and brunches of Australia can lose themselves in 12 new dishes on the menu at The House of Robert Timms. The heritage Australian brand, which came to Singapore in 2010, epitomises the quintessential Australian boutique café experience, serving up western classics and gourmet cuppas.

Australian cafes are all about the coffee, and The House of Robert Timms is no exception: it’s been serving up the premium stuff since 1951. As part of the tree-to-cup experience, the brand creates blends with beans from between two to five different countries; the roast intensity and bean combination are then tweaked to ensure the achieve optimal aroma and flavour. Our smooth, caramel-sweet cup of Vanilla Butterscotch Latte ($7.80) tastes like it promises to, with prominent vanilla and butterscotch notes.

Don’t let the price tag on the Prawn Bisque with Truffle Infusion ($15) put you off. This velvety rich soup is packed with distinct prawn flavour: it’s smooth, rich, creamy, and umami. Slivers of cheese add a salty punch. In the centre is a juicy tiger prawn timballo topped with a dollop of herb butter, and everything is drizzled generously with earthy truffle oil. We dip in the buttery, warm toast and find ourselves rewarded with a crisp, creamy mouthful. Heaven.

A light bite that could double up as a main course for those with smaller appetites, the Baby Back Ribs ($15.50) come with mustard sauerkraut, cayenne hot sauce and straight-cut fries. Salty and spicy, the fried pork ribs are flavourful – perhaps a little too much so – and the pungent sauerkraut comes on strong. Probably good with beer.

Perfect for the calorie conscious, the Mushroom, Haloumi and Egg ($19) comprises fluffy scrambled eggs, fresh cherry tomatoes, salty grilled haloumi, baby arugula, and enormous slices of sauteed wild mushrooms tossed in truffle oil. Quinoa and beetroot give texture and colour respectively, while the tangy lime dressing lightens up the dish. The walnut rye hidden beneath is soggy in places, which is a pity, but the bits that remain dry are beautifully crisp and light. Cheerful and healthy, it’s a filling brunch dish that we’d order again.

On to the mains, which begin with Octopus & Snapper Squid Ink Pasta ($25.50). We appreciate that the squid ink is infused into the soft pasta instead of made into a sauce, meaning it’s possible to order this on a date and still emerge looking good. The chunks of snapper are nicely seared, if a little dry, and the sous vide octopus leg is perfectly cooked. Tart cherry tomates add a much-need burst of brightness.

Our top pick of the night is the Aussie Wagyu Beef Burger ($28). This mammoth serving can easily be shared among two, thanks to the thick 250 handmade wagyu patty. It’s juicy and beefy, sandwiched between buttery brioche and paired with chewy emmentaler cheese, moreish portobello shrooms, and herb tomato sauce. We particularly adore the unique garlic fries, which are served with whole fried garlic cloves: the skins are brown and crisp, and the insides perfectly soft and fragrant.

Leave room for the lovely Vanilla Panna Cotta ($15), which makes for a light, sweet end to the meal. It’s a medley of flavours and textures: milky pudding, sticky strawberry coulis, juicy fresh berries, and crunchy biscuit crumble. Super Instagrammable, and yummy too, it’s a must-order in our books.

The House of Robert Timms

#01-608, Suntec City East Wing (Tower 3), 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983

Open daily from 10am to 9pm