Interior, Pomelo Tea, $11
There is something about Arteastiq's decor that strikes a chord with me. It's bright and colourful but manages not to look overdone. There are contrasting elements that look put together instead of jarring. The end result is so well done - tasteful and charming with just that slightest touch of whim. Did you notice how the full length glass windows accentuated the beautiful trees? Most of the time, looking out of restaurant windows means looking at man-made beauty. I can't think of a more refreshing view than this.
The tea was actually very good. The sugar cubes were completely unnecessary since it was already sweet on its own. The fruit teas here are brewed with real fruit in addition to leaves, which I found interesting. And Pomelo Tea just sounded intriguing. But if I were to be honest, I couldn't taste the pomelo at all. I realized that the tea tasted just like an excellent cup of lemon tea. Perhaps the slice of lemon in the teapot overwhelmed the pomelo.
Roast Beef Foccacia, around $13.50, Trinity, $8.90
The presentation of the food was gorgeous. My friend, D, had the Roast Beef Foccacia while I went for a trinity of teasers. I chose Roast Beef, Smoked Atlantic Salmon and Crabmeat Salad served in Vol-au-vents. The roast beef was.. well, the cold cut version of roast beef. Cold and dry. On hindsight, I should have gone for something else, like top shell with chilled mango salad. The smoked salmon was a pleasant surprise since it was quite a generous serving (two long strips rolled up like rose buds). The crabmeat salad was pretty good, but there could have been more crabmeat, you know? The Roast Beef Focaccia was tasty but just isn't something I'll ask for if I do return. It's a lot of bread for the amount of roast beef. The salad in the glass was adorable but impractical since it was a little too small for the fork to reach in properly. Servings are generally on the small side, so if you're feeling ravenous, you'd do better to look somewhere else. This isn't the place to get the most bang for your buck. Neither is this a place for mind-blowing food. But if you're looking for a beautiful place to unwind after a long day with good tea to boot, this would be the place for you.
Now, if only the food gets better... or more generous.
P.S. I actually like the concept of Social Painting that they are advocating right now. Just beside the cafe, there's a space with rows of canvas spaced neatly apart. They would provide you with the canvas, unlimited acrylic paint, sponges, brushes, paint palette and a drink of your choice from the menu. At the end of the session, you get to bring your masterpiece home. The catch is that each session of 3 hours would set you back by $48. It's a cool concept, but I can't imagine paying more than $15 for painting something that might end up in a disaster, so I'll have to give it a pass for now!
Arteastiq
333A Orchard Road,
#04-14/15 Mandarin Gallery, Singapore
Tel: +65 6235 8705
http://www.arteastiq.com/
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