French Fold: New Cafe Serving Crêpes and Galettes in Telok Ayer
Those familiar with the cafe scene in Singapore will have known of Merci Marcel, a group of French cafes with several locations around— from Tiong Bahru to Club Street to Orchard Road. I’ve always loved spending afternoons in a Merci Marcel branch, chiefly because of how beautiful the decor is; with each outlet looking slightly different but still keeping with the same aesthetic theme— think brunch French-style but in the tropics. Apt.
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Enter French Fold, a new brand set up by the same folks— focusing on sweet crêpes and savoury galettes.
Located in the heart of the bustling strip of cafes, bars and restaurants at Telok Ayer, French Fold is perfect for those working in and around CBD.
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Walking in, you’re immediately greeted by the familiar tropical aesthetic, with similar colour themes of green and brown throughout; littered with hanging plants and wooden furnishings all around which I adore.
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Mind, this place has become quite popular.
Even for a weekday lunch, we had to wait about 30 minutes for a table for three.
On the menu, you’ll find galette bites to share, mostly cheese and ham dishes, as well as cheese platters and the like which you’ll also find in the other Merci Marcel outlets.
We had the Fourme d’Ambert Cheese with honey and walnut (S$14) for starters. They came as cut up galette slices, with the cheese, honey and walnut sandwiched as a filling. I thought it was an interesting dish, but I personally would’ve liked if the flavours of the cheese came through a lot stronger, as I thought it was overwhelmed by the combination of the flour of the galette, the honey and the walnut.
On to the star dishes, we had the No. 4 (S$17) (Chiffonade of ham, organic egg sunny side up, over sautéed mushrooms, Comté cheese), No. 5 (S$15) (Chorizo, organic egg sunny side up, Comté cheese), and No. 6 (S$16) (Goat cheese, tomato chutney, basil, roasted bell pepper).
My dining party all agreed that the No. 6 was the best as it was the most flavourful, but I personally liked the other two as well. In fact, the combination of flavours in the No. 6 brought to mind a thin crust margherita pizza.
The No. 4 is apparently a crowd favourite, and the flavours of it all feels a bit like eating into familiar breakfast flavours.
The galettes are rather nicely presented— the buckwheat flour soft and easy to cut into, yet they aren’t soggy no matter the filling. And by themselves, they’re perfect if you’re looking for something not too heavy.
However, for the bigger eaters among us, it’s almost certain you won’t leave feeling stuffed with just a galette.
If you’re looking at the sweet crêpes instead, the ice cream is provided by Birds of Paradise!
Overall, I’ve always enjoyed the vibes and food by the Merci Marcel group. With well-appointed interiors and a heavy focus on French flavours, it’s definitely what sets them apart from the game.
French Fold is no different.
I quite like what they have on offer, and it’s no surprise that they’ve already become so popular despite opening very recently.
If just crêpes and galettes aren’t quite your thing, worry not as you can also enjoy mains such as burgers and sausage dishes, as well as brunch favourites like Organic Eggs Benedict, Poached Eggs, Scrambled Eggs and more.
Expect to pay around S$15 - S$30 per person for a proper meal serving, which is understandable considering the location.
With what the Merci Marcel group has achieved over the years, I can’t wait to see what more they have up their sleeve.
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WHERE | 204 TELOK AYER ST, SINGAPORE 068640
