After two years of being incredibly quiet, Singapore’s CBD is finally coming back to life – And if you are looking for a clean meal on your way to the office, it is time to visit The Whole Kitchen‘s newest outlet, as they now serve breakfast and lunch to gym-goers and businesspeople alike.
Let’s have a look and find out about the restaurant and their gluten-free menu.
The location, the place & the vibe
The Whole Kitchen Bakery Cafe is located in the CBD at the corner of Mccallum and Robinson Road – it is the brand’s second outlet, opened in late 2021, after a successful launch in Katong.
As expected, the place gets busy (yet not crowded) during lunchtime – but it is also open for breakfast and afternoon tea. The decor is bright and natural, and the staff is very welcoming—a breath of fresh air in the ever-busy CBD.
The indoor seating area is surprisingly spacious and doesn’t get as noisy as some other places – I can picture myself having coffee meetings and sharing lunch with colleagues there.
The food & drinks
The lunch menu offers a wide variety of 100% gluten-free sandwiches (fresh & toasted), salads, soups and other bakery goods. I had the Saigon sandwich with chicken, a side of the Clean Green Goddess, and tried the daily soup (pumpkin) and keto quiche. All of it was beautifully plated and incredibly flavourful.
The only downside: the portions are quite small – perfect for a quick lunch that won’t let you groggy in the afternoon, but you might want to consider adding one of their bakery items if you are starving.
I would also love for the menu to show the nutritional values of each item to make life easier for people tracking their macros.
(menu available here)
What are the healthiest options on The Whole Kitchen’s menu?
If we are looking at the most balanced dishes, the winners are:
- The Saigon Chicken/tofu Sandwich
- The salmon & avocado charcoal roll
- All salads with (with one of the protein add-ons)
What is not so healthy on the menu?
Because of the ingredients used to create compelling textures and flavours without gluten, some recipes can be pretty calorie-dense. This includes the keto bread, coconut cookies and most keto items, which need to be eaten in moderation if you are watching your intake.
From the breakfast menu, the only “guilty pleasure” is probably banana toastie – again, all-natural ingredients, but it combines fresh banana, the Whole Kitchen’s peanut butter and hazelnut cacao butter on gluten-free bread. Fantastic to recover from a strenuous workout, or share with your kids (they apparently love it) but not necessarily the lightest, calorie-wise.
Last thoughts
You don’t need to be a fitness buff or a nutrition junkie to enjoy the Whole Kitchen’s delicacies. There is something for everyone, and The Whole Kitchen CBD Bakery Cafe is a fantastic place to get an energizing breakfast or lunch. It feels so good to eat clean.
The Whole Kitchen – 2 locations
CBD Bakery Cafe – 120 Robinson Road, 01-01, 068913
Katong Bakery Cafe – 11 East Coast Road, Odeon Building, #01-16 428722