It is easy to miss State of Affairs when you walk along Upper Thomson road. A relatively new addition to the Singapore cafe scene, it is nestled into the 183 Longhaus residential development, boasting a selection of Muslim-friendly delicious coffee, savoury dishes, and desserts.
You are greeted by its clear glass doors and modern industrial aesthetic, complete with round metal tables, exposed ventilators, and neutral colour palette. There is an open-concept coffee bar where you can see your drinks being made that oversees 3 tables on the first floor. The second floor holds more seating with a bar overlooking those below. If you prefer working in cafes, you are in luck – this place boasts an ample number of power outlets! It also opens early, starting 8am on weekdays and 6am on weekends.
Savoury Menu Items Like Smoked Potato Croquette and Smoked Banana Bread
The State of Affairs menu does not disappoint. There are an attractive list of coffees, including manual brew selections like Finca Milyedi ($9) from El Salvdor, that placed first in the Cup Of Excellence (COE) Awards in 2021, with notes of pink guava and red tea or Sakura Drops ($7) from Ethiopia, with orange blossom, blackcurrant and brown sugar. They do also offer espresso-based options available black and white for your choosing. We tried the Rio Brilhante as an Iced White ($5), and it was creamy and earthy, making it a fitting lunch-time pick-me-up. There are also non-coffee drinks like Iced Matcha ($6) and Orange Sweet Tea ($7).
Their savoury food items stole the show. We tried the Loaded Croquettes ($17), Grilled Cheese ($16), and Smoked Banana Bread ($6), but there are other items like a classic Avocado Toast ($14), Brisket ($19), and PBJ French Toast ($16).
The Loaded Croquettes are made with a base of their Smoked Potato Croquettes topped with pulled brisket and smoked beef fat. The croquettes had a crunchy outside and a fluffy potato center that is infused with the smokiness of a barbeque, complemented by the meatiness of the pulled brisket. It comes with five croquettes, which makes it a good portion for sharing (or perfect for one, we won’t judge).
Served with a side of tomato soup with tarragon oil, the Grilled Cheese has a mix of parmesan and Edam cheese between toasted sourdough bread for a satisfying cheesy bite. The finishing touch was the inclusion of honey in the sandwich to add a sweet note to cut through the saltiness of the cheeses. The tomato soup was also well-seasoned and packed with flavour, making it perfect for dipping. We thoroughly enjoyed both items and their other menu offerings sound just as tantalizing!
To finish the meal, we got the Smoked Banana Bread ($6). It looked unassuming, but took us by surprise! It had a dense crumb but was still fluffy, jam-packed with the sweetness of bananas and a hint of smokiness. The outside also had a firm crust that added good texture, making it the ideal tea-time snack to go with their coffee. They also have other desserts like the Sea Salt Brownie ($6) and CGSC Tart ($9) aptly named after its components of chocolate ganache salted caramel.
State of Affairs presented a gratifying experience from its great food options to its coffee selection, making it one of the more noteworthy new cafes in Singapore. We highly recommend giving it a try, it’s worth the trip to Upper Thompson! Follow them on Instagram to see more of what they offer.
State of Affairs
183 Upper Thomson Rd, #01-02, Singapore 574332
Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday: 6am to 6pm
*This is an independent review by MiddleClass.sg
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