Crackerjack: Absolutely crackin' joint that serves up weekend brunch for sinners


Singapore's brunch game just got even stronger with the emergence of all day wine and dine concept Crackerjack along Tanjong Pagar Road. with the backing of powerhouse 28 HongKong Street team ironing out all the logistics down pat. Yes, we all know that I'm a huge fan of Crackerjack by night, roast chicken with chermoula sauce and dingley dell pork collar chop with a chance of sprightly imbibes including my favourite mezcal negroni; its hard to pass up a friendly invite to the joint. And we're talking any day of the week, any time of day.

Come weekends, the joint does a roaring breakfast trade that panders to the alcoholic side of me. If you want to keep it PG, the guys do some pretty bonafide coffee work that will have you raring to go through your entire weekend, but I would definitely do a 180 degree slant to the spirited renditions. But before the onset of early afternoon (when the lure is strong), couples fresh out of the gym and families with hungry kids are placated with cereal milk and fluffy pancakes, rich hippie granola completing the wholesome imagery.


If you're looking for the usual gamut of brunch suspects, you won't find them here. Instead, the new-aged eatery does a killer all-day menu which moves from bourbon mash bill grits to sweet potato hash to whole roast chicken for the whole she-bang rounded off with smashed garlic potatoes and blistered green beans. As easy as it sounds, the Housemade Sourdough ($8) is a must do, and it rides on the belief that the most satisfying feasts may sometimes manifest in the humblest forms. Crackerjack's housemate sourdough is flanked with a yellow cloud of Isigny Mere butter and Fords Gin Marmalade. Made from a local born and bred 4-year culture, the result is incredible light and fluffy with only a slight hint of residual sourness. If this treat doesn't bring a smile to your face, we don't know what will.


It all looks very tempting does it? Lean a little closer and I'll profess my approval to you. There's nothing quite standard about Crackerjack's offerings, it's a little oddball, a little confusion goodness and an ode to all the strangelets in you and me. The Sweet Potato Hash ($13) has my name stamped all over it. Leftovers with its potential maximised, drip tray beer is given second life when combined to form breakfast sausage (just imagine stout in that. L. O. V. E) with kale, sweet potatoes and baked egg on a hot plate. It's semi-southern, a little Californian and a hodge lodge of flavours that descend like a comforting blanket over your palate. You'll want to waddle back under the sheets with this bad boy. There's also the hangover slaying QFC ($16) or quinoa fried chicken, brilliant and golden crusted with quinoa to up the health quotient for those who are nonchalant to the fact that it's still fried chicken after all. This is flanked by spicy banana ketchup which you will proceed to share with the hash and a piquant jicama slaw.


For those who have been squirrelled in their holes on a Friday night, jump on the alcohol bandwagon and ease into the hustle of the weekend with Tommy's Margarita ($18),  a mezcal based tipple fuelled with lime and agave to tame the smoky fumes. It's refreshing and perfect for the sweltering heat outside. Or if you need your caffeine, slosh down The Coffee Drink ($18) - four roses yellow label, crackerjack's cold brew, angostura whisky barrel bitters; it's smooth, intoxicating and very seductive; in fact, a bit too much so for the early hours but hey! I'm not judging.

Brunch will reach a pinnacle once the Coconut Horchatas start rolling into the picture. It does help that the healthy tipple has a naughty side to it as well, brown rice, coconut water, lime zest and cinnamon proved well-needed hydration amidst the trip effects of tequila, rum or mezcal (you call it!).

A requirement for every brunch from here on out will be the Funnel Cake ($12). A webbed sponge yielding the maximum amount of golden crispy edges, is drenched in salted caramel syrup and graced with a generous quenelle of amaretto infused cream for that superlative hangover basher. Oh, and those shards of candied bacon? Be still my heart.


Crackerjack serves up the kind of brunch which you'd never dreamy about making yourself which ups the satisfaction factor by ten-fold. Served from 10am to 4pm on weekends, its perfect for the early birds and the drunk chickas.

Crackerjack
43 Tanjong Pagar Road
S(088464)
t: 8121 1462

Operating Hours:
Mon - Fri: 9am -12am
Sat: 10am - 12am
Sun: 10am - 4pm

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