Fatcat Ice Cream Bar

By Dejiki on January 30, 2015 in Food, Photos, The Café Tour

Fatcat Ice Cream Bar – Home of the Gourmet Charcoal Waffles with Salted Egg sauce.

Surrounded by the usual heartland sights and sounds, Fatcat Ice Cream Bar feels like a lost hipster child in the quiet heartlands. It is just a short walk away from the bustle at Bedok Central.

This ice cream parlour may be called Fatcat, but we couldn’t find a single cat inside. There’s one hipster cat hiding slyly in the logo, though.

It’s not a big place – the moment you step in, you can see almost everything. The ice cream counter, the chalkboard menus, coffee prep and plating area, and the kitchen beyond. Quite a lot to take in.

Design wise, the place is not unlike most of the other cafes. Simple, clean, flat. Semi-open kitchen concept. And there’s this real hipster vibe from the crew. You can just feel it.

Seat’s fairly cramped, because this little place packs more than 30 seats. Getting a table is one thing – getting the right table for your Instagram is another.

Being at Fatcat early is critical if you want dibs on items that are limited each day, such as the plated desserts and elusive Gourmet Waffles. Come when they open (12PM). If you want a good spot for photos, it’s an even greater challenge. On weekends, some people might be already waiting outside long before the place opens.

Back to the counter: Fatcat says they have 18 flavours to choose from here. Pistacho’s the popular one, we heard.

If you’re not staying for desserts, coffee or beer – grab a single scoop cup for either for $3.90 (Standard flavours) or $4.50 (Premium).

Plated desserts are offered at Fatcat, a step up and away from the usual dessert spots and cafes – especially one located in Bedok. The choices are rotated regularly, and limited servings are prepared each day.

Fatcat Ice Cream Bar - Lime Mojito Sphere

During our visit, we tried the Lime Mojito Sphere ($4.50 each).

Resembling an egg yolk, sphere melts away the moment it’s eaten. You get a rush – a refreshing burst of flavours – but also a fleeting experience. An opener to the main event – the waffles – later.

Fatcat offers two types of waffles in limited quantities each day. The Original Waffle – Brown Butter Waffle with Salted Caramel Chocolate Fudge Sauce – is available most of the time. The one that everyone’s been raving (and ranting about its unavailability) is the exalted Gourmet Waffle – Charcoal Waffle served with the Salted Egg Yolk sauce. More on that later.

Original Waffles ($4), which we added two scoops of ice cream – Butterbeer and Earl Grey Lavender. These are premium flavours, so it’s $4.50 a scoop. The plate costs $13 in all.

Fatcat Ice Cream Bar - Waffle with Butterbeer and Earl Grey Lavender ice cream, Hot chocolate, Latte

Enclosed with generous swirls of salted caramel sauce, the normal waffles are a delight. Plain and unassuming, it complements Fatcat’s Ice Cream well. Earl Grey Lavender is a creamy bouquet, with gentle hints of both flavours. The Butterbeer (not the one from Hogsmeade) is malty, with a light alcoholic aftertaste.

Latte ($4) – It’s a latte. Let’s move on to the most popular thing here…

Tom Haverford might’ve also marketed the Gourmet Waffles ($6) with buzzwords like High-end, VIP, exclusive. The gourmet waffle is usually sold out within 1-2 hours after opening. Rumour has it that there’s only enough batter for 10-20 gourmet waffles each day.

We chose to pair the black waffles with Earl Grey Lavender (yes again) and Pistachio (Premium too, $4.50 a scoop) – it is delightfully smooth, with a nutty fragrance. Another must-have-it-again flavour.

Fatcat Ice Cream Bar - Gourmet Waffle / Charcoal with Salted Egg Sauce, with Pistacho and Earl Grey Lavender Ice Cream, pouring the sauce 2

While “charcoal” would only give the waffles an unusually black appearance, it doesn’t affect the taste. Like all waffles served here, there’s a sprinkle of lavender to give a floral note.

It is the salted egg yolk sauce that brings the real difference. While novel, it did lend some surprise to the waffles. Pouring it on ice cream however, is superfluous, as Fatcat’s ice cream is strong enough to stand on its own. Actually, the sauce will certainly affect some flavours. And with sorbets? I don’t think so. They shouldn’t even go on waffles.

During my first visit, I’ve seen people disappointed and left when they found out that the Gourmet Waffles are sold out. I’d say forget about getting it for Instagram (because everyone’s already done that) and choose to make yourself happy. Give Fatcat’s quirky ice cream a chance.

So my chase for the Gourmet Waffles is over. Will I return to Fatcat? If they have an extraordinary new plated dessert, yes. For the Pistachio and Earl Grey Lavender ice cream, yes.