Hands up, frustrated residents of the Woodlands-Marsiling area. If you’ve ever felt the indignant humiliation of having to defend your Northwest neighbourhood for its lack of any real café to chill at, or grab a luxury cone – well, those days are over.
Two Plus One is your regular artisan waffles-and-ice-cream café – nestled in the heart of the Woodgrove neighbourhood. Anyone who’s ever grown up in Woodlands knows that such an establishment is quite a rare treat; and the décor certainly stands out from the rest of its heartland-y surroundings. I’ve lived in the area since 2001, so naturally I was skeptical. But I went in on a sweltering Sunday afternoon, with an open mind and empty stomach.
First impressions certainly do count here; the interior is largely wood-furnished and has the same industrial vibe many cafés and Korean restaurants try to achieve these days – which is pretty impressive for Woodlands. It’s small – you can probably only fit five small groups at one time – but cosy. I can already see myself returning for comfort treats.
SO. A classic waffle ($4.50) and two scoops of ice cream ($3.80 to $4.50 each) does seem a little pricey given the location of the café, but then again, you’ve probably paid more for a dessert another time in your life. One thing’s for sure – the flavours are quirky and don’t disappoint.
The Mocha & Chips ($3.80) went well with the waffle, which was the perfect balance of fluffy and crispy. They also have a more aesthetically pleasing Charcoal Waffle ($6), though the staff herself shared that she prefers the classic. But the star of the meal was hands-down the Thai Milk Tea ice cream ($4.50) – light and impressively similar to real Thai iced milk tea. It had me instantly drawing comparisons to Creamier’s own Thai milk tea ice cream, and I’m proud to say Two Plus One definitely holds its own against this ice cream giant (yay Woodlands!) No wonder it’s the café’s bestseller.
Other bestselling flavours include Hazelnut Rocher and Chocolate Rocky Road, though you might have more fun trying some of the more unique flavours like Red Velvet or Crème Brulee. And for the local ice cream connoisseurs, you’ll love the Durian ice cream ($4.50), which tasted more like actual slivers of durian than frozen dairy. That said, their featured flavours do change daily, though you can probably bet on the bestsellers being sold all week-round.
All in all – two previously-ice-cream-deprived thumbs up. It’s a godsend having a chic place that actually serves quality desserts just minutes away from home, and the late opening hours means you can get your late-night pick-me-up with no problem. Located at The Woodgrove, Two Plus One is just a quick ride 912 bus ride away from Causeway Point, if you’re ever in the area. For now, the patrons are mostly expats living nearby (the Singapore American School is a ten-minute walk away) and the occasional slippered heartland teenager. All biases aside, I’ll admit it’s still very much a hidden gem, and pretty inaccessible for anyone who likes to relegate Woodlands to being a “godforsaken ulu land”. But then again, isn’t travelling to the ends of the earth for hipster cafés on-trend right now?
Address: 30 Woodlands Ave 1 #01-01 The Woodgrove, Singapore 739065
Opening hours:
Mon to Thurs: 1pm – 12mn
Fri: 1pm – 1am
Sat: 12pm – 1am
Sun: 12pm – 12am
facebook.com/Two-Plus-One
You must be logged in to post a comment.