French Fold is a new all-day dining concept by the Merci Marcel group which focuses on  French crêpes, speciality coffee and curated cocktails.

Located at 204 Telok Ayer Street, French Fold is housed between Napolean Restaurant and My Awesome Cafe. You can now have French crêpes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Photos by French Fold

French Fold aims to offer their interpretation of traditional French galettes as well as an array of French crêpes with modern flavours. Using imported buckwheat flour, the French galettes are gluten-free and paired with ingredients imported from France.

The food is complemented with an extensive drinks list comprising of both alcohol and non-alcoholic options. French Fold is a place where you can have a cuppa in the day and a cocktail during the evening. And all-day French crêpes, of course.

French Fold by Merci Marcel
204 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068640

We all know that in every foodie’s Instagram feed, it’s incomplete without one amazing shot of a cheese pull. There’s just something about melty, gooey, stretchy cheese that stirs a fire within the bellies of even the lactose intolerant, compelling everyone to test our limits of just how much we can consume till we break.

In the spirit of breaking our limits of cheese-consumption, here’s a guide to 10 ultra cheesy dishes that will make you melt (or test your level of lactose intolerance)!

Photo Credit: Burpple

#1 CHEESE STORY MOOKATA BUFFET – CHEESE DIP

Looking for that Instagram-worthy cheese pull shot? Look no further than Cheese Story Mookata’s Buffet. They offer a creamy cheese dip that is a mix of nacho cheese and mozzarella for that maximum stretch factor. It goes perfectly with their plethora of juicy meats and sweet seafood, giving it a richer and more satisfying taste. Did we mention they serve free flow oysters?

5001 Beach Road
Golden Mile Complex, #02-01
Singapore 199588
Tel: +65 86787876
Daily: Open 24 Hours
Nearest Station: Nicoll Highway

Photo Credit: Facebook

#2 LOOF – BCM GRILLED CHEESE

Where fusion meets bar grub – Loof is the place to be. Loof is an up-and-coming rooftop watering hole but you probably know them from their large Chinese lettering neon lights plastered all over Instagram feeds. Loof is also home to a special sandwich – their Bak Chor Mee Grilled Cheese, made with sourdough bread, saucy mushrooms, pork mince and ooey gooey cheese. You can definitely toast to the weekend with this cheesy dish.

331 North Bridge Rd
Odeon Towers, Roof Top #03-07
Singapore 188720
Tel: +65 6337 9416
Sun to Thu: 5pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Bras Basah/Esplanade

Photo Credit: Instagram

#3 MERCI MARCEL – RAVIOLES DE ROYANS

Tucked away in the streets of Tiong Bahru is Merci Marcel, a Parisian-inspired al fresco diner with a spacious, tropical-themed interior. Overshadowed by some of their popular mains is their Ravioles de Royans. Bite-sized spinach ravioli pasta is filled with Tete de Moine cheese and drenched in a creamy white sauce and topped with even more Tete de Moine. These little pockets of pasta are cheesy, creamy and fresh in the most decadent way possible. They also have a second branch at Club Street, boasting similar tropical vibes.

56 Eng Hoon Street #01-68
Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 6224 0113
Mon: 8am – 11pm
Tue to Sat: 8am – 11.30pm
Sun: 8am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

7-9 Club Street
Singapore 069403
Tel: +65 6438 3913
Mon to Sat: 9am – 12am
Sun: 9am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Photo Credit: Facebook

#4 SEOUL SHIOK – ARMY STEW WITH CHEESE

If you’re craving something with a bit of a slight spicy kick but still want that melty cheese goodness, Seoul Shiok’s got you covered with their Army Stew with Cheese. The spicy stew is chocked full of ingredients familiar to budaejjigae fans – pork belly, rice cakes, assorted mushrooms, spam, instant ramen and baked beans. They even top their stew with a slice of cheese. Hungry souls will be glad to know they also provide free soup refills should you run out!

10 Sengkang Square, Kopitiam Square
Singapore 544829
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Sengkang

#5 SHAKE SHACK – SHROOM BURGER

Probably one of the most highly raved openings in Singapore in 2019 so far was the opening of Shake Shack’s very first outlet at Jewel Changi in April. While they serve up some seriously sinful beef burgers and local-inspired creations, their Shroom Burger is unbeatable in terms both of cheese and wow factor. Just a bite into the deep-fried Portobello mushroom patty will reveal the piping-hot liquid gold inside. They were definitely hyped for good reason.

78 Airport Blvd #02-256
Jewel, Changi Airport Singapore
Singapore 819666
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Changi Airport

#6 THE BIG CHEESE – CUSTOM MAC & CHEESE

If you’re tired of overpriced and small portions of mac and cheese, you’ll brie happy to know The Big Cheese at Sunshine Plaza allows you to customize your own box of mac and cheese – down to the cheese sauce base. They have a wide variety of toppings so everyone can definitely find something to enjoy – from beef bacon, mussels and mushrooms to parmesan crumbs, truffle oil and dorito chips. They’re Halal certified too!

91 Bencoolen Street #01-59
Sunshine Plaza
Singapore 189652
Tel: +65 9326 7306
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 9pm
(Closed Sundays)
Nearest Station: Bencoolen

Photo Credit: Instagram

#7 POTATO HEAD FOLK – TRUFFLE CHEESE FRIES

You haven’t tried loaded fries until you’ve had these Truffle Cheese Fries. Located in a four-storey heritage building is Potato Head Folk – home to Studio 1939 cocktail bar and Three Buns Burgers & Cocktails. Sporting tropical-themed old-style décor and ambient lights, the place is a hipster haven. They’re well-known for their burgers and their signature Naughty Fries, a fusion of fries and chilli crab, but their sister dish – Truffle Cheese Fries – is also a stunner with creamy cheese sauce, shaved truffles, chives and even more truffle aioli on the side. Regular cheese fries won’t look the same after having this.

36 Keong Saik Road
Potato Head Folk
Singapore 089143
Tel: +65 6327 1939
Daily: 11am – 12am
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Photo Credit: Facebook

#8 TOBY’S THE DESSERT ASYLUM – LAVA CHEESE BURGER

Goodbye regular cheese slices in burgers and say hello to oozing lava in the form of nacho cheese. TOBY’s has recently added a unique twist to a seemingly normal-looking burger and it comes in a syringe. Thick nacho cheese is injected into the burger, creating a waterfall of gooey cheesy mess. The burger itself contains a juicy meat patty and comes with a bed of crispy spiced fries. The cheese goes well with them too! A burger can’t possibly get any cheesier than this.

8 Boon Lay Way #01-35
Tradehub21
Singapore 609964
Tel: +65 6316 2422
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Jurong East

#9 TONKICHI – CHEESE KASANE KATSU

When Tonkichi comes to mind, quality comes with. Insanely juicy pork loin has melted cheese sandwiched in between, making it an umami bomb with a crunch. Though fried to an inviting golden brown, Tonkichi’s cheese katsu is not overly greasy when you bite into it. What’s not to love when there’s both savoury cheese and tender meat in one dish?

391 Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City, #04-24
Takashimaya Shopping Center
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6735 7522
Mon to Thu: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

350 Orchard Road, Shaw House
Isetan Scotts, Level 4
Singapore 238868
Tel: +65 6835 4648
Mon to Thu: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 9.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 10pm
Sun: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#10 CHIR CHIR CHICKEN

Chir Chir is known for their deliciously golden chicken tenders, authentic to how it’s done in Korea. However, one of their highly underrated side dishes include an ooey-gooey Mac & Cheese that is absolutely indulgent, creamy and loaded with cheese! It’s also the perfect side to crispy Korean fried chicken.

Chir Chir has several outlets. Check out the full list here.

Nestled in an enclave of cafes in Tiong Bahru, Merci Marcel is a chic French café that took over the premises of the now-defunct The Orange Thimble. Located right next to Tiong Bahru Bakery, the café operates as a brunch spot in the day and transforms into a casual bar at night.

With a variety of French bakes and mains features in their daytime menu and an even larger assortment of hot beverages and alcoholic drinks, Merci Marcel is the perfect place for a gathering with friends or a romantic date with your other half.

Here’s a peek into what you can expect from this enchanting Parisian-style cafe in Tiong Bahru.

Merci Marcel is an Instagram-worthy Parisian-style café that emits a charming ambience and it is separated into three dining areas—an outdoor lounge, the main dining hall with a fully-stocked bar and an air-conditioned courtyard.

With natural sunlight filtering in through the glass roof, the cafe’s iconic indoor courtyard boasts the best seats for food and OOTD pictures.

The cafe’s delightful Smoked Salmon Burger (S$21++) makes for a wholesome meal that will start your day right if you are dropping by for breakfast. Their robust burger came with warm toasted bretzel bun, avocado slides, smoked ham and a side of mesclun salad tossed in olive oil and white wine vinegar dressing.

End your meal on a sweet note with a plate of French Toasts Brioche (S$17++), drizzled with honey and topped with summer berries. The French toast was very aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and definitely made for the ‘gram but the taste was not mindblowing and we have tried better ones elsewhere.

However, Merci Marcel’s signature croissant (S$3++) is a must-order! The croissant might look ordinary but the taste was phenomenal—it was one of the best croissants that we’ve had in Singapore.

Patrons can expect an airy and flaky crisp croissant baked with rich and creamy French butter which made it good on its own. The raspberry jam provided at the side gave it a zesty contrast and added an uplifting bite to the croissant.

Patrons can also look forward to other options such as Ravioles de Royans (S$18++) and three goat cheese platter (S$24++).

Coffee lovers will be interested to know that Merci Marcel outsources their coffee beans from Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee where the beans are roasted locally in Singapore.

Without a doubt, this Parisian café is gaining attention fairly quickly for its charming ambience and we would definitely recommend this brunch spot to our friends.

Merci Marcel
56 Eng Hoon Street #01-68
Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 6224 0113
Tue to Fri: 9am – 11.30pm
Sat and Sun: 8am – 11.30pm
Mon: Closed
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

Words by Fion Lee
Edited by Julee Ooi