Rise: Aesthetic bakery under a HDB with circular rose teacakes and matcha tarts
When walking along the Potong Pasir neighbourhood, you may come across Rise, a bakery cafe with a bright storefront that stands out due to its pretty pink hues.
Rise opened in 2022, selling cakes, bakes, waffles, gelato and beverages. Soon after it first opened its doors, it quickly shot to popularity online due to its Instagram-worthy food, interior and unique offerings.
I paid a visit to Rise on a weekday afternoon and was pretty thankful that the cafe was not too busy. With baked goods ranging from pastries like croissants to sliced cakes and circular cakes, I was spoilt for choice!
What I tried at Rise
The cake on display that caught my eye the most was the Raspberry Lychee Rose Teacake (S$8.20), a circular cake topped with beautiful pink icing and dusted with flower petals and gold flakes. I was amused at how the appearance of this cake resembled a doughnut.
The Raspberry Lychee Rose Teacake had a strong floral aroma from the rose, and there were even little pieces of lychee embedded within the cake. The icing had a mild tanginess from the raspberry element, and I loved how the three flavours melded together perfectly to create a dessert that was impressive both in terms of taste and visuals.
Similarly Rise’s Strawberry Cheesecake Teacake (S$8.20) had a recognisable circular shape. The cake was covered in a layer of cheese-flavoured cream and topped with a whole strawberry.
When I cut into the cake, I was surprised to find crushed bits of graham crackers within the cake. The graham crackers were salty and crunchy, adding a nice texture to the crumbly and dense cake.
I found that the cheesecake element could have been stronger, as the taste of the cheese cream on top was on the milder side. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the Strawberry Cheesecake Teacake and despite its simple appearance, it did not disappoint in taste.
Next, I had the Pistachio Honeycomb Cake (S$8.50), which is made with pistachio sponge cake, bits of crushed pistachio and honeycomb brittle.
The cake had a soft texture, and I enjoyed how nutty and aromatic the pistachio element was. Pistachio lovers won’t be disappointed by the generosity of the pistachios throughout the cake. The cream was light and not cloying, but I found that the honeycomb aspect of the cake was lacking, as there was only a single piece of honeycomb on top.
As a lover of both matcha and tarts, I could not forgo trying the Uji Matcha Nama Tart (S$7.20, no longer featured on menu), made with premium Kyoto matcha and white chocolate.
The matcha filling was dense and thick with a strong matcha profile. The white chocolate within the filling was not overly sweet and balanced out the bitterness of the matcha nicely. The tart base was a little soft, but had a nice buttery fragrance that complemented the sweet fillings.
The final cake I tried was the Speculoos Cookie Cheesecake (S$8.50), made with spiced biscoff cookies, cream cheese and salted caramel glaze.
I’ve had my fair share of speculoos cheesecakes, but I think Rise’s version takes the cake (no pun intended). The cheesecake was thick and creamy with a smooth and luscious texture, and I was surprised at the depth of its flavour, with sweet and salty notes of caramel and cinnamon that gave the Speculoos Cookie Cheesecake a complex and comforting taste.
I ended off with Rise’s Brown Butter Waffle (S$8.90), which came with a small saucer of maple syrup. I also opted to add on a scoop of Lemoncurd Speculoos Gelato (S$4.20) to make the waffles extra satisfying.
The Brown Butter Waffles on their own were sweet and aromatic with a noticeable fragrance from the brown butter element. They were crisp on the outside with a soft and cakey interior, and when paired with the maple syrup, they were a delectable and comforting dessert.
The Lemoncurd Speculoos Gelato, on the other hand, was rich and creamy with a light zesty flavour. It was refreshing and not overly sour, and the crushed bits of speculoos cookies gave it a bit of a caramelised flavour and a slightly crunchy texture.
As far as waffles and gelato go, Rise offered a fantastic take on the dessert.
Final thoughts
I can safely say that Rise is a cafe with desserts that taste as good as they look. Their products are priced at relatively reasonable rates, and the outstanding presentation of each dish warrants praise.
With its cosy dining space, beautiful interior and incredible food, Rise is a place that I would most definitely return to in the future!
Expected damage: S$7 – S$20 per pax
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