The British colonial may have left Singapore since the country's independence, but their legacy still lingers around this cosy café just around the bend of Bukit Timah Road. Karma Kettle & Rhapsody even has an interesting name on its own – emphasizing the importance of a kettle in everybody's kitchen, when the simple joys of sipping aromatic tea boils (not literally) down to water singing in the kettle. Karma Kettle & Rhapsody dishes up recipes encompassing traditional European and ‘colonial' influences, seasonal menus combining those good ol' classics with innovative fusion with a mere dash of spices.

• The Vibe
  Tucked in a cosy corner of Cluny Court, this small and quaint café feels like stepping into a classic English kitchen. Picnic tables framed with greenery sit outside the white cottage windows, whilst the interior is decorated with wall sketches and paintings reminiscent of the old English classic storybooks. Wooden kitchen tables complete with blue tiles and matching wooden chairs, paired with equally classic marble-top table sets only add a pleasant finishing touch to the whole “Classic English” aura in the café.

• The Food
  This season, the Autumn menu offers innovative signature twists like the English Lavender Chicken, local fusion like Black Pepper Crab alongside with other British classics like the Eton Mess and Shepherd's Pie. Garnished with a hint of Indian spices, it would be a close resemblance of our impression of “British Indian” cuisine. For appetizers or for the health conscious, the salads are more than enough to whet the appetite. The Prawn & Melon Salad ($13.50) drizzled with signature dill sauce sweetens the senses with juicy melon chunks paired with springy tiger prawns. For a sourish-sweet taste to kickstart the taste-buds, Chef Eddy's Classic Green Salad ($5.00 for half; $8.50 for whole) sprinkled with polenta croutons and dressed with aged raspberry vinegar brings about a refreshing twist to the classic salad we are all used to. The raspberry vinegar blends the natural sweetness of raspberry with a tinge of sour – vinaigrette suddenly pales in comparison when it comes to salad dressing.

  For a warm version, there is Karma Kettle Roast Tea Salad ($8.50) which was a hot favourite off the menu. Diced potatoes, onions, tomatoes roasted and mixed in a lemon vinaigrette garnished with roasted green and Assam tea sounds a mouthful, but a mouthful of that delicious salad mix is a colourful palette of aromatic tea, lemon zest and a warm satisfied stomach.

  Off the main menu, there are previously mentioned dishes like the English Lavender Chicken ($15.50) served with herb rice and asparagus. Pan-fried and herb-reduced chicken breasts are tender in texture and juicy within. Topped with a generous serving of lavender sauce using real lavender flowers in its marinate, the rich and natural scent of lavender coats the senses in harmony with the relatively coarse grains of herb rice. Of course, for local delights, there is the Black Pepper Crab Sandwich ($10), with a choice of toasted bread available on the menu. Garnished with mint chutney, this home recipe of Karma Kettle is a hot seller, packaging a local favourite into an easy-to-eat sandwich on the go. Also a must-try will be Across the English Channel ($14), with seven varieties of mushrooms drenched in a creamy herb-flavoured parsley fricassee sauce. Mushroom lovers will definitely be delighted with this dish.

  To end the meal on a sweet note, another classic English dessert, the Eton Mess features a sweet combination of strawberries, meringue, vanilla sponge and marmalade served in a tall-stemmed dessert glass. Light, fluffy in texture and sugary sweet with every spoonful, it is both a pretty and sinfully palatable finishing.

• The Service
  It can be a little squeezy in the restaurant when the lunch crowd arrives, but the people at Karma Kettle seem to do more than just fine. Friendly and efficient in their service, together with the owners' passion and enthusiasm, dining at Karma Kettle is almost luxurious and relaxed.

The SD Food Advisor's take on Karma Kettle & Rhapsody
Perhaps it is the homely do-up of Karma Kettle, perhaps it is the infusion of teas, perhaps it is the warm service of the staff – whatever it is, Karma Kettle seems to have got it right. With the place packed every weekday lunch and weekend brunches, it looks like “East India” is here to stay, and grow into the days of reminiscence.