First Impression

Gone Fishing, a philosophy cum arts café, is a far cry from the boring, overrated coffee joints you’ll find in town.

On the 3rd Wednesday evening of every month, this cosy space transforms into a philosophy corner.

Hosting the café since Oct 2003, resident philosopher Lau Kwong Fook, who holds an MA in Philosophy from the University of Canterbury, hangs around Gone Fishing from 8pm to 10pm to lead discussions on issues such as clear thinking with just about anyone who is interested to hear what he has to say. He is now a freelance philosopher (giving talks to individuals, groups and organizations), editor and philosophy trainer. He even hosts a blog for reports and updates on the monthly philosophy café sessions held.

To Mr Lau, the Philosophy café is a concept, and hence it is portable. He welcomes anyone who’s interested in experiencing Philosophy, as it is his life mission is to “create gardens of rational thought in the jungle of irrationality that surrounds us”, according to his website. He professes to teach clear thinking, and philosophises in a real world context.

Hidden in the western part of Singapore amid rows of private houses in Hillview, this café certainly lives up to its promise of being a “casual space for the unhurried soul”. Indeed, it provides a kind of tranquillity that allows you to be contented just by relaxing in the café and simply watching the world go by.

At first glance, you might dismiss this café as having nothing much special to offer. With its modest-looking hand painted signage and a mishmash of furniture placed outside the shop, its exterior is hardly eye-catching. Unlike many other cafés which blare welcoming messages on signboards to attract customers, this one is kept simple and has a unique artsy style of its own. Yet this quaint little neighbourhood café exudes such a down-to-earth charm that many customers are captivated by its rustic charm and become regulars. Perhaps it’s because of its lack of pretention, or the way it doesn’t try too hard to impress that makes the place strangely alluring.

Service

As UrbanWire steps into the café to check out the menu, friendly faces behind the counter look up and greet us with welcoming smiles. The lady boss of the café, Joycelyn, steps up to introduce herself with a handshake. Her amiable and congenial character makes UrbanWire warm up to her almost immediately. She’s often seen mingling with the customers, especially the regulars, and takes time out to learn more about their lives or just to hear about their day. She is definitely a breath of fresh air in the area of customer service, by going the extra mile to know her customers personally.

Joycelyn’s casual management style also means that she welcomes customers to choose wherever they want to sit. She doesn’t clamour to impress, and likewise UrbanWire isn’t given any preferential treatment, which further confirms the unpretentiousness of its owner.

When asked for recommendations, a wait staff immediately suggests the Baby Baked Rice ($7.50) and Suzanne’s Roast Chicken ($9). Service is prompt and hospitable, though the café seems shorthanded with only 1 waitress serving diners when UrbanWire visited Gone Fishing on a Wednesday evening. Expect to wait at least 20 minutes for food during peak hours, due to the lack of manpower.

Ambience

The interior décor is cosy and aesthetically appealing. The first thing that catches your eye is a small corner of the café that directly faces the entrance, as it has graffiti adorning the walls. 2 black sofas are placed against the walls with a little coffee table in the middle.

Paintings are hung on the walls to enhance the overall artistic feel of the café. These paintings are often abstract, with some using vibrant bold colours and others that are seemingly darker and sombre in nature. If any of these paintings from Vietnam catch your fancy, you can even bring them home for prices ranging from $60 to $500. The tables, which are fashioned from the bottoms of old sewing machines, also lend a vintage touch to the place. The ambience is soothing and queerly therapeutic, with easy-listening music playing softly in the background.

Food

The Baby Baked Rice is the first dish to be served. It’s essentially baked rice with shredded roast chicken topped with cheese and served on a white porcelain plate, with plenty of fresh salad greens on the side.

The greens are fresh and serve as a good appetiser because the vinaigrette that is used as the salad dressing is slightly sour. The shredded roast chicken is extremely delectable as it is cooked to perfection with enough moisture, something even some 5-star hotel banquets can’t manage with their horribly dry chicken shreds. Gone Fishing’s chicken is sweet, juicy and springy without being an effort to chew. UrbanWire also likes the fragrant rice topped with a generous amount of melted mozzarella cheese that is baked to a rich, golden brown.

Suzanne’s Roast Chicken (not available on Wednesdays) is served with a similar side salad, and chilli sauce. The chicken thigh is succulent and soft, and the skin has a tinge of the sweetness of honey. The chicken rice and chilli make an excellent combination as the spice makes the steaming hot rice more palatable.

Overall, the portions are just nice, and don’t leave you feeling too stuffed or still hungry.

Other bestsellers include:

The Prata Wrap ($8); a Gourmet Polish sausage topped with ham and mozzarella cheese is wrapped in a crusty puff pastry. This dish also includes a side salad.

The Ultimate Cooler ($5.80) is a refreshing fruit-based ice-blended cooler that leaves a sweet and tangy aftertaste. Just the drink for a hot day!

UrbanWire’s Definitely Going Fishing Again

Gone Fishing is one place that seems to grow on you. The longer you hang around this café, the deeper in love with it you’ll fall. UrbanWire has definitely swallowed hook, line and sinker for this charming little café.

15 Chu Lin Road (off Jalan Remaja, along Hillview Ave)
Phone: 6762 9901
Opens on Tuesdays to Sundays, 11.30am to 11.30pm

Photos of Mr Lau courtesy of Gone Fishing and taken from Gone Fishing’s blog.
Rest of the photos are reporter’s own.