Getting its inspiration from Amsterdam’s famous marketing slogan ‘I am Amsterdam’, this café is booming around the clock. Situated in the beginning of Haji Lane, the I am café offers tasty Western food with a localised edge.
No matter what time you pass, the I am café is always busy. However, unlike many other cafes, the staff is really friendly, helpful and never bored. As it has been more than one and a half years that I ate here last, I thought it is time to revisit and do a I am review.
This open-style café has a vibrant but still cosy atmosphere. A typical Dutch bicycle and street signs from Amsterdam make it a homey place for me to be, as used to live in Amsterdam for over four years, believing to know what a good Dutch café is like. However, the I am café isn’t pretending to be such, but is simply inspired by the lifestyle.
Although I am generally not a big fan of sweet coffee variations (I like them strong), I was intrigued by the iced caramel macchiato, which proved to be well-balanced between sweet and bitter.
I am… | Going Dutch
When going to a café in Amsterdam, there will be a portion of fries on almost every table. Hence, I couldn’t resist ordering a portion of Dutch fries with mayo. The golden brown and hand-cut fries were a wonderful reminder of lush Amsterdam evenings and actually tasted better than some of the Dutch originals.
Next item arriving at the table was the BTL sandwich, which stands for bacon, lettuce and tomato. The slightly crispy turkey bacon strips were lying on a bed of fresh lettuce and tomatoes, topped with Caesar sauce. Packaged between two toasted and crispy ciabatta halves. The sandwich actually is quite a good impression of what it would be like in the Netherlands – a bigger piece of bread with greens and meat. However, I actually prefer the toasted ciabatta over the bread-heavy Dutch version.
I am… | Pizza heaven
I debated between ordering a chicken satay burger (the Dutch love everything satay) and one of their signature pizzas. Opting for the latter, their Go Veggie Go pizza, I wasn’t disappointed with my choice at all. Both cheese and veggies were anything but sparingly distributed on the rich tomato base. The small crispy crust and the thin pizza base weren’t too heavy at all. Actually this pizza was my personal highlight at the I am café and surely had a richer taste than those from most pizza delivery services. Next time I might as well have my pizza delivered from the I am café. Most of their menu is available via FoodPanda.sg.
Besides the really good Dutch food interpretations, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. While some people might not like sitting in an open-style café and almost on Haji Lane itself, I really enjoyed the lively setting. It actually reminds me of the Dutch cafes, in which you will sit outside even though it’s only ten degrees.
I am… Singapore
Address: 674 North Bridge Road, 188804
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-11.00pm | Fri-Sat 11:30am-1.00am | Sun 11:30am-10.00pm
Follow this link to order online.
Travelling, eating, and drinking his way through life, Peter is continuously hungry for more. Always looking something new and exciting every single day, his day starts before the sunrise and ends longer after the sunset.
