Citrus By The Pool – Dive into Cafe Delights Hidden In The North

As a true heartlander within Woodlands, I am often envious of my friends who live within central spaces surrounded by trendy cafes and popular food hangouts. If I asked any of them to come over to Woodlands, they’ll most likely go “Huh, so ulu where got place to eat?” or “let’s go Johor Bahru instead”. Finally, the day has come when there is a café here in the northern part of Singapore that I can be proud of.

Citrus By The Pool is a Halal-certified café restaurant nestled at Woodlands Swimming Complex, which is really just a 10-minute walk or short drive from Woodlands or Marsiling MRT station. We stepped in and was greeted by retro-themed interior with cozy lights hanging from exposed wooden beams. Citrus By The Pool prides itself in its range of affordable food offerings, including Western food, Asian Fusion Cuisine and desserts. As a bonus, the café does not have a service charge built into your bills which provides for an even more pocket friendly dining experience.

Come on and grab a bowl of the Homemade Pumpkin Soup ($5.50) which is best enjoyed especially after a swim at Woodlands Swimming Complex. The soup is blended into a creamy, smooth consistency that is slightly sweet. I’d personally prefer my pumpkin soup to have a bit more spice, but you can easily add a pinch of pepper for a more flavorful experience. The Chilli Chicken Fries ($6.50) comes with crispy fries topped with minced chicken chunks in hot chilli and jalapenos. The tangy and spicy chilli chicken dressing makes it a great starter!

For a hearty quasi-western experience, you can opt for their new Sweet Potato Fries ($7.50) that comes with a choice of 2 homemade dips. Enjoy the tray chock-full of crispy sweet potato fries together with the wasabi and salted egg yolk dips, both of which were my absolute favorites. The wasabi dip was surprisingly sweet yet subtle, which differs from the usual horseradish mixture that stimulates your nasal system with a sudden hotness. The salted egg yolk is equally flavorful yet light on our palettes. If you’re a fan of mayonnaise, do have a go at their curry mayo and spicy mayo dips that are both rich in texture and flavour.

What distinguishes Citrus By The Pool is its offering of Asian fusion delights, such as their new Nyonya Style Fish Rice ($9.90). For less than 10 bucks, you’ll get a plate of steamed rice served with a sunny side up egg, deep fried fish pieces topped with a spicy and sour Nyonya concoction as well as sweet, crunchy vegetables on the side. The homemade Nyonya sauce is lightly spicy and citrusy, which pairs excellently with the crispy chunks of fried fish.

Craving for a sweet and savoury combination? The Fried Chicken and Waffle ($10.90) is definitely your go-to dish. The maple syrup – butter duo enhanced the palatability of the waffles, which were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. For the best of both worlds, drench the maple syrup on the fried chicken which has a lightly crispy exterior yet moist on the inside. We love this the most!

The Seafood Risotto ($16.90) displays an impressive mixture of seafood, such as scallops, squid, mussels and prawns, lying on a bed of white grains. I really enjoyed their personal take on the saffron-based cream which was creamy and piquant. The prawns in particular was succulent yet firm to the bite.

An all-time classic, Citrus By The Pool features their signature Tom Yum Seafood Pasta ($12.90) which is essentially a linguine dish swimming in their Tom Yum broth along with fresh clams, squid and prawn. The broth is characterised by its distinct hot and sour flavours that will be well sought after by fans of the Thai-inspired dish.

When life is uncertain, eat dessert first. Revel in the signature Molten Chocolate Lava Cake ($10.90), which is a chocolate cake topped with icing sugar served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberry. Cut into the lava cake to unveil a thick, runny liquid chocolate center encased with a slightly crumbly cake that screams guilty pleasure. I really loved the warm chocolate lava for its rich texture and subtle sweetness.

For events or celebrations, customers can now book the indoor or alfresco area with a view of the swimming pools. Takeaways, bentos and event catering are available as well. There is another sister joint, Citrus Bistro, which is now operating at Sengkang Sports Centre since December 2016. In addition to selling their signature dishes such as the Tom Yum Seafood Pasta, Citrus Bistro primarily focuses on light bites and comfort food such as Curry Chicken with Rice or Bread. With such value-for-money food treats, I hope you’ll come prepped with your sports gear and empty tummies. Citrus By The Pool gets really busy on weekend nights, so just remember to call and make a reservation for dine-ins!

This post was brought to you by CITRUS BY THE POOL.