Rebecca Lim is a familiar name to many, an actress with a calm, steady screen presence who is well-liked by audiences
Don’t be surprised if you spot her serving sandwiches and coffee in the CBD.
Turns out, she co-founded The Test Kitchen at Cross Street Exchange at Telok Ayer together with her family members.
It all began as a home-based bakery called The Lims’ Kitchen, which she ran with her brother and sister-in-law.
Eventually, they took the leap to open this bricks-and-mortar bakery-cafe.
Design-wise, the space blends sleek maroon curves with stone-textured counters that feel sculpted and grounded.
Natural light floods in through large windows and gives the place a modern warmth. Though it’s really more a functional space for the CBD folks.
Rebecca happened to be there when I visited. She was chatting with the lunch crowd and patiently explaining the menu to curious customers. No airs at all.
Food-wise, you get sandwiches, mezze bowls, and pastries. Some recipes draw from local roots. Others feel more modern, even playful.
Sandwich options include Babe’s Babi Assam Baggie with tamarind pork belly ($14), Turkey Baggie with gribiche and veg ($15), Fried Chicken Focaccia with slaw ($14), The Parisien with ham and mustard ($12), and Roast Beef Baggie with wagyu and mushrooms ($15).
Mezze bowls include a Mushroom version with kale, hummus and sourdough ($13.50), or Eggplant with baba ghanoush ($12.50).
Add-ons like Chicken Yakitori ($4), Wagyu Beef Rump ($5.50), and Onsen Egg ($2) round out the choices.
The Mushroom Mezze Bowl landed better than I expected. I added yakitori to give it some meat, and it worked.
The skewers had good char and a bit of bite. The mushrooms were the star though, being well-seasoned and warm, folded into kale and quinoa that held up without feeling too clean or bland.
The chickpea hummus brought a soft, nutty layer that smoothed everything out. Light, but not boring.
The pastries show where the team shines, with offerings like Cronigiri, Egg Tart, Pain Suisse, Croissant, and Kaya Honey Butter Toast.
The Rondo was eye-catching, shaped like a cruffin and stuffed with flavours like strawberry or Milo Dino.
But my heart went to the Kaya Honey Butter Toast which was sweet and unapologetically indulgent.
Each piece was made with chunky slices of house-made bread, with deep caramelised brown on the outside.
The crust was crisp, almost crackly, with a golden sheen from the butter and sugar.
Sandwiched in between is a generous layer of kaya and butter, which oozes slightly at the edges.
A sweet, sticky nod to the classic.
The coffee was just okay though. Not bad but not memorable either.
The Test Kitchen feels like a family project done right. Thoughtful, a little quirky, not over-polished.
Rebecca also mentioned to give their Egg Tarts (those are her favourite) a try the next time I return. And I will.
The Test Kitchen
Cross Street Exchange #01-13, 18 Cross St, Singapore 048423
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 4pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun
Other Related Entries
Wheathead (One-North Eden)
Kwaa Song Bake House (IOI Central Boulevard)
Kamome Bakery (Orchard Paragon)
Cakebar (Punggol Waterway Point)
Lean & Rich Bakery (UE Square)
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