The_King Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Celebrated pastry brand Le Matin Patisserie finally found a permanent home in Ion Orchard last February after years of operating as a takeaway biz and at pop-up locations. Or so 8days.sg thought. Alas, it was not to be. Just a year later, the swanky cafe helmed by talented ex-Noma pastry chef Mohamed Al-Matin announced its impending closure on Instagram, taking its fans by surprise. Its last day of operations will be on 29 February 2024. Chef Matin, 35, previously worked as pastry sous chef at the ‘World’s Best Restaurant’ Noma’ in Copenhagen, and the now-defunct two Michelin-starred Restaurant Andre in Singapore. No part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg. 1of2 He started Le Matin Patisserie as an online biz in 2020, before operating from a small takeaway space at Raeburn Park later that year. This was followed by two pop-ups at Paragon and Robinson Road. The sleekly-decorated, fancy Ion Orchard 37-seater opened to great buzz last year, attracting long lines for its elegant pastries and posh brunch plates such as Crab Caviar Waffles and Chutoro Brioche Feuilletée. 2of2 What led to Le Matin’s sudden closure? So, what caused the premature closure of a cafe that seemed so popular and had much room for growth? 8days.sg’s phone calls to chef Matin were unanswered, as were calls to the Benjamin Barker Group (also behind The Assembly Ground Cafe at Cineleisure), which Le Matin Patisserie sits under. But we hear rumours from industry folks that steep rental at the Ion space, coupled with the high costs of churning out such refined, labour-intensive pastries might have been contributing factors to its shuttering. Moreover, some netizens on social media have complained about the cafe’s pricey pastries, which could also hint at issues with long-term sustainability of the brand within the mid-range cafe market after the initial hype dies down. There are also rumours that another Benjamin Barker-owned cafe or shop may open in the same Ion Orchard space, though 8days.sg couldn’t confirm this at press time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Le Matin Patisserie 🇸🇬 (@lematin.sg) Meanwhile, the folks behind Le Matin took to Instagram to announce: “While our journey has been filled with countless memorable moments, we have come to a pivotal juncture where we feel compelled to embark on a new chapter. After much reflection and consideration, we have made the decision to bid farewell to Le Matin Patisserie in its current form." The post goes on to say that the decision "does not come lightly". 1of3 Crab Waffles Signs of trouble since last December Perhaps there were signs earlier that all wasn’t well: at the end of last year, it was announced on Le Matin’s IG account that the cafe would stop serving their much-praised all-day menu from 1 January 2024. This included dishes like the Crab Waffles ($20.90) and Steak Frites ($42.90). 2of3 Kouign-Amann Instead, the patisserie only served its cheaper, more snack-friendly famous bakes, including Matin’s Kouign-Amann ($7.50), glazed with butter and caramelised sugar, and Pain Au Chocolat ($8) with Valrhona dark chocolate. Their Applewood-Smoked Cruffins, which 8days.sg enjoyed, were discontinued just before Chinese New Year. 3of3 Applewood-Smoked Cruffin It’s unclear whether Matin intends to reopen any outlets in future under the Le Matin brand, but the patisserie’s farewell IG post assured patrons: “We will meet again soon with something new and exciting”. Le Matin Patisserie will operate till 29 Feb 2024 at #B2-49 Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, S238801. Open daily 10am - 10pm. Tel: 6509 8801. More info via their website and Instagram. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Londonchocolateroll Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 As much as I like pastries, $8 on average for a pastry I jiak bey low Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zendude Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 1 hour ago, Londonchocolateroll said: As much as I like pastries, $8 on average for a pastry I jiak bey low Ppl rather pay $8 for wood Xuan's woodtastic treats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_King Posted February 24 Author Share Posted February 24 2 hours ago, Londonchocolateroll said: As much as I like pastries, $8 on average for a pastry I jiak bey low So expensive, I guess that 1 pc eat also can't feel a thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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