Marlow’s Deli caught me completely off guard during one of my East Coast wanderings. Hubby’s been doing physio in the area, so I’ve been exploring lunch spots while waiting around. Googled for options and this place popped up. As a proper bread person who lives for sandwiches, I had to check it out.
From Wooly’s Bagels to Marlow’s Deli
Turns out Marlow’s Deli is the rebranded version of Wooly’s Bagels. They’ve ditched the bagels and now focus entirely on focaccia sandwiches. The Joo Chiat shop is basically a hole-in-the-wall with minimal seating.
You order at the counter, pay, then collect when ready. Simple setup. There’s public carpark right across the road if you’re driving.
The Drinks at Marlow’s Deli
Iced Matcha Latte ($7.90) arrived unsweetened without us asking. Perfect. The matcha flavour comes through aromatic and clean, with just slight sweetness from the milk. Really smooth.
Strawberry Matcha ($7.90) looked Instagram-pretty with its pink and green layers. Top portion tastes identical to the matcha latte. Bottom strawberry milk adds sweetness but doesn’t go overboard. There’s strawberry jam at the base. The whole thing works surprisingly well together.
The Focaccia Sandwiches
Salt Beef Sanga ($15.90) features slow-cooked salt beef (basically beef cured in brine), Emmental cheese, mustard aioli, and mesclun. The salt beef? Tender, moist, some bits flaky. Not overwhelmingly salty despite the name. That mustard aioli adds a proper tangy kick that complements the meat perfectly. The focaccia bread at Marlow’s Deli deserves special mention—crispy toasted crust outside, soft and airy inside.
Cluckin’ Good ($15) packs breaded chicken leg meat, Emmental cheese, sweet onion jam, romaine, and red onions. The chicken stays thick and juicy with crispy exterior. Sweet onion jam ties everything together brilliantly. Crunchy red onions cut through the jam’s sweetness and the fried chicken’s greasiness. Excellent balance.
Second Visit to Marlow’s Deli
Came back days later because I couldn’t stop thinking about these sandwiches. Tried two more flavours plus a side.
Iced Spanish Latte ($7.50) delivered sweet, creamy smoothness.
Chicken Tenders ($6.90) came freshly fried, proper crispy and crunchy. Great with chilli sauce.
Tandoori Chix ($15) brought authentic tandoori spice with onion crunch and yogurt sauce. Chicken felt firmer than the Cluckin’ Good but not tough.
Ocean Melt ($15.90) surprised me with its massive fish portion. Very meaty white fish, firm bite rather than tender flaky type. Zero fishiness. Not heavily battered. Could use more sauce but still solid.
Final Thoughts on Marlow’s Deli
These focaccia sandwiches rank among the best I’ve eaten in Singapore. If I lived nearby, I’d grab one from Marlow’s Deli every other day. Fellow bread people, you need to try this place. Fair warning—you might get hooked (like me). 🙂