A bar on campus? Here’s what we think about the newly opened Pen & Inc

By Linette Leong

BAR TOP: Bistro by day and a vibrant bar by night, Pen & Inc is ideal for a gathering with friends. PHOTO: ZHENG JUNCEN

Pen & Inc
76 Nanyang Drive, #01-01
North Spine Plaza
Opening hours:
Mon to Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm

Students are now even more spoilt for choice in terms of dining options since bistro-bar Pen & Inc set up shop at the North Spine Plaza in October.

Tucked beside Kentucky Fried Chicken, this bistro-bar not only serves healthy lunch bowls by day, but also transforms into an upbeat bar — complete with a wide selection of alcohol — by night.

Bar tops and bartenders might seem like a misfit in campus, and the bistro management faced challenges getting approval from the school in its initial phases.

Pen & Inc Project Manager Alvin Chua told the Nanyang Chronicle that there were numerous discussions with the school management and the police before the alcohol permit was approved.

The bar is only allowed to sell drinks within the stipulated alcohol limit, and no shots are sold.

That aside, while the dull, nondescript exterior of Pen & Inc makes it easily unnoticed, your first step into the bistro will be greeted by the sight of a lavish bar top counter lit by cosy orange lights.

In fact, Pen & Inc is an amalgamation of an upscale and laid-back dining. “Pen” is a luxurious dining area with carpeted floors.

It is equipped with projector screens and audio systems, suited for faculty members who wish to hold their seminars over a meal, or simply to grab a glass of red wine.

Pen also features a separate menu with a more premium range of food to choose from. The set lunch menu, consisting of a starter and a main, starts from $35. On the other hand, “Inc” features a relaxed, lively concept with a communal dining area furnished with funky chairs.

Prices of main dishes start at $8, suiting students who wish to grab a wholesome meal without breaking the bank.

At Inc, customers can jam along with live bands — both hall jambands and external bands — between 7pm and 10pm from Monday to Thursday weekly.

For food options, the bistro specialises in Western-fusion food.

Juicy prawn burger with salted egg yolk sauce. PHOTO: ZHENG JUNCEN

The star of the menu is the salted egg yolk prawn burger ($16), available at Inc.

Pen & Inc’s rendition of the prawn burger features a thick and juicy prawn patty, coated with salted egg yolk sauce, sandwiched between soft and fluffy buns, lettuce and tomatoes.

Unfortunately, the flavour of the salted egg yolk sauce seems buried under the taste of the fragrant prawn patty.

The burger comes with a side of kimchi coleslaw and tri-colour chips. These crispy chips are made from yam and sweet potato, and seasoned with chilli powder.

The colourful sides also serve to make the dish vibrant and are pleasing to the eye.

Signature crispy fries drizzled with mentaiko sauce. PHOTO: ZHENG JUNCEN

Bar grub like french fries are a must to pair with cocktails or beers.

At Pen & Inc, the fries have four variations, namely classic, cheddar, furikake and mentaiko.

The clear winner of the selection has to be the mentaiko fries ($6).

The fries are drizzled with mentaiko sauce — a marinated roe of pollock and cod, and sprinkled with spring onions, a twist to the plain old french fries.

But the mentaiko sauce served was too little and would have been better if it came as a dipper instead.

There is also an extensive selection of drinks, ranging from cocktails and mocktails to beers and ciders, available all day.

(Left to right) Get A Life, Classic Mojito and Uni Life are sure to chase your Monday blues away. PHOTO: ZHENG JUNCEN

For those who want an added alcoholic kick to your mundane university life, order a glass of Uni Life ($10).

The vibrant blue cocktail is made of vodka, Blue Curacao, lime juice, sprite and diced fruits.

We were told that this zesty drink has one of the highest alcohol content in the menu, and will give you the energy boost you need.

If you fancy a non-alcoholic drink, Get A Life ($7) is the mocktail of choice, concocted with cranberry juice, orange juice, sweet and sour, and ginger ale.

Its refreshing fruity flavour also easily makes it the ideal drink for the year-round warm weather here in Singapore.

If you are planning a chill night out with a group of close friends or even a romantic date with your other half, you might want to consider this bistro-bar on campus as it looks to expand its menu in the coming months.