Baskin Robbins Novena

Official opening of Baskin Robbins in Singapore

After a soft launch earlier last month at Clementi, Baskin Robbins officially launched their presence in Singapore with the opening of their Velocity Novena Square branch last weekend. The folks from Supermerlion were invited to join the rest in celebrating the occasion.

Opening.

The Novena Square branch was much larger than the Baskin Robbins’ Clementi outlet that we visited last month. Which was fortunate, since there were certainly a lot of people here today.

Greeting guests.

Some gift bags given out to the visitors.

Ice cream sampling.

Visitors were free to sample Baskin Robbins extensive range of flavors that evening. Granted, you could do it anytime with any regular store but at the risk of feeling guilty. The staff were especially friendly today, actively urging guests to sample the flavors when they just stood around feeling terrified of this alien concept (or as they call it locally “paiseh”).

Looks like the management have been working on improving the service which is great. Ice cream is best accompanied by a smile.

Variety is of course Baskin Robbins' forte.

Well...Caramel is technically sugar.

The flavor of the month.

I’ve said it before, that when it comes to ice cream Baskin Robbins definitely delivers. Personal preference will certainly play a part here, but I do enjoy the creamy blend of ice cream they offer as compared to the chunky kind more associated with other names.

Even here, the ice cream is differentiable from the ones over in Tokyo. As it turns out, the ice cream served at Baskin Robbins Singapore is all imported directly from its parent in America, which might explain the prices. Still my main qualm has always been the location of its previous branch, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this new store at Novena Square is the first step toward more centrally accessible outlets.

Ice cream cakes.

On the plus side, the staff were especially friendly today.

Actress Michelle Chong was chosen to be the host for the evening and together with the President of Baskin Robbins, gave a brief introduction to the concept behind the Baskin Robbins formula. After which, they declared the opening of the shop by eating out of a giant plastic ice cream sundae.

A certain television personality from Singapore was invited to host the event.

Introducing the concept with Mr Srinivas Kumar, President of Baskin Robbins International.

The head honchos of Baskin Robbins came down to open the store with the Singapore owners.

To celebrate the occasion, there were also a couple of contests that evening where guests could win some simple prizes such as ice cream vouchers. This were a lottery draw and a milkshake making contest. Skill, I could do but pure luck…maybe not.

One of the items featured on Baskin Robbins’ menu were their milkshakes. Customers can choose 3 ice cream flavors to make their own original shakes. Guests were invited to submit their own concoctions up for evaluation.

Yan's World Class Coconut Candy.

Coconut Mango High School.

Yan submitted a mix of “World Class Chocolate”, Cotton Candy and Coconut (one of their rotating flavors) for his shake. Considering how many shakes the judges would have to evaluate that evening, I opted for the lightest possible combination, a mix of their two tropical fruit flavors of Mango, Coconut and the neutral Vanilla. Kudos if you get the reference. Glad no one there did. No they didn’t have any banana flavored ice cream.

It ended up tasting like a Nonya dessert. Personally, I preferred the lighter consistency of Baskin Robbins milkshakes to the overly thick Once Upon A Milkshake franchise, since it fills a different need. But those who want something more substantial will be better off eating actual ice cream. It still comes down to preferences, but the fun here is that customers get to select their own flavors.

Gets.

I guess that turned out pretty well. Since I ended up walking away that evening as one of the winners with some token ice cream vouchers. It’s sort of Baskin Robbins’ corporate culture globally to hold contests and give out free ice cream from time to time. In fact, the first 100 visitors at the Novena Square store were given free scoops over the weekend too. You may want to check out their Facebook page, for other freebies.

End.

Hopefully, Baskin Robbins will be here to stay this time round. With new outlets at more conveniently located places, it could very well become the to go place to quiet an ice cream fix.

Baskin Robbins Velocity
Novena Square
238 Thomson Road
#01-72/73
Singapore 307683

Open: 9.30 AM – 9.30 PM Daily