There are three things that must be on point to make an excellent cafe experience - service, ambience and food. Too often at least one of these is missing in the Singapore cafe scene. Image Credit: C Cafe Facebook Page
I was therefore delighted to discover a newcomer to my local thriving Joo Chiat neighbourhood that adeptly hits the mark on all three of these necessary attributes - C Cafe (standing for Cards. Choices. Connections).
C Cafe is a small and cosy cafe space with a minimalist, clean and tropical vibe. It’s bustling with energy from both the engaged customers and the energetic staff who genuinely greet you with a smile (beaming broadly enough that it can be seen even from behind their masks).
Image Credit: C Cafe Facebook Page
We meet the lovely local owners, Ashley and Nicholas and quickly discover this is more than just a cafe - it’s a passion, a labour of love - for not just food but also...magic!
Ashley was following every Singaporean parents dream - he diligently studied hard and headed to the UK for many years practicing to become a doctor. Returning home and only three months into his medical career he knew this was not his dream or his passion. So bravely he quit this well regarded profession to do something he loved - combine his passions for food and magic into the delightful C Cafe.
Image Credit: C Cafe Facebook Page
C stands for many things - Cho being Ashley’s surname for one but also for their love of magic tricks - Cards - so all the menus are designed like a deck of cards. If you’re lucky an impromptu and deftly performed magic trick will accompany your meal.
Choices highlights Ashley’s journey to leave the grandeurs of the medical profession for a potentially less stable path in F&B – following one’s dream being paramount to his life mantra. It also represents the choices we make every day – with his staff being aware that unless they can bring their full commitment to an excellent service experience then they should choose not to be part of his wonderful team.
Connections is of course the connection you can have with friends over a perfectly brewed coffee but also a tribute to the connection he formed with Nicholas back in their military service days – a connection forged over a mutual love of good food.
Speaking of good food, there’s plenty to rave about here. All four of us chose the highly recommended Avocado on Sourdough Toast (well-priced at $18++) – smashed avocado on artisanal sourdough toast, garnished with dukkah, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, radish, feta cheese and lemon – an alluring combination of classic and middle eastern flavours.
The other dishes heading to our neighbours table looked just as inviting – fresh and deliciously tempting. For drinks, we were impressed with the generous servings of freshly squeezed juices ($7++) – my favourite being the Jade Detox (a healthy combo of cucumber, apple, ginger, lemon, spinach and mint).
The teas were tempting and exotic being served in a divine deep green teapot adorned with gold embellishments – the Elder and Cream Black Tea was delectable.
It’s not easy to find a café that really gets the service, ambience and food quality just right. C Café has managed to do this and much more – we have already returned and it’s easily one of our favourite cafes on the East.
INFORMATION
a. 477 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427683
s. www.facebook.com/ccafe.sg/
