Cozy Corner Coffee @ Everton Park

The enclave of Everton Park has been filling up with the aroma of coffee with many cafes setting up at the different pockets of the small housing estate. After making a round checking out the different spots at the estate, we decided to park ourselves at the Cozy Corner Coffee. Partly is also because this is the least crowded cafe among the others in the area.

Latte 4.2/5

Nowadays a lot of cafes are so popular that it has become kind of too crowded and noisy to really have the own time to enjoy a read while sipping a cup of coffee. Cozy Corner Coffee has managed to escape the radar and I was able to have some relaxing time over a cup of Latte ($4.50/$5.50). I was very impressed with the latte art more so that it was made by a Chinese lady probably in her 40s.. Most barista are usually quite young so I was quite curious in the mismatch outfit of a cafe and a auntie making my coffee.

Latte 4.2/5

Striking up a conversation with the lady Barista, I realised she is the owner of the cafe. It was her passion for a good cup of brew that she opened the cafe. She self thought herself the latte art spending thousands of dollar perfecting it, trying out different types of beans and milk. She was so knowledgeable and even can tell me the preferred taste of her customers. I could sensed the enthusiasm in her when we talked about coffee. I admired her spirit and dedication in learning something new especially at her age.

Pesto Chicken Paninis 3/5

Moving on to the food, the menu is not huge but this is quite expected for a cafe. I tried the Pesto Chicken Paninis ($7.80) which was decent but not fantastic.

Beef Spaghetti Bolognese 2.8/5

I could tell the Beef Spaghetti Bolognese ($7.80) was prepared by Chef Microwave. Eatable but also forgettable.

Waffle with Banana 4/5

The Waffles with Banana ($4.80) was way much better. It was crispy, buttery and fluffy. We did not go for the additional scoop of ice cream which costs an additional $1.20

There is also a featured graffiti wall drawn by a Lasalle student. This is the best part of the cafe that I like. Rounding up my experience at the Cozy Corner Coffee, I think the cafe should improve on the food. Maybe they should consider selling more pastries, cakes, tarts or cupcakes which is quite popular with the younger crowd and this goes well with coffee or tea.


Cozy Corner Coffee
Blk 4 Everton Park
Singapore 080004
Tel: +65 93830485
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cccoffee
Website: http://cozycornercoffee.com/
Nearest MRT: Outram (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 830am - 730pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Cantonment Road towards the direction of Pinnacle. At the junction of Cantonment Road and Neil Road, cross the junction walk to towards the block of flats. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy @ Geylang Road

I felt like I was going to a blind date when I went to check out Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy located near Geylang Lorong 39 with Ian and Philip. It was not because of the boys but the fact I have no idea how my dinner experience will turned out. The internet has not been very helpful as there were basically no reviews about the food here. Will I discover a gem or just a waste of my calories? A big blue signage of the restaurant welcomes my arrival. Stepping into the restaurant it felt as if time has stalled in the 80s. The decor is very simple with white wall tiles, ceiling fans, wooden table and chairs.

Sour Spicy Mango Salad 3.8/5

After some recommendation by the owner, we started with the Sour Spicy Mango Salad ($4.50). The shredded mango was served chilled with topping of peanuts and dried shrimps. The salad has a good mix of tanginess and sweetness with the delectable crunch to it. Compare to the Thai mango salad, this is more subtle in flavours. I am not sure whether it is common for keropoks (prawn crackers) to be served in a Vietnamese salad dish but I am not complaining about it.

Fried Spring Rolls, Cha Gio 4.2/5

Next we have the Fried Spring Rolls, Cha Gio ($4.50). Instantly we noticed the spring roll skin is different from those we normally get elsewhere. The spring roll skin was crispy and has a chewy texture that was very enjoyable. I also enjoyed the fact that the spring roll is stuffed with ground meat instead of vegetable.

Seafood Spring Rolls, Goi Cuon 3.5/5

After getting excited over the fried spring roll, we made an extra order for the Seafood Spring Roll, Goi Guon ($2.80) We wanted to confirm that this humble eatery is the real thing. At a glance, we can see how thin the rice paper wrapped the fresh roll of rice vermicelli, prawn and vegetable. It was served with a spicy nutty dipping sauce that helped to accentuate the flavours.

Vietnamese Shaking Beef with Rice 3/5

This dish has an interesting name, Vietnamese Shaking Beef with Rice ($6.50). I asked the owner why the name "shaking". He replied that it was because of the cooking action of tossing the wok hence the name. The beef was very tender but the sauce was a bit too sweet and acquire for our liking.

Vietnamese Crab & Tomato Soup 4.5/5

When we mentioned Vietnamese cuisine, the first thought probably will be Pho or Vietnamese Roll. Lately I have started to appreciate the rice vermicelli soup which is not as popular with Singaporean. At Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy, you can try the Vietnamese Crab & Tomato Soup ($6). The restaurant gets their rice vermicelli from Vietnam directly. The quality was pretty obvious, it was not clumpy and the texture was silky. The tangy broth of fish sauce and tomato is further elevated with a few squeeze of the lime and some chopped red chilli. This is my favourite dish for the night.

Vietnamese Rice Noodles with BBQ Pork & Vegetables 4/5

The Vietnamese Rice Noodles with BBQ Pork & Vegetables ($5.80) basically is a dry version of enjoying the rice noodles. The flavourful BBQ pork was well marinated with a nice hint of smokey flavour. The bowl of rice noodles also comes with pieces of the fried spring rolls with ate earlier. To enjoy the rice noodles, poured the sauce spicy sweet sauce into bowl and give it a good toss.

Vietnamese Pancake, Banh Xeo 4/5

I was told that this is one of their most popular dish, Vietnamese Pancake, Banh Xeo ($7). The huge pancake was served with fresh lettuce. My photo did not do justice to the texture of the egg omelette. The egg omelette was as thin as a sheet of paper with a delectable crisp to it. Inside the pancake, there are bean sprouts and prawns. To savour the dish, have a bite of everything and wrapped it with the lettuce. It was quite an interesting and fun dish.

As the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover. To my earlier question, will I discover a gem or just a waste of my calories? I have discovered a hidden gem. The food here may not be of fine dining quality but it is cooked with passion keeping it as authentic as possible. Like my friend Ian puts it, the food remembers him of his Vietnam trip to the village. That says a lot about the food here.


[CLOSED]
Saigon Vietnamese Delicacy
749 Geylang Road (Near Lorong 39)
Singapore 389655
Tel: +65 96804363
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaigonVietnamDelicacy
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1pm - 4am

Direction:
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk towards the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Geylang Road. Turn right at junction. Continue onto Geylang Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]