The Swiss Backer replaces Swiss Backerai, by now I realise how this was a complete replacement of the cafe with a completely new management and bakery items. I am an avid fan of bulk voucher purchase and by far all experiences have been pleasant yet this was one of those experiences that I have to document for remembrance.
As with all other vouchers, there is always a requirement for reservations which is completely fine by me. The expected rejections for a particular timeslot occurred and thankfully managed to nail a slot on a Saturday at 830am. Speaking to a stammering and unsure waitress over the phone was not the easiest of tasks – close to hair ripping-lip pulling if I had to categorize.
When we arrived on the dot, nobody bothered enough to welcome nor show us to our seats.
Stained menu.
Finding a seat in the small cafe was no brainer, I stood in the queue to make an order before the waitress decides to take our orders a good 5 minutes later. Even when orders were taken very simply, double and triple clarifications were made. The coupon was easy to understand and more so to execute;
Stained menu.
Finding a seat in the small cafe was no brainer, I stood in the queue to make an order before the waitress decides to take our orders a good 5 minutes later. Even when orders were taken very simply, double and triple clarifications were made. The coupon was easy to understand and more so to execute;
Choice of salad/soup
Choice of coffee/tea/juice
No choice of pastry nor dessert even though the voucher stated otherwise
Waiter: “Coffee or tea or juice?”
Me: “Juice”
Leaves for a good 5 minutes and returns.
Waiter: “What juice would you like?”
Me: “What juice do you have?”
Waiter gives me the most quizzical looks as if 1) I really should know what they have 2) I was speaking in tongues. Yet another awkward minute goes by before he rattles off a list comprising of Apple, Orange and Fruit Punch.
Coffee that was ordered without much fuss, thankfully pretty good.
Off the pack juice, nothing fabulous of course.
Coffee that was ordered without much fuss, thankfully pretty good.
Off the pack juice, nothing fabulous of course.
A sorry salad was served up – bitter leaves and drizzled with a tasteless sauce. Pumpkin soup was definitely the best tasting of the two and of the meal as I realised soon enough.
Sweetened cream soup with a slight gritty texture of pumpkin.
Sweetened cream soup with a slight gritty texture of pumpkin.
Beef albeit mild tasting was alot palatable than chorizo which was overly marinated with sodium and reeked of cheese. A mighty overload.
I was almost glad dessert was next. Once again denied choice, their daily dessert of caramel flan was against odds decent. Hovering between just right and over cooked the custard was decent.
The other tables of voucher users probably faced a far worse situation than me. One table sent the soup back, had bread rolls replaced and had a bemused face about their overcooked scrambled eggs and burnt sausage. I should be thankful at least one course was decent.
I am not sure if their freshly made breads and eclairs are good enough to warrant a revisit. One thing for sure, their service hovers between slow and unattentive. Brunch gone horribly wrong.
Swiss Backer Cafe
Frankel Avenue
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