As fussy drinker of coffee and tea, P and I were very excited when we found out that Old Town White Coffee (OTWC) is going to have an outlet here. We missed the strong but balanced xi mu nai cha and the fragant white coffee that packed a wallop.
During our previous stays at Melaka, we visited the outlet at Padawan almost everyday for our tea.
The moment has been etched in our brain, the late afternoon teabreak, and tucking in a wonderful cup of beverage (we ordered 3 rounds FYI) in a nicely decorated cafe overlooking the shopping crowd. The cafe was busy, but we feel so isolated. It was really a moment to cherish, I look forward to going back there and I really hope the standards have not dropped yet.
Fast forward to recent times, the OTWC from outside looks like it has bags of potential.
Some thoughts have been given into the decor and settings. or so what we think.
Last Saturday, we visited this outlet for the 3rd time.
And I feel that it is safe to say, the settings, food, beverage and service is way behind their MY counterparts.
The ambiance is still poor due to glass walls and lack of demarkation of the kitchen and dining area.
There is a need for softening features like curtains or soundproofing panels to absorb the general clatter of the place.
The Xi Mu Nai Cha is particularly disappointing (again), for that price, I am better off getting my fix from a kopitiam anywhere. It is weak and lack any character at all! 1/10 rating from me.
The thing is that we complained to the in-charge that the tea is too weak.
He insisted that it is done to "SOP" and implying that we should accept it.
I told him that this is not what I expect of, from this beverage.
His curt reply was that he is a MYsian and he knows the standards.
Well, i cut him off by saying that I want him to strengthen it no matter what.
The Assam laksa was still equally disappointing, with a small piece of sardine topping a bowl of watered down gravy with the noodle way too soft. Not the standard we associated OTWC with.
However, the redeeming factor was the Iced Kopi Gao, strong and fragrant. Maybe abit too dark for P, but was just nice for me. The "thick" toast is so-so only.
In summary, we felt that the food standards are watered down either due to price pressure or to suit "local" taste. Or maybe the staff here are just clueless what a good cup of tea or coffee means to OTWC's customers.
It doesn't means that we will stop patronising them, but after 3 relatively disappointing visits, we will think twice before stepping into the outlet again.
CB..