Just don't order the coffee here.

The latest in the Corduroy clan of hip bistro cafes, Corduroy Cafe is a nice quiet spot in what is otherwise a sprawling, often overcrowded Vivocity.

Setting itself apart by being a traditional European bakery and milk bar (yes milk as in cow’s milk in all its glorious heavenly forms), the menu here is not unlike the other Corduroy at Bukit Timah.

But while sure the menu may read fresh salads, sandwiches, pies, pastries and desserts, nothing unusually spectacular you may say, but the unassuming dishes created by chef Henning Wittchen, a member of the Singapore national culinary team, actually pleasantly surprises.

I started with the Burgundy Salad with Poached Egg, a flavourful and tangy yet mellow red wine sauce dressing coated the salad, armed with a perfectly done poached egg that complimented the salad in a way even I’m a bit surprised I’m still going on here about a mere salad.

For mains it was to be a traditional beef stew (Boeuf bourguigon), this wasn’t as heavenly as the salad but wasn’t too bad either. The beef wasn’t overcooked, and the red wine in the stew wasn’t overpowering nor too little.

The highlight of this café, however, is its milkbar, where milk comes in a myriad of flavours like ginger or pineapple. There are also the usual smoothies like cookies and cream, but that’s only to be expected.

A note, however, about the coffee. I’m tempted here to say judging a place by the coffee it serves is like judging a hotel by its toilets, if you can’t get this right, I’m not sure I trust you with the other stuff.

But yes, having ordered a double shot espresso, I’m convinced the barista here ought to look for a new job. Hell, I make a better espresso than he does. Tepid, weak coffee in an espresso cup was all I got instead of a doppio espresso, and this on the second time after having sent the first cup back.

Otherwise, the place is a charming little nook with a great sea view to boot, and is really the perfect place for all day breakfast or tea and a good book.