Cafe 888

Food - 1.5/5
Service - 1/5
Ambience - 4/5

Cafe 888 belongs to that category of nuovo 'kopitiams' or coffee shops, which seem to have mushroomed everywhere in similarly new-age 'shoplots'. These modern 'kopitiams' are supposedly inspired by the traditional coffee shops you would find in every nook and cranny scattered everywhere in Malaysia, all carrying famous recipes unique to a family name or a particular town (I don't need to mention the likes of "Uncle Lim's" and "Old Town Ipoh Kopitiam" to you to understand what I'm trying to explain here, do I?)

::: FOOD
Upon scouring the menu, you will see so duly highlighted, the 'local favourites' and staple breakfast orders: "Half-boiled eggs", "Toast with butter and kaya", "Penang Fried Kueh Tiaw", "Nasi Lemak", even "Nyonya Laksa". Now whatever I've mentioned, ARE edible and actually quite acceptible, I mean, you can't really go wrong with bread and eggs, can you?

But the rest of the food (most of it at least) is.........very suspect. Below are just some of my gripes from returning trips there with friends:
- the Nyonya Fried Rice seems to have been soaked in the sea. (too salty)
- the Inchi Kabin was quite rare (didn't realise it was common to serve chicken uncooked)
- Wantan Soup - didn't pass the defrosting stage before reaching my table that time.

*Sigh* I could be really REALLY mean and go on about the FOOD, but there's more to be said about the service. ;-)

::: SERVICE
Now the 2 most important elements of any eatery, as any idiot would know, is the service and the food. Sometimes you could have really, really bad service but fantastic food, and it might still be acceptible if it was a true-blue kopitiam. Ok no such thing as the 'service industry' in the old days. But, if you had really, really bad food, and really bad service, then you really need to be shot for ever thinking you could make it in the food industry!

Cafe 888 has by now, after my frequent returns and visits, proven to me that it has earned its way into the "eatthis" hall-of-shame.

The waiters do not wait, the orders are not taken correctly, they reject returns for horrible tasting food until the customer (yes, me) complains to the manager, and they do not understand English. How wrong can it get??

::: AMBIENCE
Excellent ambience I must say. The place is very clean and pleasant to sit in. Cooling, interesting selection of 70's music. Kudos for picking the corner location which gives customers a good view of the busy streets, IF you're into that sort of gazing thing.

::: ADDITIONAL NOTES
Cafe 888 is well equipped with WIFI facilities. Spacious layout of the tables are also a plus. Perhaps this is its saving grace - its appeal to individuals on the move, who need a pleasant space to work in while sipping on a teh tarik.

::: DETAILS
Dataran Sunway, Petaling Jaya

::: PRICING
(to be updated)