Secret Recipe (Vivo City)

This is one of their newer outlet, but due to its quite open-concept shop, its doesn't have the restaurant feel. More like a cheap outlet feel because of its layout. The seats & tables arrangement are very close to each other (no privacy to chat with friend), feels cramp & suffocating here. Feel like got to finish eating fast to give seat up to the next person, especially during peak hours.

Also the staff in this branch is not so attentive / responsive, very slow serving. Maybe due to the layout of the shop.

Because of all the above factors, the food somehow lost its yummy taste.

I went with my dear for early lunch at Secret Recipe on Saturday.

Ordered the following: Vietnamese Beef Noodles $11.50 Catch of the Day with Lobster Sauce $11.50 Daily Brew Raspberry Cheesecake $4.90

To the best of my knowledge, Vietnamese Pho comes with lots of basil but i only have 2 sprigs of coriander in the soup. The soup is ok but too oily, you can see lots of oil floating on top of the soup. The beef is tough too.

The Catch of the Day is dory fish fillet. But the Lobster Sauce reminds me of only lobster shells and nothing as delicious as lobsters should be.

It was served to us minus the pitcher of cream which we requested for.

Despite we ordering the Raspberry Cheesecake and the manager confirming there is Raspberry Cheesecake, we are still served a slice of Marbled Cheesecake.

Even more unbelieveable is that when we requested that they changed the cake for us, they refused to because we have put our fork into the cake and they can't put it back into the refrigerator.

Firstly, it is unhygienic to return food that are rejected by the diners and keep it for the next order.

Secondly, the manager although acknowledged and agreed that it is their fault for the wrong order, still try to 'convinced' me to accept the cake. This turns me off greatly, and I decided not to eat the cake.

Thirdly, our forks were clear away when we ask for the cake to be changed, the manager didn't bother to give me new forks. The service level greatly needs major improvement.

I asked for iced water. But was charged 50 cents for a bottle distilled water. The manager did not inform me that the water is chargeable. Instead of bottling and branding distilled water. Try providing free flow water, which would be greatly appreciated.

Overall the staff lack attentiveness to diners. The service level is not there, sorry unable to talk about the ambiance.. because I don't feel any at all. The main course are just average for a cafe.

Definitely would never go back there again. Based on other reviews, the cakes are good. If you wish to patron Secret Recipe, try other branches.