CAFE ACME mini｜Songjiang 松江 — Restaurant in Shilin District

As a cafe/salads/drinks snob who is usually used to San Francisco/california-type cafes, health-esque shops, brunches, etc., my brother really wanted to go here and I was nervous about how it was going to turn out, by by this was by all standards a good place and would still be considered ‘good’ in Bay Area standards where I live lol

you order at the counter than find a place. It feels kind of posh and the people in there at the time were kinda well dressed and on their Sunday day offs, so it felt like a nice atmosphere of people working on laptops or hanging out with friends. Maybe you might feel mildly out of place if you’re an ill-dressed, weary traveler such as we were, but nobody said anything and they were still really nice.

there’s a breakfast menu and lunch menu. They stop serving the breakfast menu at a certain time (I think it’s all the waffle stuff, the açaí bowl, etc- my brother wanted to get the açaí bowl but they stopped selling at by the time we were there at 1 pm) and then for lunch they have the toasts, ciabattas , salads, smoothies, and yogurt still. there are almond milk and oat milk substitutions. The yogurt itself is not sweetened

food: I had the avocado egg salad and the blueberry banana smoothie - brother got avocado toast, greens smoothie, and yogurt. Taste and dressing was on point, while it wasn’t the craziest salad I’ve ever had it was still by all means good and enjoyable. I really liked the smoothie and it tasted real, like tje ones I make at home. (Asked for no sugar and I think their yogurt is unsweetened.)While avocado and egg ended up being mashed up versions (like guacamole-like and egg salad-like,) that’s kind of an Asia thing so i couldn’t rly complain and it still tasted good.

service was really good, they were super accommodating and patient with trying to understand English questions, etc

⭐️4 for food ⭐️5...

“Hidden” on the side of a pretty busy street. There’s a large parking lot 5 mins walk, two really pretty parks, and a river path, perfect for an afternoon stroll after a meal and a coffee.

Food came out quick and hot. Flavors were really authentic. Not oily or overly salty. Portions were more than enough for me. The drink was a little more underwhelming considering the price and atmosphere. Good flavors but a bit boring in presentation. Could have a few more menu items but overall, great food.

Service - or lack of it. They have a QR code on the table for the menu, but you have to go order at the courter. It’s also cafeteria style so you have to fetch your food and return your tray when you’re done. IMHO this can and should be improved. At least let folks order on the app. A lot of people come here with laptops to work, luckily it’s safe in Taiwan where you can leave your stuff while getting your food but I find it unnecessary and really undermining the experience.

Atmosphere was great. Came here around 1pm on a weekday and it was slow. Lots of space, good vibing music, perfect for my alone lunch with plenty of other alone lunchers to make me feel like I have company. Simple and modern design to match the food.

They even have an app you can download for points and discounts which matches the whole vibe. Please enhance this by adding order from...

My mother and I recently visited this café and ordered an avocado cheese sandwich, a cafe latte, a cappuccino, and a feta and seasonal fruit salad. The coffee was excellent, but the toast on the sandwich was a bit dry and cold. The salad accompanying the sandwich was a pleasant surprise, and the sauce had a tasty, slightly spicy kick.

Unfortunately, the fruit salad with feta was a letdown. The so-called "seasonal fruits" amounted to three strawberries, and there was very little feta. Strangely, the salad included granola, which struck us as odd. After requesting more feta, my mother received a bit extra.

On a positive note, the staff were very friendly and accommodating. The atmosphere was pleasant, with enjoyable music and a comfortable temperature. I'd consider returning to work on my laptop or enjoy a coffee with a friend on the cozy sofa, but I might skip the...