Moody Cow Cafe (Paradigm Mall)

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)

Address: GFK-08,09 & 10 Ground floor, Paradigm Mall, Jln Mewah Ria 2, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia (Located within Paradigm Mall)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1rrgmuKrTLrYHpmV9
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

🫖 Throat Nourish Tea (Osmanthus, Pear and Rose) Pot = RM19.00
🍰 Signature Cempadak Madness (1 Slice) = RM46.00

SST Tax = RM3.90

 Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.
Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.

🍰 The Varieties of Cakes Available when I was there (Prices Included).

This is perhaps one of the Most Hotly Debated Eatery in this Mall. 🤔 If you were to read the Google Reviews for this, you will get a Whole Spectrum of Divisive Opinions about it ranging from Amazing to Absolute Trash. 🤔

The Reason for this, is because of how Highly Priced it is. 💵🤔 Some of the Cakes they sell here, especially the Alcoholic Ones can reach up to RM58.00 (S$18.00) Per Slice! 🍰😳 And yes, you read it right, some Cakes here are Alcoholic. 🍷 Unbelievably Expensive. So let us Slowly Dissect if this is really worth the Asking Price shall we? 🍰🤔

Interior of the Eatery

The Place itself is actually a Cafe located at the Ground Floor of the Mall. It does not have a Dedicated Shoplot but rather located right in the Middle of the Main Shopping Path, partitioned by Plastic See-Through Walls. 🤔

As you step into the Place, you will realize that despite having an Adorable Whimsical Name like "Moody Cow" with a Cute Cartoon Cow Mascot, 🐮😅 the Interior of the Place is renovated in a Very Stereotypical Medieval? Renaissance? European type of Style, complete with a Faux Mona Lisa Painting and Atas Fancy Looking Sofas. 🖼️🤔

Don't get me wrong, I get what they are trying to go for here, but I would describe this to look more "Gaudy and Cringey Bombastic" 😅 than actually Atas. Especially when this Renovation Design Clashed so Harshly with Paradigm Mall's Own Aesthetic itself.

From what I understand, this is a Franchise from Penang who are Famous for their Cheesecakes. 🧀🍰 Every Cake they have here is some Variation of a Cheesecake actually. 🤔 The Staffs manning the Place are Friendly and Polite. I was especially impressed with the Lady who attended to me, because when I asked for a Cake Recommendation, without Hesitation she selected their Signature "Cempadak Madness". 🍰 Impressive. I like Staffs who are Confident like this. 👍

How to Order your Food:

1) Before you take your Seat, choose from the List of Cakes up front in their Display Counter. 🍰

2) Choose your Beverage from their Menu. 🫖

3) Pay First before you go secure your Seat. Your items will be served to you.

Due to this Requirement of needing to Choose first before getting seated, it can feel Somewhat Rushed. You can refer to my Photo Collection for the List of Cakes and Beverages before you come to be better prepared. 👍 It took approximately 2 Mins for the Pot of Tea 🫖 and 4 Mins for the Cake. 🍰 Everything was served up within 4 Mins.

🫖 Throat Nourish Tea (Osmanthus, Pear and Rose) Pot = RM19.00

I'll be honest, I ordered this only because I thought the name "Throat Nourish" sounds like its probably Healthy to drink and also I'm intrigued if they will really serve this in a Glass Pot like how its shown in the Menu. 🫖🤔

I'll admit the Presentation of this Thing looked Impressive. Served in a Glass Pot that doesn't look like it came from IKEA, there was even a Tea Candle below to keep the Pot warmed up. 🕯️

What impressed me most is that this Tea is actually made from Actual Real Flowers instead of just a Cheap Standard Tea Bag. 🌸🌼

The Contents of this Teapot contains:

🌼 Osmanthus

🌹 Rose Buds

🍐 and a Real Slice of Pear.

All the Ingredients that they stated in the Menu are actually in this Teapot with Nothing Missing. 🫖👍 Especially this is the First Time I'm seeing Real Osmanthus and its such an Adorable Cute Flower! 🌼😅 Not only that, there are So Many of them in the Pot! The Whole Tea itself is Light Yellow in Colour that doesn't look Too Different from a Chrysanthemum Tea tbh. 🌼

As for the Taste, I'll be honest despite how Impressive it looks, I don't feel it actually taste like anything. 🫖🤔 To me, it just tastes like a Regular Hot Plain Water with a Very Slight Bit of what I would describe as "Flowery Earthiness"? 🌼😅 Hahaha I'm not a Tea Connoisseur so I'm sorry if I can't describe this better.

Protip: Let this Teapot sit and infuse longer before you drink it. This noticeably improved the "Flowery Essence" of this Tea and made it taste Better. 🌼 It was Especially Useful to wash off the Cake after you've eaten a Few Bites. 👍

The Next Thing I'm actually impressed with this Pot was when the Staff automatically without me asking came over to ask if I want to refill the Pot with Additional Hot Water for Free. 🫖👍 Hahaha, I bought this with the Expectation that there are No Refills, so this was a Pleasant Surprise. 😅 I'm not sure if Refills are Unlimited though. I'm much more impressed that the Staff offered to Refill Automatically without me even reminding them. Not Bad. 👍

Signature Cempadak Madness (1 Slice) = RM46.00

As for the Main Event, the Cake Slice itself is Quite Impressive. 🍰 The Width of the Slice is about the Same as a Regular Slice you'd get elsewhere, its the Increased Height of this Thing that makes it looks Much More Impressive. 🤔

The Bottom Layer is impressively a Layer of Chocolate Cake instead of a Basic Crushed Digestive Biscuit with Butter that you'd expect from a Regular Cheesecake. 🍫

This is followed by Cempadak Fruit, 🥭

then Cream Cheese, 🧀

then another Layer of Choco, 🍫

then Cream Cheese again, 🧀

then Finally Topped with Even More Cream Cheese 🧀 and Bits of Cempadak Fruit Pieces. 🥭

When you eat Everything Together, you get a Massive Injection Dose of Cream Cheese 🧀😅 followed by a Hit of Chocolate. 🍫 Just when you wonder "Oei? Where is the Cempadak?" 🥭🤔 It suddenly shoots through Quick and Fast as an Aftertaste. 🥭😅

Personally, I like this Combination of Flavours. 😋 Its Subtle, Sweet but not Overly Sweet. Especially for People watching their Blood Sugar, a Cheesecake is one of the Less Sinful Cake-Variation that you can eat. 🍰👍 Obviously you can't eat this Regularly, but because its a Cheesecake, it should not Spike your Blood Sugar as sharply as a Regular Cake although of course your Mileage may vary.

Addressing the Google Reviews about the Quality of the Cheesecake

Now some Google Reviewers, especially the Bakers among them condemn the Cakes in this Place until like its Completely Worthless 一文不值. 🤔

As someone who has made Cheesecake, I do have to agree that despite how Impressive the Cake looked, it doesn't taste Freshly Made. 🤔 This taste like a Cheesecake that has been in the Fridge for a Couple of Days at least. 🤔 That said though, it doesn't mean that they are Stale.

But if you are expecting a Cake that is Freshly Made, this is not it. 🍰🙅‍♂️

I can understand the Complaints about this because for such a Premium Price they are asking, it is natural that Customers would expect this to be 100% Freshly Made. 🍰🤔 I totally understand the Complaints here. If they were to lower this to say Half of the Current Price, I reckon most people will be able to accept this better. 🤔

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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At the Price of RM19.00 (S$6.00) for this Pot of Throat Nourish Tea doesn't look Cheap, but I still feel it is worth the Money because this is made from Real Flowers and Ingredients and not just a Simple Tea-Bag. 🌼🫖

The Whole Thing was also Presented Beautifully in a Teapot that doesn't look like its from IKEA. 🫖😅 The Thing that really felt the Most Valued for Money is that you can request for Additional Refills of Hot Water for Free. 👍 Now I cannot confirm if its Unlimited Refills but if it is, its quite worth to pay S$6.00 to share among some friends to sip on a Whole Pot of Tea that is made from Real Flowers like this. 🌼 Just remember to let it infuse longer to get a Stronger Flowery Essence.

At the Price of RM46.00 (S$14.50) for this Slice of Cheesecake is obviously Not Cheap. 🍰🤔 The Main Issue with this Cheesecake is its Freshness. If you are expecting a Freshly Made Cheesecake, this is not it. 🙅‍♂️ While Not Stale, this Cake does admittedly tastes like it has been in the Fridge for a Couple of Days.

And because of the High Price they are asking for it, it is Natural for Customers to feel that this is Not Worth the Money. 🙅‍♂️ This is a Valid and Legit Complaint against this Cheesecake that I 100% agree with the Google Reviewers on.

Having said that, if you don't mind the Freshness, this is a Cheesecake that is Actually Not Meant to Eat Alone as it is really meant for 2-3 People to Share. 🍰 I'm a Guy with a Decent Healthy Appetite that can eat quite abit and even I legit cannot finish this Entire Cake Slice Alone. 🍰😅

So Unless you are our Singapore 大胃王 Zermatt Neo, I feel No One is able to Solo this Alone. 🍰😅 At least not the Cempedak Madness that I had. Appropriately Named Indeed. It really is Madness if anyone can Solo do it. 😅

If we look at it from this Perspective and Divide the Cake Price by say 3 People, that will make it around RM15.40 (S$4.80) per person. 🤔 Still not Cheap, but a Much More Manageable Price.

I can totally see 3-4 Ladies sharing 1 Cake Slice after a Shopping Trip sharing a (Unlimited Refills?) Pot of Tea relaxing on their Comfortable Luxury Sofas and Chit-Chatting while gazing upon a Faux Mona Lisa and shunbian "打卡" IG Post or something. 😅 #DatTaiTaiLife When I was there, there was a Family of 5 who did exactly that. 👍

If you are the Type of Audience that this Eatery is going for, then it would probably be more Worth it in that sense if you get where I'm coming from. 👍

Ultimately, it is really up to you to decide if this is an Eatery that is suitable for you. 🤔 I am actually more impressed with their Tea using Real Flowers with Free Refills tbh. 🌼🫖 If anything, I can still recommend this Place if only to enjoy a Tea Brewed with Real Flowers like this. 🫖 No issues with the Customer Service as i got my Teapot Refilled Automatically without me even requesting for it. 👍

Although I'm giving this an Average Score overall, I actually won't mind coming back again, not for their Cakes but actually their Natural Flower Teas to Chill and Relax and People Watch. 🫖🌼 Do check with them and Choose their Teas that uses Natural Flowers like this instead of those that are brewed using Tea-Bags though.