On my first visit to Ella’s Ca Phe House, before the official opening, the full food menu had not yet been confirmed.

Now, just a few weeks on, a large menu is displayed inside. There is a huge range to choose from, including vegetarian options of baguettes and rice dishes.

There is also a big range of fresh cakes including lemon cake, carrot cake, white chocolate and raspberry and more for £3.90 a slice.

Gazette: Menu - Vietnamese food and drinks on the menuMenu - Vietnamese food and drinks on the menu (Image: NQ)

I was also excited to see the Vietnamese hot and cold drinks menu has been written up.

Drinks include hot white coffee, coconut coffee, avocado coffee, egg coffee, Vietnamese pearl milk tea and Vietnamese roasted rice tea.

I stopped at the new café at 20 Sir Isaacs Walk for some lunch and browsed the full menu.

Vietnamese baguette fillings included five-spice tofu, BBQ pork with lemongrass and grilled honey chicken.

Gazette: Counter - fresh caked and drinks offered at the caféCounter - fresh caked and drinks offered at the café (Image: NQ)

Rice dishes included grilled pork and rice vermicelli, caramelised pork and egg and Vietnamese beef stew.

I was unsure what to order because there were lots of items I could go for.

In the end I went for the Vietnamese beef stew, as recommended by the owner Ella Slaughter.

I also tried some of the coconut iced coffee as well as the avocado iced coffee.

Gazette: Cosy - inside the new café in Sir Isaac's Walk Cosy - inside the new café in Sir Isaac's Walk (Image: NQ)

Gazette: Artistic - Vietnamese style murals on the wall inside the café Artistic - Vietnamese style murals on the wall inside the café (Image: NQ)

I sat down in the corner of the café, which is decorated beautifully with murals, fresh flowers and plants.

It was a very quiet weekday and only one other customer popped in whilst I was there.

The coffee was brought over to my table, and it looked incredible.

The avocado coffee was almost like a mousse, it came with a spoon and can be eaten like a dessert.

Gazette: Unique - avocado iced Vietnamese coffeeUnique - avocado iced Vietnamese coffee (Image: NQ)

It was very tasty, and the avocado flavour was not too overpowering. I would describe it as more of a sweet dessert, which was delicious.

The coconut coffee wasn’t as thick in consistency and could be drunk like a normal coffee. This was also incredible.

Vietnamese iced coffee is made with three shots of coffee and is very strong, but the sweetness of the condensed milk balances it out, making it sweeter and nicer to drink.

The Vietnamese beef stew was soon with me, as well as a grilled honey chicken baguette to try.

Gazette: Fresh - Vietnamese stew and baguette from Ella's Ca Phe HouseFresh - Vietnamese stew and baguette from Ella's Ca Phe House (Image: NQ)

The stew was served with white rice in a separate bowl.

It smelled amazing. It had been slow-cooked, making the beef incredibly soft and with lemongrass, ginger, herbs and more, the flavour was very unique.

It wasn’t too heavy but it left me feeling perfectly full. I could barely eat much of the baguette so had to take it away.

The flavour of the chicken wasn’t as strong as the stew so eating it afterwards probably wasn’t the best decision.

Gazette: Outside - window murals decorate the front of the café Outside - window murals decorate the front of the café (Image: NQ)

If you want something that isn’t too overpowering in flavour, then it’s definitely a good decision.

The chicken was flavoured with sweet honey and was accompanied by fresh salad in the baguette.

It was also very tasty, but out of the two, the flavour of the stew topped it for me.

I am eager to return again now I have had a taste of the food.

It really is a hidden gem in Colchester and I hope more people will soon discover it.