I'm a fan of really good brakes on both wheels. My best fix gear has Shimano dual-pivots. My Mooney (also set up fix gear) has ear;y '80s Shimano cantis. My city fix gear has centerpulls. Nafac front and Weinmann rear. All three bikes are serious stoppers.
That said, all three brake types (four really, the Mafac and Weinmann, while both centerpull, are quite different) have their quirks. Ignore them and they will make my life miserable, like bad puppies. Address those quirks and I get brakes that work really well all the time.
Typical challenges - toe-in and squeal esp those Mafacs without the toe-in adjustment (until you get pads with it). Housing length - sidepulls and dual pivot: too short and the brake gets pulled askew when you tighten the cable to stop. Cantilevers - their near infinite possible cable and straddle cable adjustment (or next to zero on some brakes) with some combos being really bad. Cable runs: details that add kinks or tight bends, poor entrances and exits from levers, housings and guides.
You might just want to look at a bike with brakes like yours that stops well. Copy the adjustments, cable setup, etc. Try it.