We started off by ordering the Portobello Mushrooms, topped with turkey ham, gruyère cheese and pine nuts with some pesto sauce on the side. The dish is served with a side salad that is displayed at the salad bar. We decided to go with the Fried Eggplant with French Beans, Kicap Manis (sweet soy sauce) and Garlic Dressing (RM25.90).
Mien: Really really good. The pesto sauce accompanied the dish really well. The cheese wasn’t overwhelming. The pesto is possibly one of the best pesto sauces I have had. Also, the salad was good. Will order it again.
Kav: Cheesy, yummy goodness! The earthiness of the mushroom and the stringy gruyère cheese was set off well by the crunchy pine nuts. To my amazement, I liked the salad, as it was not too sweet despite the kicap manis.
Shiv: What a scrumptious delight! Would recommend it to everyone out there, especially vegetarians. I was also surprised by the salad, as I expected it to be overly sweet, but the kicap manis complemented the dish nicely.
Next up was the Spit-roasted Chicken with two sides. Again this dish was served with salads that are displayed at the salad bar. We opted for the Soba Noodle Salad with Eggplant, Spring Onions and Sesame Soybean Paste and Pesto Penne with Roasted Almond Flakes (RM29.90).
Mien: I love love love the soba at Ben’s General Foodstore. I MUST always order this salad whenever I frequent Ben’s General. I sometimes get the soba to – go for dinner sometimes. The roast chicken here is one of the best I have tried in KL, and the penne goes well with the roasted almonds. However, the penne was not done al dente.
Kav: The chicken was roasted beautifully – the skin crispy and the meat tender. The gravy was savoury and had a sharp herb-y taste, almost like a bak kut teh broth. The earthy flavours of the soba and eggplant were a perfect pair. Add a little chilli oil, and you have the perfect meal. Also, the penne was good, almonds crunchy, although it lacked salt.
Shiv: The chicken was fresh and flavoured well. Loved the accompanying gravy. Soba was very earthy and healthy tasting (hence why Mien lovesss it!) and went very well with the meaty main. Lastly, the penne was a load of greeny-goodness!
Shiv: The chicken was fresh and flavoured well. Loved the accompanying gravy. Soba was very earthy and healthy tasting (hence why Mien lovesss it!) and went very well with the meaty main. Lastly, the penne was a load of greeny-goodness!
Somehow, on this PLEASANT afternoon we decided to be adventurous and ordered the Fish Pie (we are lovers of fish but we are not fans of savoury pies). Again this dish is served with a side salad that is displayed at the salad bar. This time we went for the Marinated Button Mushrooms and Barley with Spring Onions, Soy and Lemon (RM29.90).
Mien: This made my afternoon UNPLEASANT. I was eating cream instead of fish! I am not big on the barley salad. I found it very bland.
Kav: OMG! Nightmare! Tasted like baby food with too much baby formula in it. However, love love love the barley salad.
Shiv: This was truly vile. I could hardly taste the fish, as it is prepared with too much double cream, and too little flavouring. Stay away from this one. The barley salad however is worth mentioning – love the lemon flavour.
As all of us were unhappy with the Fish Pie, we sent it back and decided to replace it with the Mushroom Lasagne served with some pesto sauce. This dish also comes with a salad. This time around, we chose the Roasted Beetroot with Walnuts and White Beans (RM23.90).
Mien: Not a big fan of the lasagne, as it was too floury and cheesy. The salad was very ordinary – nothing to shout about.
Kav: Tasted of uncooked flour. Will not be ordering this again. Also, I disliked the salad, as the combination of beetroot and white beans was too bland.
Shiv: The cheesy – ness of the lasagne was cloying, and the pasta tasted uncooked. Even the salad did not provide redemption, as it lacked flavour. Not one of Ben’s hallmark moments. =)
Funnily enough, on this particular afternoon, our stomachs were bottomless pits. We ordered yet ANOTHER dish: Lamb Shank Pie and with yet another salad of our choice – Tabbouleh of Bulgar Wheat with Chickpeas, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Parsley and Mint served with yogurt dressing (RM29.90).
Mien: Not a big fan of lamb due to the gamey smell. Didn’t enjoy this dish. However, the salad was flavoured well, surprisingly, as it looked bland. Do not think I will order the salad again though.
Kav: Lamb was cooked to perfection, and the savoury tomato sauce with mashed potato complemented the dish really well. The salad was good, as the mint gave it a certain freshness.
Shiv: Sinfully delicious! The lamb was so tender, it practically fell of the bone, and the mashed potato in tomato gravy was amazing. Loved the middle-eastern influence of the salad. Faultless!
After all that food, what better way to end the meal than with COFFEE!!! Mien and Kav ordered Mocha (RM8) and Shiv had Cappuccino (RM8).
*The photo only displays the mocha.
Mien: The mocha is so good! Better than Starbucks!!!
Kav: I am a mocha person, and this one is yet to be beaten by any other.
Shiv: Strong and full-bodied – just the way I like it! =)
Verdict: WOK ON!
Ben’s General Foodstore is an easy choice if you are undecided on where to eat. The food is good, but not EXCEPTIONAL. Pricing is reasonable, and its a go-to place for casual-dining. We will be frequenting the place again.
*NOTE: Ben’s General Foodstore also serves breakfasts and pizzas. The B.I.G Group has opened a fairly new section of Ben’s General, located just next to the first store. With the new store, the menu has expanded and now also serves burgers, hot dogs, sausages, quiches, lamb meatballs, pastries and more.
BEN’S GENERAL FOODSTORE
G17 & 18, GROUND FLOOR
BANGSAR VILLAGE 1
NO 1, JALAN TELAWI 1,
BANGSAR BARU
59100 KUALA LUMPUR
Tel: +603 2284 8790
Opening Hours:
9AM – 10PM daily
11.30AM (breakfast last order)
9.30PM (bar & kitchen last order)
*There is another branch of Ben’s General Foodstore at Publika. Details as below:
BEN’S GENERAL FOODSTORE
LOT 1A 83 – 95, LEVEL UG,
PUBLIKA, SOLARIS DUTAMAS,
JALAN DUTAMAS 1,
50480 KUALA LUMPUR
Tel: +603 6209 1717
Opening Hours:
11AM – 10PM daily
9.30PM (bar & kitchen last order)
And try the milkshakes on your next visit...they have best variety, not too rich nor thick and of medium milk content to bring out the respective flavours...particularly the nutty ones
ReplyDeleteAgreed... the milkshakes are good... not too milky... the vanilla ice cream that is used is good quality as well and further enhances the milkshakes.
DeleteThanks Surendran Seelan. :-)