Cava, Jalan Bangkung

After a loooong day’s work, we found ourselves craving for GOOD food! We had heard a lot about the food at Cava, a Spanish restaurant at Jalan Bangkung, Bangsar.

As bonafide tipplers, we have had drinks, but hadn’t got an opportunity to dine there.

So, we FINALLY decided to give the food a try!

Tucked away in the quieter area of Bangsar, away from the hustle and bustle of the Telawi area, you will find Cava, located on the same row as Leonardo’s, Opus, Madisons and Midi to name a few.

Cava serves modern and traditional Spanish cuisine. It is not your typical Spanish bar; it has a bit more of a ‘fine-dining’ feel to it.

We were served with complimentary bruschetta.

Shiv: Bad! Sugar was the only flavour carrying the dish. It’s a good thing that we didn’t have to pay for it.

Kav: Not one of my favourite things. Sweet!!!

Mien: Loved the bread they used. Found the toppings a bit sweet due to the presence of the sweet corn! Would have been better without it.

Gaj: I didn’t really enjoy it – generally dislike sweet elements in my food.

For appetisers, we ordered the following tapas:

1)  Cod and Kalamata Fritters (RM15)

Shiv: Was too tomato-ey and I could hardly taste the flavours from the cod. This dish was just too overwhelmingly tangy. No likey!

Kav: Alrighty, I guess. The sweetness from the tomatoes were overwhelming, hence I couldn’t really taste much of anything else. Overall, not great.

Mien: Hmmm… it was not tooooo bad… had a unique ‘Indian-y’ taste to it. Might actually order it again.

Gaj: This dish was just OK for me – not sure if I would have it again.

2)  Baked Portobello Mushrooms with Roasted Garlic and Walnuts (RM15)

Shiv: Fantastic! The meatiness of the Portobello married with the nuttiness of the walnuts provided for a merry marriage of flavours. Saved the day, where appetisers were concerned.

Kav: Yummy! Something about the way garlic and mushrooms taste together, makes me want to sing!!! Plus the roasted walnuts added crunchiness and a nutty flavour that elevated this dish to the next level.

Mien: Love this! The flavours infused well together, with a slight chilli flavour! Really good!

Gaj: I LOVED this dish – it was really good! Oooo..the garlic and walnuts just gave it an extra oomph –yumms!

Moving on the mains, we ordered:

1)  Galician Styled Cod, baked cod with olive tapenade cream sauce (RM58)

Shiv: Best main of the night! Super moist and flaky, and they were smart about keeping the flavours to a minimal, to allow the amazing fishy flavours from the cod to carry the dish. Could have come all on its own, as the sides were easily ignored with the fish being so fantastic!

Kav: This dish gave me a screaming……lol! The cod was fresh and cooked to perfection, with all its oily fattiness still intact. The tapenade cream sauce complemented the cod and was not too creamy.

Mien: OH MY DAYSSSS!!! TOO TOO GOOD! The cod – EXTREMELY FRESH, just melts in your mouth! The sauce did not overwhelm the cod… it was a good marriage! The mashed potatoes had been infused with truffle – so delish! Went back the next day again for it! Guilty as charged! :S

Gaj: AMAZE-BALLS! The cod was melt in your mouth goodness and the mashed potato – gosh, I could have it all day! Soooo YUMMY!

2)   Cava’s Braised Spanish Lamb Shank with Pearl Onion (RM56) (P.S : Can’t take the Indian away from their lamb! :P)

Shiv: Good rendition on this classic main. The lamb was done very well, with a nice concentration of sweet and savoury nuances. I typically don’t enjoy sweet elements in my mains, but this was excusable, as the juice from the lamb created a nice strong meaty flavour.

Kav: The lamb was cooked well. The gravy that accompanied the lamb had Moroccan-Indian flavours, full of sweet and smoky flavours from the spices, which went well with the meaty lamb.

Mien: Hmmmmm….. found this tooooo gamey… sooooo DISLIKE!

Gaj: The braised lamb shank was done very well – it was tender and juicy. There was a tinge of sweetness probably from the onion, but it was not overwhelming and complemented the dish well.

Finally, moving on to the dessert (we girls need to fulfill our sweet craving!) Surprisingly, we only ordered ONE dessert………Hallelujah!

We ordered Cava’s most famous dessert, the Chocolate Dream (RM16)

Shiv: Very ordinary and you can probably find this at any one of those commercialised eateries sprouting all over KL. The cake lack moisture and they relied too heavily on the subpar custard cream, which in-turn was insipid! Skip this altogether, please!

Kav: Blah blah blah…..very ordinary tasting dessert.

Mien: I am sick and bored of this Chocolate Lava type of desserts, hence it would be unfair for me to judge… but nevertheless….not a fan!

Gaj: This dessert was OK, a pretty standard rendition of chocolate lava cake.

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Slightly on the pricey side – RM185.60 for 2 appetisers, 2 mains and 1 dessert (4pax).

AMBIENCE:  Cosy and comfortable – perfect for a date and/ (or) a night out with friends. There is the option to dine alfresco, but be there early, or be sure to make reservations, as these seats get grabbed fast.

SERVICE: Good - waiters were pleasant, efficient and attentive.

FOOD: Tasty – this restaurant focuses on quality not quantity, which is a refreshing change.

CAVA

71, JALAN BANGKUNG

BUKIT BANDARAYA

BANGSAR

59100 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603 2093 6637 / +6017 356 0133

Email: mailus@cava.my

Website: http://www.cava.my

Opening Hours:

Mon-Sat: 12.00pm – 3.00pm; 5.00pm-1.00am

Sun: 6.00pm – 12.00am

Leonardo’s Dining Room and Loft, Bangsar

‘I am absolutely famished after that session in the gym.’

‘Yeah, let’s have dinner, how about Leonardo’s?’

‘Great idea, I have heard some good reviews.’

And that’s how we found ourselves at Leonardo’s Dining Room at Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar.

Leonardo’s is located on the 1^st floor and has a really cosy ambience. It was buzzing on a Friday night and a reservation would be recommended.

As we were starving, we decided to get straight to the food. =)

Basket of Bread

*We were served a complimentary basket of bread with olive oil and vinegar.

Shiv: A bunch of unappetizing looking bread rolls arrived to our dismay! Disappointing, as you would expect something a tad classier in a place like this. We even had to request for butter, as the rolls simply did not pair well with the olive oil-balsamic dressing.

Gaj: The bread was alright, pretty standard buns.

Kav: This was not bread meant for an olive oil and balsamic dressing, more like buns from a kopitiam that would pair well with butter and a cup of black coffee. Shady!!!

Scallop Wrapped with Bacon, RM32

Shiv: Whether you consider this artful presentation or the creation of a mad scientist, the loud trimmings were there for a reason – to distract from the awfully stale scallops. It was rubbery in texture, and the dish was not even flavoured adequately. A waste of a beautiful ingredient!

Gaj: The dish had so much potential, but alas the scallop was not fresh. The accompanying garnishing was really good though.

Kav: How can you serve stale seafood at RM32 a plate!!! Unacceptable!!!

Grilled Pork Chorizo Sausage with bacon, potato and apple rosti, RM38

Shiv: The piquancy of the chorizo was too subtle and the dish was just not savoury enough for me. The bacon and potato topping did little to impress me, although, the apple rosti did surprise me with its deliciously rich taste.

Gaj: The pork sausage was just alright. I would have thought that the apple rosti would have made the dish too sweet, but it was really good and complemented the dish really well.

Kav: Average pork sausage and as a whole the dish was rather bland (shocking, as we are talking about pork sausages-hard to imagine anything going wrong). The apple rosti was quite scrumptious as it was not too sweet, and in fact it added a little oomph to the dish. Not enough to save it though. =(

Pizza - Mamma Mia, jamón serrano, mozarella, rocket, RM35

Shiv: Not the best cured ham pizza I have sampled, but tasty nevertheless. The crust was way too thick and a tad underwhelming, but there was a strong porky flavour that came through and the abundance of mozzarella supported the dish well. The taste may have been escalated further had they used jamón iberico instead. Oh well…

Gaj: I enjoyed this pizza, the jamón serrano was delicious, and though the pizza was lacking in flavor, I still enjoyed it.

Kav: Pizza lacked flavour and the ham used did little to help the pizza. To top it off, the crust was thick and chewy. ‘Dear chef, please STOP trying to make pizza, you’re killing me.’

Ranjit’s Pasta, mushroom, bacon, chilli padi and garlic, RM33

Shiv: Deliciously savoury and the combination of ingredients used was genius. The flavours blended well, with no one flavour overwhelming the other, and the resulting dish was spectacular! Yummy-in-my-tummy!

Gaj: The best dish of the night, without a doubt! The combination of bacon, garlic and mushroom was good. Generous amounts of bacon served as well.

Kav: Alas, a dish I can call decent in this place. Pasta was flavoured well, with savoury bacon that was a good contrast to the earthy flavours from the mushroom and sweet garlic.

Verdict: WOK OFF!

PRICE: Expensive. RM160.10 for 4 dishes (3pax).

AMBIENCE: Cozy and comfortable – perfect for entertaining clients or simply a quiet dinner with family. There is a bar and lounge upstairs, with a louder and more energetic vibe.

SERVICE: Average. It was a crowded night and we had to wait long for our orders to be taken. Also, it can be difficult to get the attention of the staff at certain, less strategic tables.

FOOD: Mediocre. Some of the dishes were below par, whilst others were average.

LEONARDO’S DINING ROOM AND LOFT

61-1, JALAN BANGKUNG,

BUKIT BANDARAYA, BANGSAR

59100, KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: 03- 2096 2226

Opening hours:

5PM-1AM, DAILY.

Marmalade, Bangsar Village II, Kuala Lumpur

Looking for a place with a homely environment where you can spend quality time with your family?

Need a place where you can have dinner with your partner while your toddlers are kept busy at a safe distance?

Out of options on where to throw a party?

Are you food lovers seeking a sumptuous meal?

Well now there is an answer to all these questions… MARMALADE!!! It boasts a warm and pleasant ambience suitable for Sunday brunches with your loved ones or just a quiet night out with your girlfriends.

For the mom’s out there, not to worry because this place has a wonderful play area, so you can enjoy your meal while the kids entertain themselves in the play area situated adjacent to the dining area.

They also cater for functions, be it a fancy birthday bash or a scary Halloween party.

HEHEHE… now for the best part….FOOD!!!!!!!!

Spaghetti Aglio Oglio

Tossed with chilli, cherry tomatoes, and sundried tomatoes with choice of turkey ham and mushrooms (RM23) or prawns (RM24).

We opted for prawns.

Mien: One of the best Aglio Olios around! Not bland at all. There is so much flavor to a very simple pasta. Prawns and vegetables were fresh. Loved it and would go back for more!

Shiv: A truly excellent version of this simple Italian favourite. Every mouthful packed a lip-smacking savoury flavour, and a generous amount of fresh ingredients were used. LOVES!

Gaj: Loved this dish, the pronounced garlic flavour perfectly complemented the ingredients. A must try for olio lovers!

Kav: Pasta-al dente. Prawns-fresh and bouncy. Brocolli-crunchy. Flavoured perfectly, as the sweetness of the prawn, tanginess of the tomatoes and earthy olive oil was delicious together. To top it off, the entire dish had underlying notes of garlic and mushrooms. Loves!!! 

Spaghetti Pesto

With grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, sliced olives and cheese crisp (RM23).

Mien: The pesto was so good! You can taste the basil and the pine nuts! The chicken used in the pasta was cut to the right size and didn’t overwhelm the pasta and pesto. Possibly the best pesto pasta I have had in a while.

Shiv: Fantastic! A simple, earthy and classic version of one of my favourite pasta varieties. The pesto sauce generously coated the pasta, and the cheese crisps added a wallop of flavour to the already flawless dish.

Gaj: Agreed, the pesto was very very good. They didn’t stinge on the basil and pine nuts, thus resulting in a flavourful pasta that was not cloying, like other pesto pastas.

Kav: My favourite dish here!!! The pesto was done with just the right balance of basil, olive oil and cheese, with the basil flavour taking centre stage unlike other pestos I have tried, where either they adulterate it with cream or too much cheese. The acidity of the tomatoes provided a great contrast to the earthy pesto.

Spicy Lamb Burger

With rocket leaves and haloumi topped with tzatziki, served with sweet potato wedges (RM24).

Mien: Lamb too gamey… Hence… DISLIKE!

Shiv: Pales in comparison to some of the other lamb burgers I’ve tried in recent times, but not a shoddy rendition. The patty was juicy, but sadly, not flavoured thoroughly. Sweet potatoes added a unique touch to the sides, however, I didn’t care much for the salad, as it had raisins, which I so hate in my salads.

Gaj: Not the best lamb burger in town, but alright. It lacked the oomph that most lamb burgers have. I hate raisins, so didn’t enjoy the salad.

Kav: This was just alright for me. The patty was a little bland as it lacked that oomph. Loved the sweet potatoes as it was cooked through and the natural sweetness came through. Did not quite enjoy the raisins in the salad.

Avocado salad

Mixed lettuce, poached chicken cubes, peppers, raisins, walnuts, avocados, tomatoes, and cheese crisp with zesty mustard dressing (RM21).

Mien: Love this salad. It is so fresh tasting. The combination of the green apples with the avocado, chicken, cucumber and the vinaigrette is a perfect medley of flavours.

Shiv: The proof is in the produce! =) This salad was so fresh and delicious – the medley of ingredients pairing brilliantly, with little fuss made about the dressing. Calling all cynics: Please head to Marmalade to appreciate healthy food that is delicious when done right.

Gaj: I usually dislike salad, but the avocado was so so good. If I ever would order a salad, it would be this!

Kav: The creaminess of the avocado coated the entire salad, giving it body without overwhelming the other ingredients. This dish was flavoured well. Loves!!!

No meal is complete without dessert, so here we go…

Salted chocolate caramel cake

(*Note: The price of the desserts varies, please check with your waiter :-))

Mien: Good. Cake – moist, chocolate – not cheap, and not too rich. However, I felt that The Daily Grind’s version of this cake was better.

Shiv: I have never met a salted chocolate caramel cake that I didn’t like, but this one… OMG! This was too sinfully delectable. Every chocolate-y bite was so amazingly luxurious and luscious.

Gaj: Loved this cake! Probably one the best chocolate cakes that I have had in a long long time! Must have for all you chocolate lovers J

Kav: The chocolate flavour was enhanced by the salt, and the caramel complimented the combination of salt and chocolate. The cake was moist and delicious. Perhaps a little too sweet for my liking (certainly not for you sweet tooths out there).

Vanilla cupcake

Mien: Vile! Icing was so bad, cake itself was dry and just plain bad. No words to describe it!

Shiv: Very bad. The texture of the icing was funky, and the butter cake beneath the icing was dried out and lacked finesse. Also, the vanilla essence was too mild, and hardly recognizable. Overall, one big buttery fail!

Gaj: Quite bad indeed, the cake was dry and the icing really didn’t help matters.

Kav: Awww…this was just bad!!! The icing tasted like powdered milk and to top it off the cake was dry. Epic Fail!!!

Verdict: WOK ON

PRICE: Reasonably priced. Like any other café.

AMBIENCE: Very homely and conducive for family get-togethers.

SERVICE: Good service.

FOOD: Excellent. We would recommend the pesto pasta and the Chocolate cake

MARMALADE

1F-18, 1ST FLOOR, BANGSAR VILLAGE II,
NO. 1, JALAN TELAWI DUA,
BANGSAR BARU,
59100 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603-2282 8301

Email: marmalade.cafe.my@gmail.com

Website: http://www.ilovemarmalade.com/

Opening Hours:

10.00 am – 10.00 pm daily