Capri Restaurant Bar and Pizzeria, Lumut

A recent visit to the coastal town of Lumut had us prowling the area for a suitable location to enjoy a leisurely lunch with loved ones. Once a fishing village, it is now the home base of the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Lumut jetty forms the entry point to the famed Pangkor Island – a popular tourist destination.

No doubt, Lumut is well-known for its abundance in seafood items, and as such, we chose to dine at an Italian-inspired restaurant, located unassumingly at one of the back alleys of the town.

Our samplings for the day included:

Pizza Salmone e Capperi – Smoked salmon and capers (RM36).

Shiv: Delicious! The salmon was super fresh and smoked to perfection and capers added a nice tartness to the pizza. The crust was done well and the resulting dish was just sublime.

Kav: The pizza was simply delicious. The smoked flavor from the salmon was complimented by the piquant flavours from the capers. The best part…unlike most salmon pizzas, this one did not have a cream cheese topping.

Linguine ai Gamberi e Capperi – Prawns and capers in spicy garlic sauce (RM26).

Shiv: The pasta was al dente and the prawns were succulent and flavourful. The spicy garlic sauce was deliciously savoury and carried the dish amazingly. Yummylicious!

Kav: The pasta was well quoted with the spicy garlic sauce. The fresh prawns and the accompanying flavors from the olives and capers made this dish grand.

Fish & Chips – Fish fillet dipped in batter, deep-fried and served with potato chips and salad (RM23).

Shiv: The fish was moist and fell apart instantly upon prodding! The batter was also not too thick, and added a lovely crisp exterior to the fantastically fluffy fish. Also, nice to know that they did not overlook the potato chips, as they were crispy and NOT rancid.

Kav: This dish would have been great if the batter was less thick. The winning point, however, was that the fish was cooked and seasoned well.

Fish Parmigiana – Pan-fried fish fillet topped with pizzaiola sauce and melted cheese (RM26).

Shiv: The pièce de résistance of Capri, this parmigiana was prepared beautifully with the fish taking centre stage and the cheese and tomato purée layer not overwhelming the entire dish (as it sometimes can). Again, the fish was really fresh and the potatoes were baked stunningly. Highly recommended!

Kav: Lovely dish. The cheese did not overwhelm the fish and the tomato purée was not overly sweet.

Tiramisu – Coffee soaked sponge fingers layered with mascarpone cheese (RM13).

Shiv: Amazing! The tiramisu was authentic and light, with attention paid to the individual layers. The distinct flavour notes of coffee and liqueur were very well-balanced and the mascarpone layer was whipped to a perfect consistency. Who would have thought, huh… =)

Kav: This one took me by surprise. It was just delish. The ratio of coffee-soaked sponge fingers to mascaporne was perfect, and had just the right amount of liqueur to enhance the dessert.

Mud Cake – Rich chocolate cake served with vanilla ice cream (RM13).

Shiv: OMG! They did not overstate the description on the menu, as it was chock-full of rich and moist chocolate, without being cloying! Good quality chocolate was used and the vanilla ice cream elevated this to a whole different level. A mighty fine creation, I might add.

Kav: Again, kudos to the chef, as it was an excellent chocolate cake. The cake was moist, rich and just heavenly. Loves!!!

Häagen-Dazs Chocolate Ice Cream (RM10 per single scoop or RM19 for double scoop).

Shiv: I am not a big fan of chocolate ice cream, but this was good. It was light, easy to eat and had just the right amount of cocoa.

Kav: Love chocolate ice creams and this one was really good!!!

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Average. RM170.50 for 4 mains and 3 desserts (5pax).

AMBIENCE: Cool café atmosphere with a warm and cosy interior, and a rustic bar adorning one side of the restaurant. Reminiscent of an old English pub, this eatery has al fresco dining options available for those who want to enjoy the lovely sea breeze.

SERVICE: Excellent. The staff was pleasant and attentive, and food arrived promptly.

FOOD: Delicious. Very fresh seafood, with good flavour infusions. A must-try, if you happen to find yourself in Lumut!

CAPRI RESTAURANT, BAR AND PIZZERIA

4174, JALAN SULTAN IDRIS SHAH,

32200 LUMUT

PERAK

Tel/Fax: 05-683 3112

Opening hours:

Mon - Sun: 11:30 am - 11:30 pm

Butter + Beans At Seventeen, PJ

Situated within a residential township sits a fine café aptly named Butter + Beans at Seventeen.

Don’t let her humble neighbours (a laundry shop and a stationery store) deceive you, as the locality of this corner outlet betray its posh offerings that lie behind closed doors.

Once inside, one would not be faulted for thinking this another one of those high-brow coffee cafés catered for caffeine snobs. After all, frequenting stylish and trendy (read: pricey!) coffee bars such as this is the new norm for class-conscious yuppies, indie hipsters and baby boomers all the same.

Behind the counter stand tattooed baristas who are not only warm, pleasant and not-to-mention, seriously good-looking, but who also take their caffeine rather seriously … ;) These coffee rockstars not only whip up mean cups of joes, topped with magnificent latte art, but they also serve up freshly baked pastries, quiches, cakes, tarts and breads, which are delectable and can be consumed in-house or ordered to go.

The interior of the café is small, and seats 15 people (at most!) at any given time. Fret not, as there are tables outside as well, which can accommodate 10 petite people or perhaps 6 hefty ones… =)

We hear that Lescure butter is used in the baking of their pastries, which make them all the more scrumptious, as this butter is nutty and higher in fat content than regular butter brands out there, which in turn, results in extra moist crumbs. Calorie bomb? We think otherwise…

For those of you who fancy yourselves some alone time, you can revel in peaceful solidarity or perhaps indulge your intellect in one of the many books offered here. Butter + Beans at Seventeen have teamed up with ‘Novels for All’ to bring you ‘Cafe Reads’. If you’d like, you may even purchase the novels to support their cause, where all proceeds go to charity.

The outlet also serves teas and juices… but who cares about that?! Lol…

Now, onto why you should think about paying this place a visit:

Cappuccino (RM9)

Shiv: Made from local beans, with a moderately strong flavour, this one was rich and smooth, with a nice bitter aftertaste. Pretty good, and that’s not the caffeine-dependent-me talking! Lol…

Kav: Very smooth and yet not too milky. Rich coffee taste, just the way I like it.

Gaj: Loved it, not too strong or milky! Just perfect… :)

Hot Chocolate (RM8)

Shiv: Although I’m not a fan of this drink, this was one of the better hot chocolates I’ve tried. Have yourselves some light-yet-rich, chocolate-y goodness in the form of this beverage, which can be ordered cold!

Kav: Really good. Loved the rich bitter-sour taste of the chocolate. Was not overly sweet or milky, like most other hot chocolates.

Gaj: Sinfully good hot chocolate! Perfect on a cold rainy day.

Pain Au Valrhona or Valrhona Chocolate Croissant (RM5)

Shiv: Yummy! The croissant was bread-y, and although I prefer mine flakey, this was deliciously buttery and soft. The Valrhona chocolate filling was generous and super syiok!

Kav: The croissant had good texture and the chocolate filling was just so good, that it left me with this warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

Gaj: The chocolate was super yummy!! Will order it again… :)

Walnut Raisins Cinnamon Roll (RM5)

Shiv: A tad too sweet and heavy for one. However, if you’re up for sharing, this is not bad – very rich in flavour, and the spiciness of the cinnamon didn’t overwhelm, as it sometimes can. However, I would have preferred it sans the raisins.

Kav: A little too sweet for me, but delicious nonetheless. Dislike the raisins as well!!!

Gaj: Not a big fan of raisins and hence, I did not quite like this.

Chocolate Pistachio Danish (RM5)

Shiv: Good, but not excellent. The pistachios added a nice earthy touch to the richness of the chocolate, but a very similar pastry at The Loaf, Bangsar Village 2 stands slightly superior next to this one, I think. A good try nevertheless!

Kav: Delish!!! Again, love the chocolate that they use – that acidity and bitterness just came through. Although, I have to agree, the one at The Loaf is slightly better.

Gaj: Liked the hint of pistachio in this dessert. Not the best danish that I have tried, but not bad.

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Expensive – RM32 for 2 drinks and 3 pastries (3pax).

AMBIENCE: Warm, cosy and inviting. Interior of the shop doesn’t seat very many, but there are tables outside the café as well.

SERVICE: Excellent. Baristas are warm, friendly and very obliging. Pastry warming-up services were offered without being requested – two thumbs up!

FOOD: Good – decent pastries that pair well with their tasty hand-crafted beverages.

BUTTER + BEANS AT SEVENTEEN

BG-1A, HAPPY MANSION,

JALAN 17/13, SEKSYEN 17,

46400 PETALING JAYA,

SELANGOR

Tel: +603 7932 2556

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ButterBeansAtSeventeen

Opening Hours:

Daily from 8.30am to 8.30pm

Artisan Coffee, Bangsar Village II, Kuala Lumpur

Having got whiff of a new coffee place in Bangsar Village II, we decided to have our daily intake of caffeine there one afternoon.

From afar, we saw a blackboard with interesting scribbles on it that captured our interest. Upon closer inspection, we could see options patrons can choose from, depending on whether they prefer coffee, tea, chocolate, more / less milk, black, etc.

Mien and Kav both had Mocha.

Mien: The thing about Artisan is that their coffees are hand crafted and there is no standardised recipe unlike other coffee houses. Hence, each time you order a drink, it will turn out differently. However, the drinks always taste good and I love the strong coffee taste.

Kav: Loved the ‘kow-ness’ of the coffee and it was a perfect blend as all flavours complimented each other.

Gaj and Shiv had Piccolo.

Gaj: I enjoyed the Piccolo, tasted a lot like cappuccino.

Shiv: Very ‘kow’, just the way I like it. However, would like it if they gave a bigger portion.

We also decided to try the Grasshopper cake.

Mien: OMG! Colgate! I love mint chocolate, but this is just Colgate. Yucks!

Kav: Tasted like chocolate toothpaste. Repulsive!

Gaj: There was a minty taste which was BAD! DISLIKE!

Shiv: The mint used in the chocolate tasted like the Wrigley’s green chewing gum.

Verdict : WOK ON!

PRICE: Price-y. Expect the same prices as Starbucks but smaller portions.

AMBIENCE: Cosy, relaxed and chilled.

SERVICE: The waiters were very friendly and helpful in providing suggestions.

FOOD: The coffee is good; don’t expect consistency in their recipes though. We will go back to try other cakes and simply to give it another shot.

ARTISAN COFFEE,

LEVEL UG, BANGSAR VILLAGE II,

BANGSAR BARU,

59100 KUALA LUMPUR 

Website: http://www.artisanroast.com.my/

Opening Hours :

10am -10pm, daily.

Citrus Café and Restaurant, Bangsar Village 2, Kuala Lumpur

Having covered a number of eateries at Bangsar Village 1 and 2, we decided to try one that we’ve not covered previously, and made our way to Citrus Café and Restaurant located on the second floor of Bangsar Village 2 (a few doors away from Starbucks). 

The ambience of Citrus is one that is eclectic, modern, and fresh, and the waiters are pleasant and very informative (more on that later).

We started our meal by placing an order of  Citrus Nasi Goreng Kampung served with chicken or beef rendang, fried egg, keropok and sambal belacan (RM14.90). As all four of us don’t eat beef, we opted for the chicken instead.

Gaj: The rendang and sambal belacan were really tasty, but the rice itself was not well-flavoured.

Kav: Dislike the nasi goreng. However, the rendang was delicious and the sambal was to die for. The fish keropok was one of the better ones I’ve tried in recent times.

Mien: The rice was too mushy and not flavoured well. However the rendang helped the dish by leaps and bounds, as it was not too coconut-y and there was a ‘kick’ to it.

Shiv: OMG!!! The sambal belacan was savoury perfection, and the rendang chicken was very fresh and pleasantly pungent. Not overly impressed by the rice though, as it was overcooked and bland.

After much discussion, we decided to try one of their pizza’s, but couldn’t quite decide between the Medley of Mushroom Pizza (RM19.90) and Salmon Pizza with Smoked Salmon, Asparagus, Capers and Red Onions (RM23.90). Fortunately, our waiter came to the rescue and informed us that we could split the pizza into 2 parts - half and half, which we gladly opted for (RM23.90).

Gaj: The mushroom pizza was sweet. Dislike. The salmon one on the other hand was mediocre.

Kav: Salmon pizza was ok, but it tasted like something I could have prepared at home. The mushroom pizza was not savoury enough, and the chicken was too dried out. Didn’t like it.

Mien: Preferred the mushroom pizza to the salmon one, as I liked the flavour from the mushrooms. The salmon, although fresh, did not wow me as it was very plain.

Shiv: The cheese-ladened salmon pizza was pleasantly flavoured (although they could have been more generous with the capers). Was not overly impressed with the mushroom medley, as it was slightly sweet.

Being pasta-lovers, we obviously had to try one of Citrus’s many pasta options, and as such, decided to go with their Tiger Prawn Linguini Special, pasta with tiger prawns and eggplant (RM25.90).

Gaj: The pasta had a creamy flavour to it - wasn’t the best pasta I’ve tried, though the freshness of the prawns must be credited for. Tasted almost like an Indian pasta.

Kav: The pasta sauce used was too heavy, and the dish tasted starchy. Did not like the Asian influence in the pasta. Will not order it again.

Mien: Not a fan, as it had a creaminess to it. However, there was something interesting about it – must have been the Asian flavouring.

Shiv: Initially I thought it was mediocre, but as I went on eating it, the flavours of the dish really came through, and it was uniquely delicious. I suspect the thoroughly cooked eggplant had something to do with the creaminess of the dish, which I had no issue with. Polished this one off the plate.

As usual, our bottomless pits were still yearning for more food, and we thought of sampling their cheesy nachos with olives, cherry tomatoes, etc, but again, our kind waiter advised us against it, as the nachos are supposedly not the most popular dish at Citrus.  

Instead, he suggested that we try the Lamb Biryani, which is aromatic rice cooked with lamb chunks and spices and served with papadum and daalca (RM23.90). 

 *All four heads nod in unison, in agreement to his suggestion*

Gaj: AMAZEBALLS! The rice was very delicious. Daalca was mediocre, and the lamb, although flavoured well, could have been cooked longer.

Kav: The rice was fragrant and the spices made the biryani yummy. True to the authentic Pakistani biryani, as one of the chefs at Citrus is of Pakistan origin. However, the lamb was tough, tsk tsk.

Mien: Love the accompanying raita (yogurt salad) as it was sour and flavoured well. The rice was tasty and spiced adequately. I was satisfied with the lamb as it didn’t taste gamey.

Shiv: Best dish of the night. The rice was truly aromatic and well-flavoured, and the accompanying yogurt condiment was fresh. The lamb however could have been more tender (they should learn tenderisation techniques from Middle-Eastern chefs!)

Verdict: WOK ON!

 

PRICE: Reasonable (RM97.45 for four dishes).

AMBIENCE: Contemporary and fresh.

SERVICE: Excellent, the waiters were polite, informative and honest.

FOOD: Highly recommend the Asian dishes (but be prepared to drink copious amounts of water, post meal).

CITRUS CAFÉ AND RESTAURANT

2F25A, SECOND FLOOR

BANGSAR VILLAGE 2

NO 1, JALAN TELAWI 1,

BANGSAR BARU

59100 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603 2287 9560

Opening Hours:

10AM – 10PM daily