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

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

Botanical, Bangsar Village II, Kuala Lumpur

Another one of the B.I.G Group’s restaurants is Botanical. Situated in the heart of Bangsar Village 2, it is an all VEGETARIAN café (as the name suggests).

Here, mushroom and eggplant take centre stage as meat-substitutes and fusion cuisine forms the backbone of their menu. 

Eggs are considered sin-free and cream and cheese can be found rampantly throughout their menu. So, vegans beware and vegetarians rejoice!

We were served with a complimentary basket of Charcoal bread with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar.

Mien: Loved the charcoal bread, the flavour was amazing, and toasted to perfection, crispy on the outside, but soft in the inside!!! 

Shiv: Enjoyed the earthiness of the charcoal bread married with the pungent balsamic-olio dressing. Splendid! 

Kav: Soft and crispy perfection!!!

Gaj: Charcoal bread was really good, never had it with olive oil and vinegar before and was pleasantly surprised.

As per usual, we attempted ordering at least one item of each food ‘group’. 

Type 1: SALAD

We ordered the Burnt Butter Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Salad. It is gluten-free, and comprises wild mushrooms, burnt butter, goat’s cheese and arugula. (RM21.90)

Mien: Good… love the taste of the mushrooms, and they go well with the arugula and goat’s cheese!

Shiv: Fresh and light, despite the generous portion of feta, and loved the buttered-mushroom flavour. Comes highly recommended!

Kav: The earthiness of the mushroom and spicy arugula was a pairing that I loved. The pungent feta and the flavour of the burnt butter just took the salad to the next level. 

Gaj: The salad was alright, enjoyed the combination of arugula and wild mushroom.

Type 2: ASIAN

We agreed on the Eggplant Dengaku (Warning: Contains Nuts). It was served with eggplant, miso paste, brown rice, mushroom broth and Botanical house salad. (RM21.90)

Mien: Hmmm… the best thing about this dish was the eggplant! Well marinated and cooked to perfection!

Shiv: The rice was bland and not cooked well, and although the eggplant was marinated well, the flavour was not enough to balance out the dish. The dish was mediocre in its entirety.

Kav: The rice was a disappointment as it was starchy and the salad was average. However I liked the eggplant as it was cooked through and the nutty flavour went perfectly with the eggplant. The mushroom broth tasted very much like a miso soup except that it lacked flavour.

Gaj: I was not impressed by this dish – did not enjoy the combination of the ingredients.

Type 3: PASTA

Mien insisted on the Tom Yam Tempeh, which is spaghetti aglio olio, lemongrass, shallots, kaffir lime leaves, ginger flower, bean sprouts, tempeh, and chive flowers. (RM19.90)

Mien: Bland… not a hint of spice at all, and couldn’t taste much of the tom yam flavour. However, I loved it as there was something very bland and ‘clean’ about it. Also, I LOVE TEMPEH!!!

Shiv: I love tempeh, and was expecting it to carry the dish, but the pasta was so flavour-less, and despite so many pungent ingredients, fell flat. An utter disappointment!

Kav: I expected a great Asian fusion pasta with a burst of spicy tom yam flavour. Sadly my senses were dulled by a bland pasta that could not be helped even with the various flavourful ingredients it boasts.

Gaj: This was totally unimpressive! Absolutely bland and totally disappointing! 

Type 4: DESSERT (Being sweet tooths, we greedily ordered two.)

Firstly, Mien forced the rest of us to order the Blackforest cake. (RM12.90)

Mien: This is like a Blackforest mousse instead of a cake - loved it!!!

Shiv: Don’t like Blackforest cakes, and this was no exception. The cake was very dry, and there was a chemical taste, which I suspect came from the cherry-jellied centre.

Kav: Agree with Shiv about the chemical taste from the jelly. Not a fan.

Gaj: I do not enjoy Blackforest cakes and this was just alright for me. 

We also ordered the Chocolate Fondant, served with vanilla ice-cream. (RM9.90)

Mien: Amazing for chocolate lovers. Loved the ice-cream. (The thing about the B.I.G group restaurants is that they always use good ice-cream.) I personally found it toooo chocolate-y!

Shiv: Nice. They did not overcook the fondant, and the gooey chocolate centre was present. The ice cream used was of good quality, and the dish was up to par. Good to share!

Kav: Being the chocolate fanatic that I am, the fondant was a dream to me. Melt in your mouth goodness with excellent vanilla ice cream. Yummy!!!

Gaj: I enjoyed this dessert, not the best that I have had, but enjoyable nonetheless.

*There are other food ‘groups’ in the menu: Soup, Starters, Pies and Tarts, Between Bread, and Mains. However, we did not order from those due to gastric restrictions. ;)

Verdict: WOK OFF!

PRICE: Reasonable – as with all B.I.G group establishments.

AMBIENCE: Beautiful, garden-like environment – there are seats outside the restaurant, so patrons can choose to sit inside or enjoy the view of the world passing by.

SERVICE: Good – waiters were polite and food arrived promptly.

FOOD: Unimpressive – but, to be fair, the restaurant was fairly new when we visited. As such, may be worthy of a second chance at a later date.

*Note: Botanical also serves High Tea, 3pm – 6pm daily.

BOTANICAL 

IF-28 & IF-K2, 1^ST FLOOR, BANGSAR VILLAGE II,

NO. 1, JALAN TELAWI 1,

BANGSAR BARU,

59100 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603 2201 3028

Website: http://www.thebiggroup.co/botanical/

Opening Hours:

11am – 10pm, daily

Last order: 9.30pm