Sassorosso, Lorong Yap Kwan Seng

As usual, it was an impromptu decision to dine here. A friend, who is also a renowned restaurateur, suggested we try this place and therefore called Mr.Giovanni, the chef/owner to make a last minute reservation.

Walking in, you are greeted by this incredible view of the Petronas Twin Towers. The place was cozy and had a modern setting. The chef/owner, a pleasant chap, was there with his wife and cute little son.

If you like a side of fresh air, there’s always the al-fresco dining option with a nice view.

They also cater for private events of up to 85pax indoors, 35pax in the private room and 60pax outdoors on the terrace.

Sick of Sunday brunches…well now you can have brunch on Saturday instead… hehe. They have a special brunch menu which can be found on their website.

For starters, we had what was recommended by the chef/owner… However, please bear in mind that these dishes cannot be found in the à la carte menu, so you will have to check with your waiter to see if the chef can prepare these for you.

Complimentary bread basket.

Kav: Loved the thin crispy ‘papadom’ like bread. Yum!!!

Mien: Love the variety provided. I am a bread person, and hence loved all of them!

Shiv: There was an assortment of breads-all quite nice. My favourite was the crispy, buttered and herb-ed variety. Very flavourful, and in no need of the olive-oil-balsamic dressing.

Dish #1: Burata Mozzarella.  Fresh air-flown Burata cheese with wild rocket and fresh tomatoes. (RM48)

Kav: There’s never a combination like cheese, tomatoes and fresh herbs. It was so simple yet fresh, creamy and simply scrumptious.

Mien: AMAZING!!! The Mozzarella was so so fresh! Carried the dish! Loved it!

Shiv: This one was simplistic, and yet so damn delicious! Very fresh and sumptuous-the burrata was a worthwhile indulgence, and the accompanying rocket and tomatoes were super fresh and made for a perfect harmonious marriage of ingredients.

Dish #2: Gratinated eggplant parmigiana: layers of eggplant, tomato, mozzarella. (RM28)

Kav: Most eggplant parmigianas are way too cheesy. This one however was just the right balance of stringy cheese, eggplant and tomatoes (which were not too sweet). Perfection!!!

Mien: Love parmigianas and this blew my mind! Delicious, and not overwhelmingly cheesy.

Shiv: The best of our starters. I typically do not enjoy gratinated dishes, but this was an exception. All flavours were very well-balanced, with no one overwhelming the others (a feat where cheese is involved!). A definite must try here.

Dish #3: Bruschetta. (RM22)

Kav: Bruschettas were fresh tasting. Not the best I have tried though.

Mien: Simple.

Shiv: Tasty in its mediocrity. I probably would not order this again, simply because there’s a lot of variety to choose from the starter menu, and this was not very memorable, although it did have some good savoury notes to it.

Now on to the portata principale or main course.

Dish #4: Sri Lanka live crab penne with olive oil, garlic, fresh basil leaves and prawns bisque. (RM38)

Kav: Never liked penne, regardless of the preparation, as it is extremely hard to flavour and ends up tasting more of flour than anything else. This one was no different, as the pasta lacked flavour. The crab died in vain. RIP Sebastian.

Mien: The penne was bland and lacked flavour. As a whole, this dish was nothing to shout about! Would not order it again!

Shiv: I expected so much from this dish, with its promise of luxurious ingredients, but to my disappointment, it was bland and bordering on insipid. Among my complaints: too little crab flesh, the sauce did not coat the penne well, and the prawn bisque lacked flavour.

Dish #5: Squid ink tagliatelle with scallops, broccoli, olive oil, garlic and chilli. (RM42)

Kav: A….wait for it………….MAZING!!!!! The best squid ink pasta I have tried, with just the right amount of tanginess complementing the seafood flavour from the fresh scallops. Just impeccable!!!

Mien: THIS WAS TOO GOOD! Love the combination of scallops with garlic, olive oil and chilli.

Shiv: One of my favourites of the pasta variety, this one deserves all the praise it can get. The use of tagliatelle was genius, as it soaked up the flavourful and extremely palatable broth. Scallops were also very fresh. I highly recommend this one!

Dish #6: Sassorosso pizza - tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, escargots, marinated mushrooms, prawns and fresh basil. (RM46)

Kav: Nice crust and flavoured well, however I could hardly taste the escargots. Good pizza though!!!

Mien: The crust is thin, very authentic. This particular pizza was mediocre as I felt it lacked flavouring. I wouldn’t order the same flavour, would try a different one, as I am confident the pizzas here are good, as they have got the fundamentals right – the crust!

Shiv: Fantastico! The pizza was chock-full of savoury ingredients, each bringing its own unique blend of flavour to the dish. The crust is also worth mentioning, as it was thin and not chewy. My only gripe was that the escargots used were scarce.

Time for some Dolce (Dessert)…

Dish #7: Sassorosso tiramisu. (RM18)

Kav: Mmmm….the Mascarpone was divine, with perfect texture and just the right amount of sweetness. The perfect balance of coffee soaked sponge fingers and cream cheese. I could write a thesis on this dessert to be honest, because that’s how much I loved it!!!

Mien: OMG!!!! ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!! Everything was right! Just phenomenal!

Shiv: Probably the best tiramisu I have ever tried! Super authentic and each layer was prepared with a lot of thought and care. The Mascarpone layer was not too creamy, nor too egg-y and the coffee-soaked Savoiardi was just pukka! You can “pick me up” anytime with this one! ;-)

Dish #8: Cheesy vanilla crème brule. (RM16)

 

Kav: Holy Mother of GOD!!! This dessert was just sooo creamy and delicious. Again, the perfect texture and not too sweet.

Mien: Not big on crème brule, but this was delicious! Would definitely order it again!

Shiv: An excellent rendition of this classic! Again, very authentically prepared with no adulteration of the custard base with foreign flavours – they kept it simple with traditional vanilla. Also, the top caramelized layer was torched to perfection!

Verdict: WOK ON!

PRICE: Expensive. RM299.30 for 3 starters, 3 mains and 2 desserts – 4pax.

AMBIENCE: Minimalist and modern. A bar and wine cellar adorn the otherwise simple décor.

SERVICE: Excellent. Our waiter was very attentive and informative. Also, the chef /owner (who is very passionate about his art, we might add!) visited our table and took time to recommend special selections based on our preferences.

FOOD: Delicious and authentic Italian food, with a lot of attention paid to flavour and freshness of ingredients.

SASSOROSSO

9 LORONG YAP KWAN SENG
50450, FEDERAL TERRITORY OF KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603- 21666428

Email: ask@sassorosso.com.my

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

Opening hours:

Mon-Fri: 12pm-3pm (Set lunch & Ala Carte menu) & 6pm-11.30pm (Ala Carte & Dinner Specials)

Sat: 12pm-3pm (Saturday Brunch) & 6pm-11.30pm (Ala Carte & Dinner Specials)

Sun: 6pm-11.30pm (Ala Carte & Dinner Specials)

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

The Talk Restaurant and Bar, Bangsar Baru

The Talk is an establishment that has been in Bangsar for a very very long time. Though widely known for being a watering hole, it does serve a wide spread of Japanese dishes.

Having not had Japanese food in a long time, we decided to give this old girl a try.

Ocha – Japanese Green Tea (RM12 per refillable pot)

Dish #1: Agedashi Tofu (RM8)

Deep fried bean curd with light sauce.

Kav: Not great. Didn’t have much of the skin layer I love.

Gaj: The dish was just alright. I felt like the quantity of sauce provided was not enough for the tofu.

Shiv: A far cry from being memorable. The sauce was mediocre in flavour and the tofu skin was lacking the crispy texture that is typically desired in this dish.

Dish #2: Assortment of Makis:

Unagi Maki (RM16 for 4 pieces)

Reverse Salmon Avocado Maki (RM12 for 4 pieces)

Reverse Soft Shell Crab Maki (RM16 for 4 pieces)

*We ordered three individual maki dishes and NOT an assortment, however when it was served, they were served in two platters of 5 pieces each. The waiter did not explain which maki was served in which platter and to be honest, we did not quite know what we were eating.

As there were only a total of 10 pieces, while it clearly stated 4 pieces each in the menu, we summoned the waiter and chef, who eventually gave us another serving of the reverse soft shell crab maki.

Kav: Did not realise that they were different makis until it was too late. I believe the soft shell crab had a stale-oil taste to it. I liked the unagi maki the best although it was not great.

Gaj: To be quite honest, I could not clearly identify between the three makis served. The one that stood out was the unagi maki. I could not taste much salmon in the reverse salmon avocado maki and the soft shell crab was a tad rancid.

Shiv: The unagi maki was quite delicious – the eel flesh was bouncy and very flavourful. But, unfortunately, the rest was a waste of time. The salmon-avocado filling could not support the maki as it was way too heavy on the starch, and the soft shell crab maki was horribly rancid. This was a real disaster, in terms of both service and taste!

Dish #3: Hand Rolls

Each of us had a different hand roll each:

Kav – Crab Roll, crispy fried soft shell crab, fish roe, cucumber and mayo (RM9).

Kav: Was a tad rancid… BAD!!!

Gaj – Salmon Skin Roll, salmon/salmon skin, fish roe, cucumber, mayo, avocado and salad (RM6).

Gaj: The hand roll was alright, not the best that I have had. The salmon was lacking in taste and flavour.

Shiv – Unagi Kyuri Roll, BBQ eel and cucumber (RM9).

Shiv: This place knows how to prepare and serve eel, as most dishes containing eel were pleasant. Loved my unagi temaki, as the eel was so fresh, succulent and ample.

Dish #4: Teppanyaki Cod Fish (RM33)

Pan-fried fillet of cod with garlic/teriyaki sauce. (We opted for the former)

Kav: The best dish we had. The cod was flaky and fresh…’twas just yummy. Although the sauce was too sweet, it had good flavour and went well with the fish.

Gaj: This dish was probably the saving grace of the night! The cod was fresh and the sauce was perfect! Very very good!

Shiv: Despite the garlic sauce being sweet, the preparation was simply genius, as the marriage of cod and garlic was sublime. Also, they served us a very generous portion of fish, considering the price we paid for it. Good bargain!

Dish #5: Salmon Sashimi (RM28 for 6 pieces)

Kav: The worst ever!!! Tasteless, stale and just cut too thick!!!

Gaj: The sashimi was not fresh and slices were too thick. Very disappointing!

Shiv: This dish was yet another testimony to the lack of thought given to food preparation at The Talk. Either the chef had despicable knife skills, or he/she couldn’t really be bothered to pay any attention to detail. The ‘slabs’ of salmon served could have been forgiven if they were fresh at least, but sadly, no luck there either.

Dish #6: Garlic Fried Rice (RM8)

Kav: WOW!!! I am a tough critique when it comes to fried rice, as I absolutely adore it. I must say this one was just too good. The pungent garlic flavour and the wok hei just made for a crazy good flavour!!! Could return here just for this dish!!!

Gaj: The fried rice was done well, the garlic flavour was very pronounced and it was tasty!

Shiv: Who knew that a humble bowl of fried rice could be done so well. Kudos to this place for getting the savoury flavour absolutely on the money! The taste of the egg chunks, along with the wok hei of the fried rice was seriously delicious. Many a Chinese restaurant could learn a thing or two on how to prepare this dish from The Talk. #HighlyRecommended

Verdict: WOK OFF!

PRICE: Expensive – RM182.10 for a pot of refillable green tea and 10 food items (3pax).

AMBIENCE: Modern and clean – a karaoke lounge, shisha bar and liquor bar adorn the place for adventurous souls who long to belt it out or those who just want an after work  place to chill.

SERVICE: Bad – waiters did not understand our orders/requests and they did not know the differences between the various food items in the menu. They were also not prompt, despite the fact that the restaurant wasn’t busy.

FOOD: Bad - unauthentic and mostly unsavoury Japanese food. The salmon was not fresh (cardinal error!) and most dishes were sub-par in terms of taste. Not worth the price paid!

THE TALK RESTAURANT AND BAR

22, JALAN TELAWI 3

BANGSAR BARU

59100, KUALA LUMPUR

TEL: 03 -2284 3242