Village Park @ Uptown Damansara, PJ

Cuisine: Malaysian, Nasi Lemak
Price: ~ RM 10 (for lunch + drink)
Service: 3.0 (refer to glossary)

During lunch times, on suitable days (suitable = no rain.. no sign of rain in the next hour.. no one’s too lazy to walk), the whole group of us walk 3/4s of the Uptown square to get the Village Park for the oh-so-yummy nasi lemak.

The place is always completely packed. Today, 13 of us crammed ourselves onto a table meant for 8 (5 rather large guys mind you) all for the sake of this oh-so-yummy nasi lemak.

It was really crammed. You know how when you pretend to be a chicken in school plays or charades, you squish your arms (with your elbows bended) close to your body. That’s how we ate our lunch today.

The most famous here is their nasi lemak + ayam goreng (fried chicken). I’ve had it twice:

1. the first time I thought the chicken wasn’t very flavourful
2. the second time I thought it was nicer

But the one thing consistently yummy, is the sambal. It’s the sweeter kind of sambal. And although it’s not as spicy as I’d like it.. it’s good. We always ask for more cos they never give enough.

I personally really like their lime juice. The limau ice is exceptionally refreshing – just the right degree of sour + sweet + cold balance.

My colleagues really like the kedondong – it looks really green.

They have other Malaysian favourites too, like the mee rebus, fried kuey tiao. I had fish ball noodles today. The soup was average but the fish balls were quite err… “bouncy” ? Hope it’s not boric acid.

Conclusion:

I don’t think the nasi lemak is as exceptional as my colleagues (and everyone else) make it out to be. It’s on the pricier side for a working lunch (RM6.50 for a plate of nasi lemak). I probably won’t choose to come here unless my colleagues want to or if I wanted to let someone else try the oh-so-yummy nasi lemak. I might make a trip specially for the limau ais though.. :p

But my taste is known to be different.. so maybe take my conclusion with a pinch of salt.

Other reviews: WaiSikKai, JulesEatingGuide, DamansaraLunchClub (pix only)
Address:  5, Jalan SS 21/37, Damansara Utama, 47400 PJ [google map]
Phone: +603 7710 7860
Opening hours: (I don’t know.. but I overheard the lady say they open in the mornings too..)

Cafe WIP @ Bangsar Shopping Complex, Bangsar

Cuisine: Fusion, Western, Malaysian
Price: (I don’t know.. cos I didn’t really order, and I didn’t pay… )
Service: 3.5 (refer to glossary)

The first thing I noticed walking into the cafe were the chairs. Made of stainless steel wires, can’t help but think of..

Tee-hee ~~ I was in one of my moods. Had PLENTY of sleep before leaving the house for dinner. But since it was only my second time out with SW, I thought.. maybe I shouldn’t say anything. So it was a good thing that he chose one of those tall tables with higher chairs.

As I skimmed through the menu, racking my brain to decide as fast as i could, I blurted out that if the place was called work-in-progress, they should serve food that is not completely cooked. =_=

Yea.. exactly the expression on his face. I’ve shared this thought with DT before (he didn’t think it was THAT absurd.. coming from me I suppose).

Perhaps food can be served with a hot plate, where you have to complete the cooking process yourself. Or salads can come in little plates, where you get a huge salad bowl to toss it in. WIP, right?

….

We (or rather he) decided we were to share a pizza – the old fashioned Hawaiian pizza. Typical Malaysian boy.

I only have one picture, so as not to freak him out with my picture taking habits. All-in-one:

Chicken wings + Hawaiian pizza + Beer (I think Heineken.. cos I actually rather liked the taste)

The chicken wings were really fried. Nicely fried probably.. but I’m neither a chick wings person nor a fried food person. So it wasn’t something I could appreciate.

The pizza was a rather dainty pizza. Crunchy thin crust (thinner than the usual), daintily sliced onions.. I liked it, but it was dainty.

SW said he had the Tempura Udon (or something like that) the last time he was here. That was good too.

The cafe was rather packed for a work night. But it was a nice crowded. It wasn’t too noisy, but the crowd complemented the atmosphere.

Conclusion:

It’s a nice place to hangout after work with friends. It reminds me of a pub – minus the sleazy uncles and sticky tables.

P/S You need to get the PIN from the waiters to use the washroom (and the temperature’s lower in the washroom).

Other reviews: AWhiffofLemongrass, masak-masak, epicuriousgirl
Address:  Lot G111, Ground Floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre [google map]
Phone: +603 2094 1789; +603 2094 2789
Website: http://www.wip.com.my/
Opening hours: 1200 – late

Chef & Brew @ Bkt Damansara

Cuisine: Malaysian, Fusion, Western
Price: ~ RM 20/pax (for lunch)
Service: 3.5 (refer to glossary)

We were on a quest, my bored colleagues and I. On the rare occasion of downtime at the office, we were bored out of our wits. Our minds ventured, far and wide – and a plan was conceived. A plan of our discrete escape from the office to our destination – Just Heavenly cakes.

On the dot at 12, we ventured nonchalantly towards the lifts, from our respective corners of the office. Not attracting attention of any sort from the stressed faces plastered to the (terribly slow) Dell monitors. After some arguing of direction, and a few turns round the Plaza Damansara area, we managed to stumble onto our long awaited cake lunch…..

It was closed.  =_=

Disappointed, we decided to pacify my getting-crankier-by-the-moment colleague by eating at Chef & Brew right opposite. It’s my second time there. The first was not impressive.. so I had my reservations.

The ambience was nice, as it was the first time. It had a very open feel to it. There was plenty of space, good for chatting, even business lunches.

The decor was simple, not too modern that it’s cold, yet not too conventional that it’s gaudy.

My friend ordered the Kung Pou Pasta and I ordered the Chicken Sandwich to share (with the guy… a rather big guy I might add). We were served some bread to munch on whilst waiting for our main course – as is expected of such a place.

We got half a slice of toast each. No fancy rolls or bread sticks – white slices of toast. To be fair, it was very nicely toasted.

Kung Pou Chicken Pasta

The portion of pasta was pretty generous. It looked really good too. My colleague said it was OK. My sandwich came, once again without fancy focacia or ciabatta, which I tend to expect at a place like this. But, I was pleasantly surprised. The sandwich was quite yummy. The chicken fillet was grilled with some sort of sauce that resembles soy sauce (in colour and liquidity). There was no mayo (that’s always good.. i ask for it to be removed anyway). There was just enough veg in it (tomatoes and cucumber mainly) to make it crunchy and fresh tasting.

I didn’t take a picture of it cos I forgot. I was too hungry, and when I finally remembered, it was too late.

We were too stuffed for dessert.. and too reluctant to try potentially “sub-par” dessert, not from Just Heavenly cakes as we had planned, so we skipped that. They did serve the famous chocolate coated durian cake at Chef & Brew though. But we already swore not to eat it, for fear that the strong smell of durian would blow our cover.

Barely satisfied, we went back to the office.

Conclusion:

It’s a nice place to hang out. But I’m not willing to take the gamble of “choosing the right dish”, given the price and the location.

Other reviews: ms.chocoholic, xiaolongbao, themamakcorner
Address: Epicure, Lot 50576 Jalan Medan Setia [google map]
Phone: +603 2095 5069
Opening Hours: 11am – late; 365 days (says so at the entrance)

Yogitree @ Gardens, MidValley

Cuisine: Malaysian, Western, Healthy Living
Price: ~ RM 30/pax
Service: 3.5 (refer to glossary)

(lifted from mypersonalweblog)

(my other.. more proper yogitree review)

Yogitree’s just outside Isetan, First Floor in Gardens. Some healthy-eating/organic food restaurant with Yoga equipment for sale at the side.

Profiles:

Charles – co-organiser of this dinner (the other co-organiser, didn’t turn up). Auditor from E&Y..

Roy – the smart ass BNM scholar..

Danial – the man who wants to be his own boss..

Dinner is served

My grilled chick sandwich without mayo.. The bread was really good. Just the right degree crunchiness, and just the right amount of butter.

Charles salmon dish. Looked healthy but yummy healthy..

Danial’s food.. “some pasta with chicken“..

Phillip – rich dude from Ipoh, auditing in London..
He has some Seafood Paella thing.. looked huge and yummy..

Roy’s dinner.. Turd on grass..
HE said it.. not me!
“Tastes better than it looks..”

Other reviews: Lotsofcravings, masak-masak, notsosweet
Website: http://www.yogitree.com/
Address: Lot F-237B, 1st Floor, Gardens (Isetan side) [google map]
Phone: +603 2282 6163