Butter + Beans @ Manjalara

OUG too far for you? Don't want to cramp in a small cafe when enjoying a good cuppa with some decadent pastries? Look no further, Butter + Beans has expanded its reach to Bandar Manjalara, Kepong!! Located at the Manjalara hotspot, this cafe is only a week old and its already garnering a following from both new and old Butter + Beans fans. Unlike its original Seksyen 17 cafe, this outlet is much more spacious and has a chilled, homey vibe.

Come and discover the artist in you.

Eclectic furniture, wooden boards on cages.

No one has more class than that bear!

Feeling calm with Zen like decor. 

Ain't no one going to say no to bread...oh carbs how I love thee.

Spots of colors from the flora.

 Being status quo suggests that we had our usual Cappuccino and Long Black that night, and we did ;). The coffee served here is a medium-full bodied roast, 50-50 on acidity and bitterness and has a slight sour aftertaste. The beans used here are a mixed blend from 4 countries and its outsourced from Feeka.  

We also had a chance to try their tea from TeaPigs. From the variety of flavors that was available, we decided on the Ginger Lemon Tea. However, we felt a bit conned when we saw the small teabag, thinking it would only be good for one cup, but we were wrong. Even after 3 steeps, the tea did not lose its taste integrity; goes to show that good things DO come in small packages.

Cappuccino (RM10), Americano (RM7) & Ginger Lemon Tea (RM9)

Despite the name Teapigs, the visual shows you a variety of animals an inanimate objects.

 As with all the Butter + Beans outlet, their main attraction comes in the form of pastries. Since this was dinner for us, we had to order a fair bit to fill our tummies :)

First up was their Smoked Salmon Quiche. Eggs, smoked salmon, herbs and vege, mixed and baked to perfection on a buttered danish crust. Simple, yet delicious. The filling is so packed that in every mouthful, you can taste all the elements of the quiche. Definitely a quiche to remember. If you want to grab/try a slice, we advise you to go early as they will run out of it fairly quickly.

 Smoked Salmon Quiche (RM11)

 Then came the sweet danishes...

Dear chocolate lovers, this one's for you. If you happen to come across the Pistachio Chocolate Danish just staring you in the face at the pastry counter, pls, oh pls, order it. A thick milk chocolate concoction sitting in between a buttery danish, need I say more? The chocolate really takes over with every mouthful, perfect combination of sweet and savory. Trust us, you won't regret it!!

The Strawberry Danish is for the non chocolate crazies out there who is also looking to indulge. Cut from the same cloth, the only difference between the 2 danishes is that this one is filled with custard instead of chocolate. It might not seem much from here, but its jam packed to the brim with filling on the inside. Definitely worth a try!!

 Pistachio Chocolate Danish (RM7) & Strawberry Danish (RM7)

It's not often you see Blackberry Tarts in cafes, or even in bakeries. So when we saw this little beauty, we decided to give it a try. Their blackberry tart is the "something special" we had that night. Every bite is filled with luscious blackberries and best of all, its not too sweet. We would definitely recommend this to parents or folks who are watching their sugar intake.

Blackberry Tart (RM11)

For us, every time we walk into a new cafe, we would just stare at the display fridge, looking for a slice of cake that would invite us in. Mille Crepe cakes are usually the first ones we take off the list. However, after much recommendation from the owner, we decided to make an exception and it was the best decision we made that night. Seeing that we are not crepe cake fans, this is definitely something to write about.

Their Lavender Earl Grey Mille Crepe cake is one of the most unique and delicious crepe cake we have tasted so far. The lavender flavor cuts through from the start and leaves a pleasant aftertaste in your mouth with every bite. Crepe cakes are usually very dense, but this one just seems very light and we can't get enough of it. Definitely worth trying if you are looking to test your taste palette.

 Lavender Earl Grey Mille Crepe (RM13)

Last but definitely not least is their Almond Salted Caramel Mille Crepe cake. The decadence of this cake is unexplainable. Almond flavored cream on layers of crepe, topped with crunchy salted caramel infused almonds. As dense as each mouthful is, we just kept helping ourselves. Only flaw to this cake is that it will leave you craving for more.

Almond Salted Caramel Mille Crepe (RM13)

All in all, with its cozy ambiance and awesome F&B, Butter + Beans in Manjalara is definitely here to stay, proving that a cafe can flourish even without a long menu and that quality is better than quantity

Butter & Beans
9, Jalan 3/62A,
Bandar Menjalara, Kepong,
52200 Kuala Lumpur.

Coordinates: 3.195107, 101.628909
Opening Hours: 10.00am-11.00pm

Gee and Geek @ SS2

With a motto like"Bringing the yums to your tums", its no wonder Gee and Geek is catching the attention of many. Being one of the newbies, this cafe cum restaurant offers a cozy ambiance, friendly service and most important of all, brilliant F&B to their customers.

Digging the logo.

Nothing says snazzy like customized napkins.

Buck tooth for the win!!!

First, lets talk beverage. 

 We had our usual Americano and Cappuccino that night and boy, were we not disappointed. Their coffee was of a single origin roast, so its a bit more full bodied and smooth. Having said that, its not too strong and had a floral cocoa aftertaste; perfect for coffee addicts who would like a cuppa at night, without having to worry about not being able to sleep that night.

Cappuccino (RM10) & Americano (RM8)

Next, the food. 

First up was their Linguine ala Goma, or their Chicken Linguine. Linguine, stir fried with a sesame dressing and peanut sauce with grilled chicken, topped with some greens and sesame seeds. Peculiar? Yes. Delicious? Absolutely. We didn't know what we were getting into because we have never seen pasta cooked this way before but, it works. The sauce is not overly dense and the chicken is uniquely scrumptious. All in all, it was an excellent dish. Definitely worth the try.

Linguine ala Goma (RM19)

Then, came the star of the night, their Egg & Cheese Pork Burger. A grilled pork patty, topped with a fried egg and melted cheddar cheese on some lettuce, in between toasted butter buns, served with a side salad and some fries. We think the brilliance of this burger comes from its simplicity. Each element is well executed that it does not need much help for it to be a fabulous dish. Even without a sauce, this burger is never dry and we can taste each ingredient, from the pork patty to the toasted bun. This is one of their signature dishes and it definitely did not fall short.

Egg & Cheese Pork Burger (RM21)

We also ordered a side that night, which was Homemade Sweet Potato Fries. Sweet potatoes, julienned, battered and fried, tossed with salt and a tinge of sugar. One of the better sweet potato fries we've had, its crispy exterior is countered with its creamy and sweet interior which makes for a delicious bite for a long night's talk.

Homemade Sweet Potato Fries (RM8)

Ultimately, Gee and Geek really lived up to its hype and we are excited to see what else they would bring in the future.

Gee & Geek
46, Jalan SS2/4a, 
Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 

Coordinates: 3.111895, 101.610667
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am-10pm.
Phone No: 03-7496-5907

Bmon Cafe @ Kota Damansara

Located on the 1st floor along a row of shoplots at The Strand. Kota Damansara, Bmon Cafe looks to take advantage of its creativity to gauge customers to give them a shot. You will be greeted by a variety of interesting drawings and comics as you make your way up to the cafe, from the front gate to the stairwell leading up to their front door. 

One of the more unique cafes around, Bmon Cafe looks to take on a different concept altogether. Bmon chose to place their trust on bold, bright colors whilst most others go for a darker, dimmer, and more sophisticated feel. Probably because of that, the ambiance of the cafe feels more "open" and "happy", if you get what we mean. Its different, but we feel its a good kind of different.

Now, let's broach the topic that is most important, the F&B.

First up, their coffee. We went for our usual Long Black and Cappuccino that night. The coffee was pretty heavy bodied, complimented with a little acidity, and ending with a strong, fragrant aftertaste. All in all, it was a good cuppa, pretty impressive if we do say so. 

Then came the food. =)

Their signature, Hippo In The Pond, is an interesting dish to try. Potato croquette, served under a pile of corn, sausage and ham, with a half boiled egg and topped with fried strips of crab sticks, with a side salad and a cheesy brown sauce. Trust us when we say this, we tried deconstructing the dish and it was pretty difficult to judge, but when you put it all together, this dish will be pretty comforting. Everything on the top was cold(which was on purpose), but when eaten together with the warm, fluffy, crispy croquette, it just works. The sauce just blends everything together, without overpowering each element.

We also ordered the Chicken Wrap since we thought one dish won't be enough to fill our tummies. We really didn't expect much from this, thinking it would be just a normal wrap, but the balance in flavors really gave this dish a thumbs up from us. Chicken, mayo and onions wrapped in warm tortilla, simplicity at its best. 

Bmon Cafe looks to stay true to its own "brand" and interesting enough, it works. We are not manga lovers ourselves, but we were pretty impressed with the cafe. Its very inviting atmosphere makes this a good place to hang out and just chill, not too mention that the F&B were above average. So, if you're looking for a simple, yet stress free place, this is the place we would recommend. 

Bmon Cafe

8-1, First Floor, Jalan 5/20B, 

The Strand, Kota Damansara. 

Coordinates: 3.154223, 101.591952

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri, 12pm-10am; Sat-Sun, 10am-12am. 

Phone: 03-6158-9993

A'Perfetto @ SS2

Is it Italian? Is it Japanese? Well, we settled that its a brilliant blend of both; A'Perfetto looks to combine the best of both worlds in their quaint, yet fancy restaurant.

Simple yet elegant silverware and serving dishes

Love the yellow against the black, such a bright splash of color

Wine anyone?!

Now, the food.... Bare with us, as some of these dishes may sound bizarre, but there were delicious nevertheless. :D

First dish that came was the Sakura Chicken Salad with Mentaiko Dressing (RM12). Grilled chicken with steamed sweet potatoes and raisins sitting on a bed of greens. The chicken was grilled well and is complemented with the sweet potatoes and greens. The raisins give this dish a different sweetness which works when eaten together. Simple, yet beautifully done, this was the favorite of the night for us. 

Anything with mentaiko, is always good to go.

Ying Yang Duck (RM 29) was the next dish to have arrived from our order. Smoked duck with quail eggs, topped with fish roe, sitting on a thin sheet of tortilla with a spread of avocado puree. Impressive at first sight, better when tasted. The smoked duck is obviously the star of the dish, though you can still taste the other elements of the dish, making it well balanced and leaving you wanting more.

Is it s pizza? Is it an open face sandwich ? You choose 

Last but not least came the Seared Salmon with Yuzu Sauce (RM 25). The presentation itself is enough to get your senses tingling. 5 slices of seared salmon with sides of lemons and Yuzu sauce. As dish deconstructors, we are really glad to say that the salmon was perfectly cooked, but the Yuzu sauce was on the saltier side. Fret not, because if you eat it all together, you will be surprised of how different it will taste as compared to if its eaten separately. 

There was a legit party in the mouth 

The 2 drinks we ordered were Cucumber Honeydew (RM 10.50) and Mango Berry (RM 10.50). Like we said on the top of the page, bizarre combination but it works. These ice blended drinks are well thought out, being both refreshing and unique. One sip will just wake you up.

Breakfast in a glass

We also got a chance to sample a glass of their wine, compliments from the restaurant. One of Argentina's signature varietal, the 2013 Aires Andinos Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon exudes of smooth black fruits on the palate with warming hints of spice at the end. 

Now that's a good end to a good meal

A'Perfetto boasts comfort and class, while serving delicious, well balanced food for all. If you are looking for a place for a date or a gathering, this is the place we would recommend to impress.

A'Perfetto @ Chow Yang

22 Jalan SS2/10, 

Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 

Coordinates: 3.115639, 101.616688

Tel: 03-7865-5139

Curious Goat @ Damansara Perdana

Why would a cafe tucked away in the midst of a row of car repair workshops be dedicated to a little creature that we hardly see in the concrete jungle? 

The name The Curious Goat, really does goad your curiosity. With a name like that, who would not want to venture to the "wilderness" of Damansara Perdana to chance upon a quiet little establishment which is artistic in various aspects to spark a spot of creativity inside of you.

As you arrive at the cafe, you're greeted with a chalk mural that shows a scene of the mountains with 4 goats who got to the coffee bush, and the shepherd that noticed their curious behavior. That my friends, is how coffee was discovered. Playing into the history of coffee, this is how the place got both the name, and the decor.

I'll be dancing with joy too, if I was that buzzed.

"Who stole my coffee!! BAAAAA!!!"

At least they're promoting "morally right" stance. Hey a goat in a suit...suave!

Such is my digression of the main point....THE COFFEE!

We got the latte - RM9 (the flower design) and a cappuccino RM9 (the bear design). The presentation is intricate, and it brings a smile looking at the designs. The distinction of the foam and the crema(not a typo) from the coffee was very well contrasted, hence, the design had a more 3D feel to it despite it just being 2D. 

The coffee itself is bold and strong, the milk was the added touch of sweetness and smoothness the coffee needed. I really liked how the milk coats your tongue, and yet the coffee taste still punctuates through that. 

A shot of a shot of a shot, how is that for inception?

Rustic wooden table with two very glorious cup of joe, not to mention a age old toy from Japan called Kendama.

Fresh cut flowers in a simple glass jar provides a feel of Provenance, France.

And the Bear says "Hi!"

Besides coffee, they do serve food. That day, we ordered the 3 cheese toast (RM 16)

To be honest, we don't think the price commensurate the product. We find the toastie to be underwhelming. Perhaps as huge fans of cheese, we expected a better blend of cheeses for the toastie. It needs a stronger tasting cheese such as a Gouda to elevate it. Another thing which they could add to it could be a fruit preserved to have a sweet component to this savory snack. 

Cheese toastie with a side of salad with sesame dressing

All in all, this place is a great place to come hang out and talk bout the deep dark secrets of the universe. The ambiance is great, with a lot of decorations and murals which could be a conversation starter. 

Curious Goat,

20, Jalan PJU 8/3a. Damansara Perdana,

47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia 

Coordinates: 3.164122, 101.607586

Phone: +60 3-7733 7383

TBF @ Sunway Giza

As you walk around Sunway Giza, you'll notice that the hotspot that was once The Beer Factory has been replaced by another called TBF. TBF? Isn't that an abbreviation for The Beer Factory? Well, we digress. since we live in the present, let's instead tell you about our experience at TBF, Brunch, Bar, Desserts.

A quick first impression from the outside would be that the place still looks a bit like a bar, still often frequented by working adults during their happy hour promotion and through dinner hours, but if you talk to their ushers, they will be more than happy to provide you with their all day brunch menu for your browsing.

A huge screen on each side that projects the restaurant's brand.

Their tissue paper has a kiss and their phone number on it... Pretty unique.

Next, let's talk food!!!
For this post, we are intentionally posting our food in chronological order, so pls bare that in mind and bare with us. =)

Pancakes of Happiness (RM24)

2 soft fluffy pancakes, one with sauteed mushrooms, another can be accompanied by ham or duck bacon, with sides of salad and mushroom sauce. First impression wise, this looks like a pretty decent dish, but unfortunately, sometimes, looks may deceiving. The pancakes were fluffy, but pretty dry on the inside. That was probably why the mushroom sauce was there, but nothing is more of a put off than dry pancakes. The mushroom sauce was on the saltier side and the duck bacon was slightly chewy as well, probably due to its leaner cut. The side salad's dressing was overwhelmingly vinegary, one mouth could either wake you up or make you cough. The only saving grace of this dish was their sauteed mushrooms, though it was nothing to scream about as well.

After a disappointing first dish, we were prepared for the worst.

BUT that was when things took an unexpected 180 degree turn... =)

Salted Egg Fried Chicken Wings (RM21)

Next came the salted egg fried chicken wings. Needless to say, its chicken wings, fully coated with salted egg, fried with some curry leaves and chilli. The smell of this dish was phenomenal. The chicken was fried to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Seasoning was spot on and best of all, there is a small kick to it because of the chilli. Each mouthful was an experience and we can't wait to go back for more.

Waffle Hashed Benedict (RM21)
A pair of eggs benedict, sitting on layers of waffle hash and a strip of smoked salmon, with a side salad. At first glance, this was definitely a well presented dish. If you are anything like us, the first thing you would do is to taste the hollandaise sauce. Hands down, one of the better hollandaise that we have tasted. It was not overly buttery and we detect a hint of mustard, which made it slightly denser in taste. The sauce was on the saltier side, but, when paired together with the rest of the dish, it was delicious! The eggs were perfectly poached, and the waffle hash was crispy to the extent that it will break apart if you try to poke it through with a fork. The smoked salmon compliments the dish well, giving it another level of flavor and texture. This was easily the star of the night and definitely should be one of the reasons you visit this restaurant.

Brownie Bombs (RM18)

Finally was the dessert. They have some interesting ones available, but we decided to go for the classic brownie with ice cream. Their brownies are served in bite sized pieces and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This may seem like a typical brownie dessert, but there is a twist. Their brownies are baked to be crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. This elevates the dish to a whole new level. Not only do you have your typical warm, oozie brownie to contrast the cold sweet ice cream, you now have a crunchy chocolatey goodness to go with each spoonful. This was a pretty decent dessert to end a meal, the only criticism from our end is that the ice cream was below par and we can tell from the texture, that the ice cream has been kept in their freezer for a while.

All in all, TBF gave us the impression that they do have what it takes to stand out and serve quality, delicious food. What surprised us the most was their food presentation and you can see from each dish that was served, they do put their heart on the plate. 

TBF,

Ground Floor, Sunway Giza, 

Kota Damansara. 

Coordinates: 3.151618, 101.591370

Open daily, 11am-2am