Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Vin's Restaurant & Bar @ Taman Tun Dr Ismail, KL

I submitted this to The Star but it never got published... so waste not! I really like this restaurant :) ....

My friends and I are always on the lookout for new restaurants to try, so when I heard about Vin's in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, we headed over there for dinner.

It's located in the Datuk Sulaiman area of TTDI (near the TTDI mosque), just a stone's throw away from the main TTDI shophouse area. From the outside, it looks pretty low key with its muted, earthy color scheme but it is the first fancy looking restaurant on that block of shops, so don't worry - it's pretty hard to miss:
Just outside Vin's....

I liked that it was comfortable, fairly quiet and relatively smoke free inside, despite being somewhat of a pub/bar setting. I suppose this would be entirely reliant on who happens to be dining at the same time as you though.
(On the night that I was there, it was mostly families and yuppies)
Comfortable ambience inside....

There's a fairly extensive menu of Western food ranging from pub fare (eg. bangers and mash, fish & chips) to Italian (eg. pizza, pastas) and some Asian dishes.
(It seems like almost every Western restaurant in Malaysia just HAS to have Italian on the menu, doesn't it?)

We started off the night with a few appetizers to share:
- Mushroom Soup (RM 12.90++):
Creamy mushroom soup....

Nothing to really fault about this classic soup - the texture was a medium creaminess, and flavourful enough without being too salty.

- Chicken Nachos (RM 26.90++):
Ay caramba....

This mix of crunchy nachos and juicy sliced chicken breast slathered with a tomato salsa, melted cheese, chili, sour cream and lettuce, was a crowd pleaser that night and disappeared in mere moments.
(If there's only one thing bad about this though, is that I found the serving a bit small for that price)

- Mushroom Bruschetta (6 pieces) (RM 16.90++):
Mushrooms atop bread - delicious....

This is such a simple dish, found in many restaurants, but Vin's executed it well - The chunky slice of bread was crisp and not starchy (yay!), topped with a mix of sliced mushrooms, garlic, spices and cheese that was tasty without being too salty.

As for the mains:
- We tried both the Beef Burger (RM 25++) and the Grilled Chicken Burger (RM 22++):
Chunky beef patty....

Tasty chicken burger....

Both came served with some yummy chunky french fries, and I liked that both patties tasted freshly made and were fairly juicy. Out of the 2, I preferred the chicken burger, as it came with a generous slice of half melted cheese. :)

- Spicy Tuna Pizza (RM 27++):
Crunchy thin crust pizza....

What a nice surprise - the pizza base was perfectly crunchy and not starchy. There was also an adequate amount of juicy toppings (spicy tuna, capsicum, onions and cheese), making it a nice meal. Of course, those that dislike fishy flavours had better stay away from this dish - It is topped with tuna, after all. :)

- Pasta Carbonara (RM 25.90++)
Decadent pasta....

I was feeling naughty and chose to have the sinful pasta carbonara that night. :)

OMG. It was luxuriously creamy, with the pasta done just right (al dente). I would warn against trying to finish this all on your own though, because as delicious as it is, it is also really filling.

- Mee Mamak (RM 18++):
More carbs....

If you, for some reason, feel like having something Asian here instead, you can opt for the Mee Mamak which they claim is one of their specialties. Overall, it tasted pretty nice and comes in a really big serving but I found it a bit too spicy for my tastebuds and without the extra oomph of smokey wok hei (wok fried fragrance).

- Chocolate Lava (RM 16.90++):
Chocolatey dessert....

Despite eating so much already, we decided to share a dessert, or more like, I insisted we did, as I love desserts!. The moist chocolate fondant, nicely gooey in the middle, balanced well with the vanilla ice cream and was a nice way to end the night.

What a night! :)
I almost had to roll myself back to the car but definitely had a good time stuffing my face and catching up with my friends in this comfortable restaurant.
(I've been back a couple more times after that, and even organised a company department dinner there - gotta say wow! They are really consistent in quality!)

So it's: Friendly service, comfortable ambience, good range of Western and Asian dishes BUT nothing bad really, just that some of the pricing seems to be on the high side......


Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:


Vin's Restaurant & Bar @ TTDI, KL

No. 6, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1,
Taman Tun Dr.Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur


Taste: 7
Ambience : 7
Service : 7
Price** : RM 50++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-7725 9053‎
Opening Hours: 4pm - 2am everyday (Lunch or other times by special booking only)

NO PORK SERVED



MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- joshuaongys.com
- careless little hamster
- the yum list
- ewinee.com
- The Ruthless Eater

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Friday, November 18, 2011

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka @ Pavilion KL

The ramen craze continues :)....

It does feel like there have been a lot of new (porky) ramen restaurants opening in KL lately, don't you think so?

One such place is Santouko, professing their own unique blend of Hokkaido ramen**. It's not too hard to find - just go up to the 6th floor of Pavilion and look for the (new) giant, red neon lit Japan Street section - its filled with little shops and restaurants, but its not a large area:
(** Apparently the Santouko ramen chain is pretty famous/established in Japan)
Mostly food/restaurants, with some shops and a big Daiso at the end....

It's comfortable inside, but pretty much just like any other above average Japanese casual restaurant:
Modern, casual Japanese restaurant setting....

We tried both the classic, Shoyu Ramen (Medium) (RM 25+), and the not quite so classic, Kara Miso Ramen (Medium) (RM 27+):
The classic Shoyu Ramen....

The Kara Miso Ramen - Looked oily but tasted good....

The ingredients that make up a Shoyu Ramen soup (mixture of pork broth and soy sauce) is not exactly groundbreaking but the key difference is in the execution - here, the broth is fragrant, slightly "heavy" (in a good way) from all the melted porky goodness but without being overpowering or too salty. The noodles were also a good texture - bouncey enough although just slightly over al dente, and the slices of pork cha shu were tender and tasty.
(Seems a bit expensive though, if you consider the small serving size, but its surprisingly filling)

Still, I preferred the spicy Kara Miso Ramen, if for no other reason than the fact that I like spicy food. :)
(Similarly, the broth was thick and yummy, just with a little extra "kick")

Do note that the Green Tea (RM 4+) is not refillable here... They serve it in a rather large bottle though so I don't think it'll be a problem:
Some energizing green tea to (hopefully) melt all the fat away....

I had a wonderful night - especially as I had wonderful company and equally wonderful surprise company at the next table. :)
(What a small world - Ran into a dear old friend of mine from university days, and he was seated right at the next table! I just sat down, looked up and we were like "Oh! It's you!")

So it's: Modern casual Japanese ambience, fairly friendly service, a (supposedly) famous Japanese ramen chain BUT nothing really bad, just that the menu is limited/ focused and seems a bit small serving (although filling) for the price......


Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka @ Pavilion, KL

6.24.03, 6th Floor (Tokyo Street Section), Pavilion Shopping Mall, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 7
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM 40++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2143 8878
Opening Hours: 11am - 10pm
Official Website: Click here :)

NOT HALAL



MAP:

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OTHER REVIEWS:
- wordspics.com of food and travel
- me and the world
- KY Eats
- Eat Drink KL
- Eat your heart out
- Sabashii Senshi Lonesome Warrior


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Monday, November 14, 2011

Impromptu @ Menara Hap Seng, KL

Can't get out of the city center at lunch time? Don't worry, there's Impromptu :)..........

Hello hello... This is an invited review, k? Please find my usual disclaimers as follows :)
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...
(Again: This review is (more than) a little delayed *blush*...)

What an interesting name, I thought: "Impromptu"?
(Forgot to ask them why they chose this name, while I was there. Oops)
Casual but comfy dining area just outside the small restaurant....

Anyway, Impromptu is a fairly new restaurant in the also fairly newly revamped Menara Hap Seng (formerly known as MUI PLaza) off Jalan Sultan Ismail (just behind the Mercedes showroom)... Goodness! What a change - this old office building now looks fresh and bright with lots of interesting food options.

The USP (Unique Selling Point) of Impromptu that makes it different from the rest is its specialty home made pastas - classic, herb and charcoal pasta:
3 interesting freshly made pastas....

The preparation methods are also interestingly varied as there is a fusion twist. For example, the Seafood Tom Yam with mixed herbs fettuccine (RM 15.90):
Creamy, fragrant and mildly spicy..

... and the Curried Soft Shell Crab with charcoal spaghetti (RM 18.90)
Dark, mysterious pasta....

Both pastas were nice - cooked perfectly al dente so it had a good bite to it. I was kinda expecting the charcoal pasta to feel a little grainy** but wow, it was not at all, and the creamy yet fragrant curry sauce went well with it.
(** "Charcoal??", I thought to myself, "Yerr..")

Of course, they also have classic combinations like the Grilled Chicken Pesto with plain fettuccine (RM 15.90) if you do not feel experimental:
Chef's special fresh pesto - a blend of herbs and olive oil....

If you fear carbs, they have other dishes too, like the Japanese Wafu Salad with Soft Shell Crab (RM 16.90):
(Really enjoyed this dish! The crab was crispy, the veggies were fresh and it all went very well with the appetising Japanese wafu dressing)
Yummy....

The Crispy Crab Cakes (RM 9.90) was another more classic dish, made with fresh crab meat & crab stick (Note: It was a smaller serving of this during this food tasting, usually there's more)
Golden crab nuggets?....

The crab cakes were moist inside and crisp on the outside - overall nice but just a tad underseasoned.. A dab of the accompanying chili mayo sauce complemented it.

The Lamburger (RM 16.90) is one of their non pasta specialties that we were told is very popular with their patrons... and I can tell why - the lamb patty is juicy and had a nice taste of spices, matched well with tart/sweet topping of mango chutney and BBQ sauce...
Not gigantic but still, very worth it for the price and taste....

Don't like meat?/ Like animals too much - don't worry, you have options in Impromptu, like the Sauteed Mushroom & Veggies Panini (RM 14.90) which is a simple, slightly creamy mix of sauteed mushrooms and veggies, served on toasted panini bread:
Simple, healthier option....

If you want to complete your meal with some dessert, you can choose from their specialties, the (Non Alcoholic) Tiramisu (RM 8.90) and the Chocolate Cheese Brownie with vanilla ice-cream (RM 9.90)
Choc Brownie in the background, Tiramisu in the front....

To be completely fair, we were told these are lighter, healthier versions of these desserts.... so being a lover of decadent, sinful desserts, these were just ok to me - still, they were definitely not bad at all. :)

SHOUT OUT:
Thanks to Edwin of Click Click Culinary for extending the invite. :D

So, it's: Convenient location in the heart of KL, with a range of interesting fusion dishes BUT nothing bad to say really :)....


Summary Sheet:

Impromptu @ Menara Hap Seng, KL
Lot1.19, First Floor, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P.Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM 40 per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-2141 0227
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon - Fri), Closed on Weekends.

NO PORK SERVED



OTHER REVIEWS:
- Malaysian Foodie
- Khayne Me
- Brought Up 2 Share
- clever munkey
- i am the witch
- .수라야. Damage but still okay


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Friday, October 28, 2011

In House Arabic Cuisine @ Solaris Dutamas, KL

Om nom nom. Carrrrbs :) ....

Carbs are my Achilles Heel. :)
(Unfortunately, I guess)

So when my friends Alvin and Diana asked me to join them for dinner at their (current) favourite Arabian food place in Solaris Dutamas, (tempting me with promises of delicious carbs) I just couldn't resist.

The venue was an Arabic restaurant called In House, located on the ground floor (facing the main road) of Solaris Dutamas. It's just a simple place, more or less like a high class mamak, with a good portion of the seating area outside where you can puff on shishas (RM 15?) if you so choose.

Anyway, the dish they were tempting me with was (their fave) the Kabsa Lamb (RM 20):
Lamb and rice done right....

This was my favourite dish that night too - the lamb was tender, with the fragrant flavours of spices soaked right through the meat (yum!). The al dente rice (one piece one piece type) was still moist enough, tasty and oh so very addictive.
(The accompanying tomato-ey sauce was also nice - when drizzled on top of the lamb/rice it adds a nice extra zing)

We also had the Beef Cubes (RM 22):
The pieces of moo moo peeking from inside their comfy bread shelter....

Chunks of beef served in 2 pieces of flat bread - tender and well marinated (with a nice taste of spices). Overall, yummy. :)

We also ordered Yoghurt Salad (RM 8) as a side/ accompanying dish:
So refreshing! Just a simple mix of yoghurt and diced cucumbers... Nice as a dip for the bread, meat or doused on the rice...
A refreshing side dish....

Also eaten that night, but no photos (as they turned out really really bad):
- The Chicken Shawarma (RM 10), which is basically like a chicken kebab... It tasted ok but not sure I would order this again (Then again my friend Diana said that this was, strangely, not as nice as usual that night), and
- The Lemon Mint (RM 9) drink which was addictively sour/sweet/minty... but I found it a bit too expensive.

So it's: Simple ambience, fairly wide range of yummy Arabic food and shisha flavours BUT nothing bad really - just that service was erratic (blur) although friendly, and the drinks seem to be too expensive. :).....


Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:


In House @ Solaris Dutamas, KL
A2-G1-05, Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 5
Price** : RM 25++ per person
Parking: OK
Official Website: Click here

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 016-603 1426/ 03-6211 1171
Opening Hours: 11am - 2am

NO PORK



OTHER REVIEWS:
- Nava-k


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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

A Perfect Day

If only I could bottle up this feeling, and take a sip on gloomy days :)...

J'S PERFECT DAY:

No chocolates in sight, but plenty of Sunshine, Truffle Fries (SGD 12++), Cocktails and Eye Candy at Tanjong Beach Club:
Hard work at the gym definitely pays off...

MORE PICS! :P
- Comfy sofas/beds on the beach, perfect for lazing around and catching some rays:
Hot weather and hot bodies a-plenty...

- Lots of action on the beach:
Many of the young 'uns were playing volleyball...

- Cute lil pug compares pedicures with the girls:
One of many adorable doggies spotted that day...

- A closer look at those yummy fries:
Perfect french fries, crispy yet moist, with just enough cheese and truffle sprinkled on top...

- Yummy cocktails to refresh the soul:
Fruity and refreshing...

- Not on the menu but also very yummy:
;)...

- Sun begins to set on a perfect day
Awwwww...

I wish days like these would never end... but at least I can hold on to the memories (and oogle at saved photos) till the next time. :)

(Psssst. Thanks for taking me out to paradise for a day, Fai!)


So, again, it's: Simple, yummy food by a beautiful man made beach that will make you feel like you are no longer in the concrete jungles of Singapore BUT ok, so the food isn't exactly cheap/ affordable and the service can be slightly inattentive (yet friendly) if you are seated too far from the main bar area....


Summary Information:
Tanjong Beach Club @ Sentosa, Singapore

Opening Hours: (Tues to Sunday) 11am till late
Phone: +65 6270 1355
Address: 120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 098942 (On Sentosa Island)
(Also, join their Facebook or Twitter for constant updates on events and sunshine/rain conditions)

Map: (Below)

NOT HALAL



MAP:

View Larger Map


OTHER REVIEWS:
- My first time there :)
- The Arriviste
- Paper Hearts
- SoShiok.com
- Dawn Yang clapbangkiss
- Gastronommy


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Friday, October 21, 2011

A Cup of Calm and Comfort :)

Simple to prepare and delicious - what more could you want from your daily cuppa? :)....

Hmmm.
I don't usually get free stuff through my blog (or more like, almost never - first of all, I'm a bit of a worry wart about whether it's appropriate and well, I'm just not that famous :P)...

When the kind and passionate people from Auresso contacted me through Twitter, I just couldn't resist - I love coffee! AND they said they had a really good chocolate drink that I could try too.
(So, if you hadn't guessed already, I didn't pay for any of this)

They sent me a package of goodies very shortly after we talked, and I brought it over to my (fellow coffee addict) friend's house.

- Their Passion, Pride & Joy... Coffee:
An exotic, single origin coffee....

First, we tried the Brazil - Single Origin (Price from RM 46).
Mmmmm... The coffee was interestingly complex without being overpowering - had a nice sweet note at the start, almost like berries, medium acidity and overall, not too bitter.
Just add in the ground beans into the plunger, with hot water. Easy peasy :)....

We tried it prepared through the Bodum plunger and also as an espresso (My friend Alvin is a self taught barista - IMHO, he's gotten very good at it through the years!).
2 long blacks, ready for consumption....

Either way, it was delicious, but I much preferred it as an espresso - a much more intense flavour this way, perfect for a coffee lover like me. :D
Beautiful espressos - energy providing sips of intense, delicious coffee....

- Lovely Teas Too:
If coffee isn't really your thing though, you can try out their range of really interesting teas.
Choices, choices - Granny's Garden, Japanese Sencha, Punjabi Chai, Green Tea Sunshine or Lemongrass & Ginger?....

They had sent the Tea Sampler (RM 24) so I had 5 flavours to choose from. I liked the Green Tea Sunshine most - nice balance of the freshness and slight bitter taste of Green Tea balanced by the delicate sweetness of fruits (mainly pineapple).
For a moment of calm in a hectic day....

- Recipe for Happiness:
I was really looking forward to trying out Kokolicious (RM 65), their signature Hot Chocolate drink... and it was so easy to prepare too!
An award winning :)....

Just 2 table spoonfuls, hot water and milk (optional) - yummy... Smooth texture (no yucky powder-y aftertaste), creamy and rich without being sickening, and chocolatey without being too sweet.
Happiness in a cup :)....

The best thing is that it's so wonderfully pure - African Red cocoa, processed in France, blended with pure Australian cane sugar - all natural ingredients with no added filters, starch, artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.
(Also GMO Free, Wheat Free, Gluten Free and Exploitation Free. Wah. Any more and it'll be a some kind of superhero :P)

- Some background on Auresso:
Auresso is the sole distributor of Rubra Coffee and Tea in Malaysia, roasted by Award winning artisan roaster Allan McMurray of Rubra located in Western Australia

The beans are 100% Arabica and are freshly roasted and delivered from the Rubra roasting house in Australia - Auresso aims to have a new shipment every 1 to 2 weeks to ensure only the freshest is offered.
(For more info, please refer to their FAQ)

How to Order - 4 Simple Steps:
1) Go to their website, :P
2) Choose as many of the products as you like,:)
(So nice - you can even specify for them to grind the beans, for your convenience)
3) Fill out your details (shipping address, etc),
4) Pay either through an online transfer or cash deposit machine to their Maybank account.

Done! :)
You will receive a confirmation email and tracking number, and the products will be shipped to you via courier.

Unfortunately they currently only deliver within Malaysia.... but let's see - maybe they'll expand their coverage someday? :)
(For the love of coffee!)

SHOUT OUT:
Thanks for the kind, passionate people at Auresso for sharing their delicious coffee, tea and drinking chocolate with me. :D
(And also a BIG thanks to Alvin for being my personal barista, and to Diana for allowing me the services of your husband. *lol*)



Contact Details


Auresso - Fine Coffee Artisans

Phone: 016-208 1259/ 016-331 2971
Email: enquiry@auresso.com.my
Official Website: CLICK HERE



TAGS: , , , , Artisan Coffee, , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Sisters Kitchen @ Foodhive, G Tower, KL

Convenient and decently priced place for makan in the heart of KL..........

Hello hello... This is an invited review, k? Please find my usual disclaimers as follows :)
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...
(Again: This review is (more than) a little delayed *blush*...)

Lunch, especially for us office minions (during weekdays) can be such a pleasure/ pain:
1) You get to escape the office for an hour - Pleasure! :)
2) Darn. It's only an hour, so you can't go far... Traffic/finding parking can be pretty bad too - Pain! :(

Luckily, with the new(ish) Food Hive in the LG floor of G Tower, there are ample food choices, within walking distance of many of the major buildings in KL.
(Eg. Lembaga Tabung Haji, PNB Darby Park, Ampang Park - which conveniently, is equipped with an LRT station, etc)

One interesting eatery in the Foodhive is Sister's Kitchen - a casual restaurant, with a range of local favourites on the menu:
The main area of Sisters is covered, but open air but with ample ventilation....

We were served quite a lot of food that day, so I'll try to keep the descriptions short. :)

- Original Popiah (RM 3.90++) and Egg Roll Popiah (RM 4.90++):
One taste and I realised, "Oh! No wonder the name of the restaurant seemed so familiar! It's from the same people who created those yummy crispy popiahs (sold in most shopping centres)!". So, needless to say, both were yummy although I still prefer the original version. :D
Original on the left and egg-y on the right :)....

- Nasi Lemak with Fried Chicken (RM 14.80++):
A good sized portion for the price (considering KL city center prices) with all the elements of a fairly enjoyable carbilicious nasi lemak.
A well loved Malaysian dish....

- Seafood Siam Laksa (RM 14.80++):
Thick glass noodles in a creamy laksa broth. There was a reasonable amount of stuff (prawns, garoupa slices and squid) to justify the price and the rich flavour was sinfully satisfying.
Do not think about the calories - once in a while is ok, right?....

- Seafood Soup Noodle (RM 12.80++):
Kuey teow noodles in a clear soup with prawns, squid and garoupa fish slices. While the soup was just a tad too salty, it was otherwise a nice dish to have when you need some soup-y comfort food.
A less sinful option....

- Penang Rojak (RM 9++):
To be completely honest, I don't like this style of rojak as the only time I appreciate prawn paste is when it's added into assam laksa. The fruits tasted nice though... :)
A love it or hate it dish, IMHO....

- Mango Passion (RM 8++):
Ok. This kind of dessert I like. :D
Refreshing with a nice sweetness from the mango sauce and fresh mango chunks.
Perfect for the hot and humid Malaysian weather....

- Ice Kacang (RM oops):
Another great way to cool down is with this generously stacked up ice kacang. :)
Also very refreshing....

- 4 Heavenly Kings (RM 5++):
I really enjoyed this - their signature drinks which is a concoction of tea, and 3 types of cocoa.
Slurp....

Oh man...
I still remember how happy/ ridiculously full I was that day.
(Too much food! But I ain't complaining ;P)

SHOUT OUT:
Thanks to Alex and Gladys for the invite! :D

So, it's: Convenient location in the heart of KL, with a range of interesting local dishes BUT nothing bad to say really, some may say it's a bit pricey but the serving size is generous enough....


Summary Sheet:

Sisters Kitchen @ Foodhive, G Tower, KL
LG-07 & 08,
Lower Ground Floor, GTower,
No 199, Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.


Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM 25++ per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-2161 8997
Opening Hours: 7.30am – 9pm (Mon - Fri), 8.30am - 7.30pm (Sat), Closed on Sundays.

NO PORK SERVED



OTHER REVIEWS:
- Drops of Contentment
- Mama Genie's
- Picks and Pickles


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