Food, film & friends form the foundation of The Gastro Project, unveiled in Section 17 this week to offer a hangout that's somehow both elegant & economical.
Portraits of ultra-cool Bogart, Nicholson & Depp peer over diners' shoulders at The Gastro Project's ground-floor space; upstairs, a work-in-progress bar will soon start screening movies (we're crossing our fingers for a Maggie Smith marathon!).
Comfort food with tiny twists steal the show: pies stuffed with lamb & apricot, pizzas topped with sausages, baked beans & eggs, plus steaks paired with avocado bearnaise.
Roasted tomatoes filled with minced lamb. Prices here won't break the bank, with most starters capped at RM15++, pastas at RM20++ & pizzas at RM25++.
Pumpkin ravioli. Portions feel fair; a three-course meal should suffice for most customers.
Chocolate balls with rum-cocoa sauce (RM15++). Flavor-wise, whatever we ordered was OK; reasonably well-executed, without serious flaws that warrant nitpicking.
Cocktails may be the true star here; love the AC Martini, mysteriously described on the menu as a mix of butterscotch, dark rum & "something else." That turned out to be apple with burnt sugar, making this a cool concoction that tastes like Apple Crumble.
Most cocktails cost only RM15++: the very nice Hmmmm (midori, dark rum, fresh strawberries, brown sugar, almonds) & Bellini (sparkling wine, peach puree, peach liquor).
The Gastro Project promises a different flavor of infused vodka daily; we had mango this time, but pandan, vanilla, orange & raspberry will be next.
All in all, TGP's a cheerful spot that may become a favorite for some. Worth keeping tabs on this.
The Gastro Project opens 11am through late, except Mondays.
The Gastro Project (TGP) @ Section 17,
Jalan 17/56, Petaling Jaya (same row as Decanter, behind Bistro a Table)
