Talk about a transformation: Monkey Garage has endured a complete revamp - it's now no longer a hidden cafe that offers Laksa Johor & Nasi Tomato, but a full-fledged restaurant & bar that strives to serve some of Bangsar's porkiest pleasures.
Earlier entry on Monkey Garage: March 2014.
Earlier entry on Monkey Garage: March 2014.
Monkey Garage's dramatic overhaul is the work of Marcus Wong, a self-taught chef who has leapt from the advertising sector into the F&B line. Marcus' mission is to infuse his favourite home-cooked Asian flavours into inventive creations that are unique to Monkey Garage, like this 'Har Mi Pasta' (RM25 nett), comprising capellini tossed in olive oil laced with dried shrimp essence, complemented by a flavoursome combo of a large prawn, shrimp floss, half-boiled egg, lemon & sambal belacan.
Monkey Garage's tiny kitchen comes out with big flavours, epitomised by pasta soaked in a rich vinegar sauce that evokes Marcus' Hakka heritage, specifically the widely beloved Chinese pork trotter stew with ginger. This is only the start of Marcus' wild ways; expect possible concoctions like sambal petai risotto & bak kut teh pulled pork sandwiches to also surface soon.
For char siew devotees, check out Monkey Garage's honey-roasted rendition, cooked to order, a sacrament of sweet-sticky succulence (RM9 per skewer), served with a house-made chilli & lime dipping sauce. Customers can request lean-meat or fattier portions, based on their own personal preference.
Where there's char siew, can siew yuk be far behind? Monkey Kitchen's can come caramelised, fried with chillies, onions & garlic (RM20), but for greater gratification, make an advance booking for plain roasted siew yuk, served with wasabi honey mustard sauce (RM18). Limited quantities of those are available daily; when we arrived on this recent night, it was sold out.
If you're heading here for lunch, you're in luck - Monkey Garage offers mind-boggling set-meal bargains, comprising a starter of robustly aromatic double-boiled herbal chicken soup with truffle oil followed by a main course like a sesame soba salad plus a beverage for only RM20, Mon-Fri (except Tues), 1130am-3pm. Better still, purchase two sets & receive an extra set free.
Dinnertime brings another divine deal: Daily wine buffets (except Tuesdays), 530pm-1am, that cost only RM60 nett per person. featuring a solid selection of Australian, Chilean, Argentinean, South African, New Zealand & Spanish varieties.
And on weekends, get ready for grilling - a BBQ station is set up all day long, Saturdays & Sundays, serving the likes of pork sausages, streaky bacon & what's billed as a 'Come-In-Your-Mouth Burger.' Many thanks to the gregarious Marcus & his team for hosting our visit here.
Monkey Garage Gastropub
61, Jalan Maarof, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. Reservations: 012-232-0239 (Marcus).
Open Wednesday-Monday, 1130am-3am (closed Tuesdays)
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