Cafe Barbera @ Maarof, Bangsar

Click here for earlier entry on Cafe Barbera (January 7).

We enjoyed our previous visit to Cafe Barbera in January, but a more recent stop here for desserts earlier this month turned out to be a misstep, starting with a rather dry carrot cake that seemed to have languished in the chiller for too long.

Forgettable tiramisu. A splash of kahlua might help, but booze isn't served here.

Cheesecake. Relatively OK. Creamy and fresh-tasting.

Apple pie with vanilla ice cream. The pie should have been warmer; the ice cream managed to sit on it for nearly five minutes without melting.

Chocolate fondant. Nicely presented, but all too ordinary.

Cafe Barbera,

Lorong Maarof, Bangsar.

Click here for online reservations.

This restaurant is available for bookings under TABLEAPP, which enables customers to make instant reservations at Malaysia's top restaurants, while saving time and money in the process. Reserve your table at this restaurant by clicking here.

No Black Tie @ Mesui Kuala Lumpur

Spend an evening here and feel your cares melt away slowly while the band plays on.

We were here recently for Rachel Guerzo's showcase. Love this ivory-tickler's voice.

No Black Tie's menu is limited, but what it offers is well-prepared. The Chef's Special Maki is a fresh, tasty roll comprising salmon and tuna sashimi.

Perfectly paired with a bottle of prosecco.

Mojito and Long Island Iced Tea.

Caipirinha and Sangria.

No Black Tie,

Jalan Mesui.

Wau Penyu @ Solaris Dutamas

This posh kopitiam presents generations-old favourites from Kelantan and Terengganu.

Keropok Lekor. More fish, less flour; exactly how it's supposed to be.

Ketupat Pantai Timur. Dense, glutinous rice cakes, with a mildly spicy beef floss.

Rojak Betik Terengganu. An acquired taste; we expected something similar to a Thai papaya salad, but the fish gravy in this recipe was a weird match for the papaya strips.

Murtabak Kelantan, stuffed with minced beef. Thick and hearty, with an unexpected fluffiness that elevated it above the regular mamak versions.

Laksam (flat noodles with mixed ulam in fish coconut gravy). Loved the superbly aromatic broth and the super-fresh, extra-crunchy ulam.

Nasi kerabu, with salted fish, fish floss, sambal, crackers, smoked beef & ayam percik. The rice was a bit bland at first bite, but OK when eaten with all the accompaniments.

Nasi Dagang Istana (fragrant rice with tongkol fish, acar, gravy & fish cake stuffed chilli). Loaded with ingredients, but amazingly, it wasn't too heavy. In fact, two of us shared all the dishes in this entry within one evening, but we didn't feel bloated at all.

Sotong rebus kuah hitam (squid in black ink sauce). A rather mild-tasting recipe, with not enough oomph to recommend it unless you're a major fan of squid.

Burung puyuh goreng (deep-fried quail). Tender, well-seasoned meat.

Traditional coffee & Milo Raksasa.

Wau Penyu,

Solaris Dutamas.

Third Floor @ JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur

Third Floor's heyday seems to have passed; this place was once brimming with diners, but it was practically deserted on a recent weekday evening.

Thankfully, the food and the service remain top-notch, showcasing "contemporary cuisine" with remarkably international flavours.

Warm, light cheese tarts were the ideal appetite-whetter.

Salmon confit. Not quite as incredible as Frangipani's version, but still more than satisfactory. Every bite was a melt-in-the-mouth delight.

Foie gras torchon with toasted brioche. Another visual treat. Also tasted terrific; the liver was smooth, creamy and sweetly aromatic.

Australian Wagyu beef cheeks with Sarawak pepper & shallot red wine sauce. Can't go wrong with a luscious recipe like this.

Chestnut & truffle-scented creme brulee. Subtly flavoured, but very satisfying; there are few better variations of this recipe in town.

Bordeaux White: Chateau Timberlay - Cuvee Prestige.

Third Floor,

JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur.

Kupu-Kupu @ Tengkat Tong Shin

This alfresco rooftop restaurant in a recently opened boutique hotel offers a serene escape from the bustle of the city.

If you kidnap some people, blindfold them and whisk them here, they might be hard pressed to guess that they're at Tengkat Tong Shin.

Alas, the menu isn't as inspiring as the setting. The fish & chips are mind-bogglingly cheap at RM8, so it's no surprise that the battered fish is thinly sliced and over-fried, the chips are stiff and too salty, while the coleslaw tastes like it languished in a fridge for weeks.

The house vegetarian pizza fares better, with lots of gooey cheese and wide-ranging toppings on a crisp crust. Not spectacular, but totally OK for RM13.

Wines by the glass cost below RM10. Perfectly drinkable; value for money.

So come for the gorgeous, mosquito-free ambiance, not the food. Order chicken wings with chilled white wine, and simply soak in the atmosphere on a cool evening. Customers who crave a cocoon of privacy might be fortunate enough to have the entire place to themselves.

Kupu-Kupu,

Anggun Kuala Lumpur, Tengkat Tong Shin.

Tel: 2145-8003

Munich Gastro Bierhaus @ IOI Boulevard Puchong

Puchong might be considered a wasteland for Western food, but Munich Gastro Bierhaus has started a mini-revolution here, offering pork-laden German fare that seems more suited for places like Pavilion or Jaya One.

Sausage combo, featuring grilled spicy Italian, German "black forest," English Oxford & Boerwurst sausages. Hearty and juicy; ideal for sharing.

Honey-glazed pork knuckle. Tender meat, crisp skin. Fulfilled the basic requirements for a good knuckle, but lacked that sinfully satisfying layer of fat underneath the skin.

BBQ pork ribs. Terribly tough. The total opposite of "fall off the bone." We had to use our fingers to strenuously tear the misbegotten meat off the bone.

Hoegaarden Forbidden Fruit (Belgium). Note the censorship on the bottle.

Weihenstephan Hefe (Germany).

Munich Gastro Bierhaus,

IOI Boulevard, Puchong.