Music's the food of love at Quartet, tunefully run by four friends belonging to various indie bands.
Quartet, which opened this past weekend, will probably prove a smash hit in Taman Tun; it's the ideal hipster hangout for this neighborhood, buzzing with positive vibes.
Check out Quartet's vinyl collection; the playlist is a little too loud & lacking in melody for our liking, but then, music's even more predicated on personal fancies than food. The harmonic highlight of our two hours here: The Cure's "Friday I'm In Love," making us wish that Quartet had found space for New Order, Depeche Mode & Erasure as well on its speakers.
The menu plays it safe with crowd-pleasing favorites; expect eggs pleasantly poached with either spinach (our choice, RM15 nett), smoked salmon or turkey ham, drenched in hollandaise sauce.
Honest, hearty fare; the bagel stuffed with salmon & cream cheese, paired with a crisp salad (RM16), works well for brunch. Quartet's soft-opening menu remains limited, with a kitchen that closes by 6pm, but eventually, a fuller selection will be available for dinner.
Chicken-&-spinach quiche. Nitpickers might resort to the abominable cliche that this isn't something to "shout about," but satiated stomachs are more desirable than hoarse throats.
Our Quartet favorite: The French Toast (RM12), fulfilling in its flavorful fluffiness, served in a mighty portion with syrup & berry compote. Order this one.
Cakes & muffins look OK. The usual suspects of chocolate, carrot, red velvet & walnut.
Quartet currently obtains its coffee blends from Artisan Roast (one of its founders formerly worked at that increasingly venerable institution; others have links to Subang SS15's Grafa cafe).
Coffee mocktail, intriguingly named 'Jerusalem': Espresso, soda, syrup & ice. This is a cafe where coffee fans congregate; one of VCR Cafe's owners might be spotted chilling out here.
La Vanilla ice-blended & Old-fashioned hot chocolate; both serve a purpose on a rainy weekend.
Time to raid the closet for mothballed tracksuits?
All in all, Quartet's a place with potential. It helps that the people here seem really nice.
Quar/Tet TTDI
21, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 7, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Row behind Vin's
Sun-Thurs, 8am-9pm. Fri-Sat, 8am-10pm
The Oct.-Dec. inaugural edition of Eat Drink KL: 100 Favorites is now available in an eBook for free, convenient reading on computers, tablets & smartphones. It comprises reviews & information for 100 pretty nice eateries that span various locations, cuisines & budgets.
Please click here: http://eatdrinkkl.publ.com/Eat-Drink-KL-100-Favorites-Oct-Dec-2013
This link expires Dec. 31, 2013; see blog entries after that date for new link
Please click here: http://eatdrinkkl.publ.com/Eat-Drink-KL-100-Favorites-Oct-Dec-2013
This link expires Dec. 31, 2013; see blog entries after that date for new link