Sassorosso @ Yap Kwan Seng

Was there life before Sassorosso? Seems like a hazy memory.

An elegant outlet that offers the assurance of terrific Italian food. Even after more than two years in business and changes in key personnel, this place hasn't lost its flair for whipping up some of KL's best pizzas and pastas.

Pumpkin ravioli with air-dried beef. One of the finest raviolis we've ever had. Absolute comfort food, thanks to the sweet, creamy pumpkin mash encased in delicate ravioli skin.

Potato gnocchi with black truffles in butter sauce. Boasted a terrific texture.

Bigoli all'anitra, a dish that has been here since the start. A thick spaghetti from the region of Veneto, cooked with duck broth & duck gizzard ragout.

Pan-fried sole fillet in foie gras sauce with caramelised leek. An interesting recipe to perk up what might otherwise be a dull fish dish.

Sassorosso Pizza, topped with escargot, mushrooms, prawns, basil and mozzarella. Crisp and generously laden with flavourful toppings; if only all pizzas were like this, we'd be happy to eat pizza every evening.

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2005. A light wine; one of the cheaper choices.

Sassorosso,

Lorong Yap Kwan Seng.

Tel: 2166-6428

True Brew Cafe @ Yap Kwan Seng

A furniture gallery that doubles as an eatery, True Brew Cafe isn't the most popular place on this street, but it's worth seeking out for a peaceful dinner.

The menu is well thought out, offering wholesome dishes with fun twists.

Vegetarian bah kut teh. All that's missing is the pork. But once you get past that, this is surprisingly tasty. All the ingredients are top-notch, even the rice.

Fried rice. This may lack the 'wok hei' that everybody loves, but it's recommended for those who prefer fried rice to be less oily. Generously packed with prawns and dried scallop bits.

Banrai-nobu tofu with wasabi flavouring. Cooked over a mini-stove fire at our table for 15 minutes, this turned out to be wonderfully soft and silky. The wasabi flavouring added a nice kick that made it less bland.

Ajishi-no Sakura Cookies. Not bad, but not really exciting.

Pineapple tarts. Loved this. Tasted freshly baked. Warm, soft and comforting.

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. We're not coffee addicts, but this was OK.

True Brew Cafe,

Jalan Yap Kwan Seng.

Tel: 2168-8299

Market Place @ Yap Kwan Seng

Market Place may be a clubbers' haven, but it's also a treat for diners seeking a mellow evening. Most of the tapas here are worth checking out, though they should try to change their menu more often.

Clockwise from top: Sundried tomato-crusted lamb rack with crushed potato (an awesomely tender cut), air-dried tuna with manchego cheese on toasted baguettes (not really a success), and salt cod croquette with anchovy salsa and aioli (the next best thing to fish and chips).

Brandy Alexander and Manhattan.

Market Place,

Jalan Yap Kwan Seng.

Tel: 2166-0750