Casual Italian at Garibar

Garibar is a part of Garibaldi, one of Bangsar's most renowned Italian establishments. We paid the place a lunchtime visit as we were in the mood for some Italian fare

Garibar is located below Garibaldi, in Bangsar Village along Jalan Telawi 1, and offers good Italian food but without the formality that the restaurant upstairs provides. 

The Calamari Fritti worth RM22 kept us munching, as we awaited our main courses. Lovely tender squid with a thin, crisp layer of batter over it - served with a lovely tomato puree.

The Linguine Funghi priced at RM30 was also a good option, as the al dente pasta together with the light cream-based sauce accompanied the mushrooms very well. The dish was rather light on our stomachs.

The Gamberi e Rucola Pizza worth RM39 was well worth the price, as it came loaded with succulent prawns. The rocket leaves added a nice touch of freshness to the cheesy pizza. I loved the pizza base too, crispy and not too thick.

The Cesare con Salmone worth RM29 is a perfect side dish to have with your mains. Good to see they were abundant with their salmon and croutons (which for me, is always a good thing). It could have done with some freshly grated parmesan though

As we were almost full to the brim, we decided to order a Pavet di Cioccolato worth RM18 for dessert. The moist warm cake was heavenly, and suited perfectly with the vanilla sauce. Although, a vanilla gelato would have been an ideal choice.

If you intend on tasting some good Italian fair but without all the formality, head on over to Garibar and give it a try, the next time you pop by Bangsar.

Presentation: 7/10

Ambiance: 6/10

Service: 6/10

Overall Taste: 8/10

General Impression: 7.5/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

Village Roast Dick @ Bangsar Village

Over the weekend, my mother and I treated ourselves to dinner at Village Roast Duck. The establishment is located on the 2nd Floor of Bangsar Village, right opposite Bijou. The restaurant specialises in…as you guessed it…duck!

The Roast Duck on Rice worth RM12, was a simple dish that provided satisfaction for the palate. The pieces of duck were abundant and contained a lot of the much-loved skin. The combination of duck and rice worked quite well.

Even better than a combination of duck and rice, was the Roast Duck on Noodles - also worth RM12. The noodles and light soy sauce contained more flavour than the rice and the combination of noodles and rice livened up the mouth much more.

As a side dish, we ordered Ma Po Bean-curd with Minced Pork, worth RM16. The silky bean-curd was flavoured well by an abundance of minced pork, and together with the sauce, the dish was enjoyed by both of us.

Both our duck dishes came with a bowl of light, yet flavourful Clear Broth. The broth had a herbal note to it, and worked well with the rest of the dishes. It also seemed really healthy too - perfect for my health conscious mum :)

On the whole, Village Roast Duck offered us a good meal and service. The only downside to the place is that the food was somewhat bland, though their chilli paste did liven things up for our mouths.

Presentation: 5/10

Ambiance: 6/10

Service: 6/10

Overall Taste: 6/10

General Impression: 6/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

There's always Plan B

My mother and I often patronise Plan B when in the mood for a quick coffee break. Their reasonably priced, aromatic cups of coffee are the perfect accompaniment with a book, or while watching the world go by.

Though a few days ago, my mum and I decided to try some of the food they had to offer. Plan B is located right next to Starbucks, on the Ground Floor of Bangsar Village, facing Jalan Telawi 1. Do take note, that Plan B is immensely packed at peak hours - so make a reservation or you might be turned away.

You won't have to worry about running dry at Plan B. Each table is provided with a big jar of water, which will keep you going till the end of your meal. Furthermore, despite having a food menu which is 'halal' in nature, they serve alcohol to accompany your food.

My mum ordered herself Moroccan Meatballs with Mint Yoghurt, worth RM15. Though a starter, this dish was big enough a portion to have been considered a main course. The tangy sauce and yoghurt mix was the perfect accompaniment to the large, succulent meatballs and crisp bread.

I ordered myself the Spicy Crabmeat Linguine, worth RM19. The pasta al-dente, and was scented with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves. Mixed in were pieces of tomato and crabmeat, though not in abundance. The pasta was also dressed with spiced prawn oil, though I could not taste it due to the overpowering scent of the lemongrass and lime leaves.

On the whole, I felt that Plan B did offer some interesting stuff on their menu, and what we had did taste good, though not fantastic. Furthermore, the service was rather slow, and the place was overcrowded. Maybe my mum and I would rather stick to their coffees for now, though feel free to eat there if you wish to try it yourselves.

Presentation: 7/10

Ambiance: 6/10

Service: 5/10

Overall Taste: 7/10

General Impression: 6.5/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

Delicious Favourites

My family never used to patronise Delicious outlets due to their low standard of service and poor quality food - until recently, when we have discovered hidden gems in their menu. These gems (as well as smiles on the waiters' faces) have brought us back again and again.

The Delicious Group have many restaurants restaurants such in the new block of One Utama Mid Valley, the G-Floor of Bangsar Village II, in Marc Residences on Jalan Pinang and Dua Residency along Jalan Tun Razak. All these restaurants can be easily recognised by their iconic birdcage lamps and blue cushions. They have the same menu, though the quality of certain dishes may vary depending on the establishment.

One of our favourites would have to be the Green Curry Chicken worth RM 20. This dish isn't spicy, but contains enough of aroma and flavour to keep you satisfied. The bowl of curry also contains mushrooms, green peas and eggplant - and served with a refreshingly sweet Pomelo Salad and Rice with Kaffir Lime Leaves.

The Thai Styled Steamed Sea-Bass worth RM 22 seems to be done a lot better in the Mid Valley outlet than the Bangsar Village one. The fish was firm, but flaky - and without any hint of fishiness to it. The tangy, flavourful sauce complemented the fish wonderfully - and the simple combination of rice and fish made for a great dish.

My sister loves the Classic Beef Lasagne worth RM 20. This dish is comfort food at its finest, though I have to admit that the portions were unbelievably small. Despite the small portion, the beef was plentiful and the sauce was present in the right amounts. The Salad with Dressing was a great accompaniment to this dish.

On the whole, Delicious seems to be the ideal place to go to if you and your family can't decide on a place to eat. The portions on most dishes are large and the quality and service at the establishments have certainly improved. A great place to see and be seen, chill out, or discuss business - Delicious is not to be missed.

Presentation: 8/10

Ambiance: 7/10

Service: 7/10

Overall Taste: 8.5/10

General Impression: 8/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

The Daily Grind's Burgers

I hadn't been to The Daily Grind in ages, and neither had my cousin. Seeing as she was back from Australia for a while, we decided that it was about time that we paid homage to a restaurant so renowned for its burgers - and boy, were we starving!

The Daily Grind after having been relocated, is now situated on the Lower-Ground floor right opposite Garibaldi, at Bangsar Village in Bangsar Baru. For those of you who are not familiar, the Daily Grind is well known for its juicy burgers and its various cakes - though this time, my cousins and I solely came for burgers.

My cousin ordered herself the Italian Mozza Burger worth RM 35. This burger consisted of a juicy beef patty and melted mozzarella, served in-between soft, warm multigrain buns with grilled peppers, smoky tomato sauce and some basil and pine nut pesto - giving an Italian twist to this American classic.

Another cousin of mine ordered herself a Down On the Farm Burger worth RM 33. This burger screamed 'Southern America' with its juicy patties underneath onion rings, which were unfortunately slightly chewy, barbecue sauce, and served with a side of good-tasting coleslaw and some slightly hard corn-bread.

As for myself, I ordered an All Day Breakfast Burger worth RM 25. The idea of a breakfast with a burger appealed to me straight away, with my juicy patty topped with flavoursome sauteed mushrooms, a crispy fried egg, an abundance of turkey bacon in between two slices of English muffins with a side of rustic, homemade baked beans. Yum.

Due to our food arriving slightly late, we were served some Potato Chips to snack upon. The chips were crisp on the outside and fluffy within, containing the perfect amount of seasoning and tasting absolutely divine with the Daily Grind's Homemade Tomato and Chilly Sauce.

On the whole, the Daily Grind is the perfect place for you to go to if you are craving for a lip-smacking burger. Forget McDonalds or American Chili's - because some of the best burgers are right here. The next time I arrive, my mission shall be to taste their Foie Gras Burger - and until then, no burgers for me!

Presentation: 7/10

Ambiance: 6/10

Service: 6/10

Overall Taste: 8.5/10

General Impression: 8/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

Laksa at Basil Thai Nudle Bar

My uncle and I visited Basil today, a Thai restaurant located in Bangsar Village. I consider it a rule of thumb when visiting any restaurant, to never order the same two dishes as the more variety there is, the better. This time round however, we both had the same thing on our minds, which was the Thai Laksa with a Green Curry.

I was quite curious as to what Laksa with Green Curry exactly was, considering the fact that Laksa was never a Thai thing. When the dish arrived, I saw what they meant by the term. It was simply rice noodles served with a side of bean sprouts, half a full-boiled egg and a bowl of Thai green curry with aubergines, basil leaves and chicken pieces.

The next thing that struck me was - How the hell am I meant to eat this? The green curry was served in a bowl - right to the brim, while the rest of the dish was served on a plate. I had a feeling that green curry poured onto a pile of noodles would call for quite a messy meal. I was right, as I got a few stains on my shirt at the end of it all.

Though hard to eat, the dish which costs RM13.50 was quite good, though a bit too spicy for my taste. The green curry was of a nice consistency, with tender chicken pieces. The bean sprouts were crunchy and the egg, which was served cold, added a lovely contrast when eaten with the hot curry.

As a drink I had Jasmine flavored Green Tea which costs RM5.90 - and what seemed to be a complete rip off as it was just a mere tea-bag in some hot water, served in a glass.

On the whole, I was filled to the brim that lunch - with my stomach suffering an uneasy feeling due to the spiciness of the curry. Apart from that factor (and the post-meal mess), I would say that it was a reasonably tasty dish, though not really value for money, considering the fact it costs RM13.50

Presentation: 5/10

Ambiance: 4/10

Service: 5/10

Overall Taste: 6/10

General Impression: 5/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic

D'lish Double Cheese Burger

Today while in Bangsar Village, I decided to pay a visit to D’lish for lunch at Bangsar Village. I’ve always loved the place and I’ve been a frequent visitor there – mainly for their Wagyu Beef Pie and their Potato Salad, both of them being mind-blowing in their own special way.


When compared to its bigger sister DELIcious (which itself has its ups and downs) D’lish appeals to me a bit more. I can stroll into the place with a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and enjoy good-tasting comfort food without being given that face of scorn.


The atmosphere is very casual yet chic, with most of their waiters being attentive and a pleasure to talk to. Their chairs are comfortable however the tables have always been too small for my liking. There are individual lights directly each table, which adds to the presentation of the food.


This time, rather than the usual pie and potato salad I opted for something different – namely their Double Cheese Burger with onion rings and a side of chips and a cucumber pickle, priced at RM21.80. You could opt for additional beef bacon on your burger for RM5.80.


I did not bother with the bacon because I like my burgers simple. When portion is concerned, you definitely get your money’s worth. The dish looked lip-smacking with those juicy patties and cheese glistening as the light above my table shone on it.


The onion rings were fried to perfection. The batter was crisp, the onion was moist. The only complaint about this would be that it was a bit too salty for me. The beef patties were cooked well-done and contained a hint of oregano which gave it a nice touch.

The burger came with its own tomato puree, mustard and cheese. The tomato puree and mustard gave nice, subtle flavours however I felt that the ratio of cheese and meat was inadequate. There was too much meat and not enough cheese.


The chips and the pickled salad were nothing to get excited about either. The chips seemed and tasted like those frozen ones in a bag, while the so-called ‘pickled cucumbers’ (along with the lettuce and tomato) tasted as if they were raw.

On the whole, the experience was an average one for me – with the food tasting reasonably good, but not to my expectations. If you wish to try this, then go ahead. I on the other hand, shall stick to my Wagyu Beef Pie and Potato Salad for now.

Presentation: 7/10

Ambiance: 7/10

Service: 8/10

Overall Tate: 5/10

General Impression: 5/10

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Cheers,

BrianandRepublic