Geisha Speakeasy, Desa Sri Hartamas

Hartamas' hidden bar seeks to be a seductive space that channels classical Japanese charm in a sleek contemporary setting. Fruity and floral cocktails crafted with Roku gin (RM50 each) are the mixologist's speciality.

Geisha Speakeasy

2-1, Jalan 30/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Open Monday-Saturday, 4pm-12am. Tel: 03-2385-7128

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Le Café Marcel, Plaza Damas

With a French founder at its helm and an Algerian chef in the kitchen, Le Café Marcel is an intriguing destination for fans of diverse fare, delving into the cuisine of former French-occupied territories in North Africa like Algeria and Tunisia. 

Our best bet here might be the Algerian Couscous (RM36.10), a hearty one-pot meal of fluffy couscous layered with lots of ultra-tender chicken, lamb, carrots, turnips, zucchini and chickpeas - as comfortingly soulful as a feast in Constantine.

The Marcel Sandwich (RM18.90) showcases the Maghrebi speciality of merguez, the fresh lamb-based sausage that's rustically textured and remarkably spiced, grilled and gorgeous in a sandwich of house-baked flatbread stuffed with fries and vegetables - as terrifically satisfying as a street snack in Tunis.

Into offal? Le Cafe Marcel serves intriguing seasonal set lunches that might include beef tripe with rice, beautiful in its bovine richness, balanced with the sweet tang of a natural tomato sauce (RM20.90), and sautéed lamb brains with capers and mashed potatoes, perhaps a bit too gamy for most of us (RM33.90). All set lunches come with a cream soup to start with and a chocolate crepe for dessert.

Le Café Marcel 
G0-11, Plaza Damas, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Open Mon-Wed, 8am-9pm, Thurs-Sunm 8am-11pm. Tel: 013-356-6882

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Soul Kitchen, Sri Hartamas

Soul Kitchen serves spirited fare with contemporary East Asian cool. Fans of flavour-packed cooking might enjoy the lamb rack, richly saturated with a sweet-savoury char stew sauce, cushioned with carrots and onions (RM68), and river prawns in a creamy curry, coupled with a crisp bread roll for delicious dunking (RM58). Pair with sake for an easygoing evening.

Soul Kitchen

B-0-10, Plaza Damas 3, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 12pm-230pm, 6pm-1030pm.

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Barrister's Brew, Desa Sri Hartamas

Barristers and baristas come together at this cool space that combines a community law library with a cafe. RM5 gets you a surprisingly satisfying latte, a fresh and crunchy cookie, plus some friendly service - Barrister's Brew would assuredly be acquitted of profiteering.

Barrister's Brew

9-G, Jalan 22a/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 730am-11pm.

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Kushi Naka Naka, Sri Hartamas

If you walked into Kushi Naka Naka on a Friday night, you might be the only Malaysian amid a few small huddles of Japanese customers, a testament to the restaurant's authentic appeal.

Ramen enthusiasts, check out the tonkotsu chashu ramen (RM36.30) with a twist - the braised pork belly is draped all around the bowl's rim, letting you savour it separately from the broth if you like. Enjoy its smokiness first on its own, then have it with the noodles. The broth is not too salty but still flavoursome, floating with bits of pork fat. Note that you can choose your preference for the noodle's texture - super hard, very hard, hard, normal or soft. Super hard proves to be basically al dente.

Even better is the yakitori - seseri-to-bonjiri, neck-to-tail eating, with each skewer of chicken emerging sultry and succulent. The liver (RM6) is particularly notable, with a full-bodied creaminess.

Chuhai, the shochu highball, comes in flavours like lemon or oolong, but taste a tad watered down (RM25).

Kushi Naka Naka

E-0-10, Plaza Damas, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 11am-230pm, 5pm-10pm.

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Lao You Ji Fried Kuey Teow: Foo Kee, Desa Sri Hartamas

The Golden Moon Kuey Teow at Hartamas' Foo Kee kopitiam is a fun cross between char kuey teow and moonlight hor fun, complete with cockles and a raw chicken egg at its centre, to be mixed up with the flat noodles for a runny-yolked slickness (RM7.50). Purists can choose the duck egg char kuey teow, satisfyingly sultry and savoury, though we wish the cockles were fresher and juicier (RM8.50).

Note: The CKT at Foo Kee is served by a stall named Lao You Ji.

Foo Kee
28, Jalan 27/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. CKT available daily, 7am-3pm. Tel: 012-228-0443

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

Char Grille, Desa Sri Hartamas

With a name like Char Grille, a steak was our first order here: The Argentinian Aberdeen Angus rib eye emerged a lovely medium-rare with full-bodied flavour, but it's not the most tender beef, so it can be a vigorous chew (RM171.60 for 330 grams). The accompaniments are excellent - Kampot pepper, confit of garlic, blue cheese sauce, and fresh, crisp sweet potato fries.

If you prefer a vegetarian 'steak,' the cauliflower is a hearty choice, chunky and crunchy, complemented by creamy cauliflower puree, walnuts, raisins and hints of truffle oil (RM24).

The cheese board merits exploration; its evolving, engaging selection spans the delicately fragrant to the delectably pungent.

You can also go all-Spanish for your meal here, pairing a pleasant paella with a subtle soccarat (RM68) with a smooth, sultry Torello Raimonda red blend from Catalonia's Penendes wine-producing region (RM188).

Char Grille

38-1, Jalan 24/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 5pm-11pm.

This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com