5 Cafés to Visit Over The Weekend

American Gourmet The lively suburb of Taman Tun Dr Ismail has a new eatery on its street and it takes its inspiration from the pulsating energy of New York City. Bowery Petit serves wholesome quality fare with the fast-paced attitude of the Big Apple. The food at Bowery Petit is bold yet familiar and comforting, and every bite is a visual and gastronomic voyage. Tuck into lavish spreads of taste-tingling 22-inch pizzas, pies, bagels, pancakes and don’t forget their frozen custard for something delectably sweet. They are also known for their thin crust pizzas, available in a few varieties such as Napoli, Bowery Torch and Pepperocinno Al Tonno. Bowery Petit, 48 Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. +603 7710 0295.

Luminescent Le Lumineux is a French name which translates from The Luminous in English. Luminous means bright, shining light that will dazzle, something that will catch your eye. They started off in a shop that was quite dark, so they decided to refurbish the space into a vibrant shop with bright colours. If you are strolling around in Subang’s SS15 enclave, this is a new venue where positive vibes and pork recipes take centre stage. They serve spicy-sweet pork masala spaghetti, roasted pork belly with rosemary-infused plum dip, pork satay with kitchen-made spiced apple sauce and more. The menu is appealingly ambitious, offering hearty portions for fair prices. We suggest you try the Pork Slides, Pulled Pork Sandwich or the Pork Masala Pasta, with a side of Sweet Potato Fries. Le Lumineux Café, No. 46G, Jalan SS15/4C, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor. +603 5613 6208.

Umami Serving up thoughtful culinary delights with a personal touch, Fifth Palate may just be Kota Damansara’s new beloved eatery. Fifth Palate refers to “umami”, the fifth basic taste alongside sweetness, sourness, bitterness and saltiness which also has been described as a “pleasant savoury taste”. It also resembles the surname “Wu” in Mandarin, which is important because this is a family establishment and the food they serve is rich and hearty, complete with homemade jams and yoghurts. Founders Timmy and Caryne are a brother and sister duo who harboured dreams of opening a café, and unlike many dreamers, they know first-hand what it will take to succeed as their parents were remarkable cooks who used to operate a small café. By keeping their menu small and focusing on what they do best, Fifth Palate ensures that their food and drinks are of consistently high quality. Come by and try their Turkish Baked Eggs, their signature French toast, the Drunken Frenchman and Everybody Loves Ramen for an exciting brunch! Fifth Palate, Block D-G-1, Encorp Strand Garden Office, Jalan PJU 5/1, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. +603 6144 0055.

From Nara With Love With the word Nara meaning ‘Happy’ in Greek as part of its name, Nara Kitchen & Co. is focused on serving food that will leave you with a smile permanently plastered on your face. They focus on healthy gourmet dining where detailed attention to quality is given to every single dish. Nara aims to be the quintessential venue serving clean eats that are nutritional yet bursting with flavours in a stunning setting. Offering a wide range of artisanal baked goods consisting of bread and loafs that are sold individually, each item is crafted and special attention is paid to its ingredients and the process. The in-house baked goods are used in all of Nara’s dishes which includes their Tuna Tartar, Grilled Chicken, Lobster Roll just to name a couple. Nara is the newest member of the high-powered family of businesses on this street that includes The Good Batch & Hyde At 53M. Nara Kitchen & Co., 61, Jalan SS 21/1A, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. +603 7733 5897.

Rebellions A coffee bar that aims to rebel against the common coffee scene trending now in Malaysia, Rebellions aspires to impart the art of coffee by having customers get behind the machine at any time to get first-hand experience in brewing a cup of joe. Owner, Joseph Long, 29 believes his love for coffee is best shared with people and has no qualms in explaining coffee knowledge to fascinated patrons. Rebellions prides itself in their customised house blend called Smackdown Joe which was awarded 2013 Best Espresso and one of their most sought-after offers is their in-house cold brew. The interior is a combination of steel fixtures and wooden cable drums used as round tables to give the place a unique look and feel, complete with mason jars and flower centrepieces. There is also a wide variety of sweet treats available, one of which is their best seller – Taufufah Cheesecake. Be a rebel, try something new! Rebellions Coffee Bar, No. 2-1 Jalan PJU 5/4, Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara, Selangor. +603 7496 7103.