KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — For restauranteurs, opening a restaurant in Bangsar is still highly sought after despite the area's rollercoaster ride in popularity with diners.
In a previous interview with the Malay Mail Online, Christophe Chatron-Michaud who opened the French bistro Yeast Bistronomy in 2012, sums it up perfectly. “We chose Bangsar as despite its ups and downs, it still has the pull.”
During the 1990s, Bangsar was buzzing with bars and clubs that attracted a bevy of partygoers. However, its pull started to wane when newer places like Changkat Bukit Bintang and Asian Heritage Row opened in downtown Kuala Lumpur.
According to the community portal Bangsar Baru Online, the old Hankyu Jaya was revamped in 2004 and reopened as Bangsar Village. Subsequently, the annexe Bangsar Village 2 opened in 2007. As more people gravitated towards the neighbourhood mall, the dining scene around the area started to flourish with more eateries opening up.
Some opened and closed almost immediately... their popularity depending on whether they managed to capture the fussy diners in Bangsar. Some stalwarts like Alexis Bistro and the Talk still remain unchanged.
In the past year, we have seen eateries like Mikey's Original New York Pizza, Maria's Steak Cafe and Ashley's by Living Food join Bangsar's line-up of restaurants.
Prime spots include those with a proximity to the Bangsar Village 2 area since an abundance of parking is available there. All eyes are on the just-opened Mercat Barcelona Gastrobar owned by chef David Caral who used to work in El Cerdo and Circus. Located across from Bangsar Village 2, the restaurant serves Catalan Spanish fare, which makes it a direct contender with Spanish tapas bar El Meson located a few doors away.
Along the quieter part of Jalan Telawi 5, expect two new openings. Right next to House of Frankfurt is The Austin. Branded as an American steakhouse, we suspect it's got something to do with Austin Chase Coffee since it's the same space the outlet used to occupy.
Along the same road and nearer to McDonalds, the coffee chain Cosans Coffee will be opening up their fourth outlet. Originally from Subang Jaya, the cafe serves coffee and sandwiches. Their other outlets are in Solaris Dutamas and Kota Damansara.
In addition, the four-year-old “F” by Buffalo Kitchens, a restaurant located above Chawan, is now closed. As per their Facebook page, the restaurant hopes to be back by mid-November with a refreshed look and concept.
We also look at two places recently opened, each with different concepts to attract customers
Acme South
LG10, Bangsar Village. Tel:03-22836288
https://www.facebook.com/acmesouthbangsar
The sister restaurant to Acme Bar & Coffee at The Troika serves an entirely different menu that focuses on Texan BBQ and Creole food. Similar to their Troika outlet, the decor makes this place a highly sought after space to chill out. However, the menu items fall short in terms of taste. Their signature items are their 12-hour smoked Black Angus beef brisket or ribs and the 4-hour smoked chicken. While the meats are fork tender and juicy, since the blackened spice crust seals the juices in, you get an oily aftertaste in your mouth. An order of these meats is served with a choice of sides, like grilled corn, creamed corn, smoked pinto beans to name a few.
For a lighter meal, go for their s'wiches that are filled with beef brisket, chopped beef and smoked chicken. Pescaterians can go for their Po'Boy shrimp or oyster s'wich filled with the fried seafood. You also get Creole rice-based items like the gumbo with crabs and prawns, or the jambalya.
Don't miss out on their sizzling peanut butter brownie, a recreation of their popular dessert from Acme Bar & Coffee. This version is essentially a blondie laced with peanut butter and walnuts topped with a scoop of Milo ice-cream. Just like its dark chocolate sister in Acme Bar & Coffee, this version is a showstopper — bubbling and sizzling away when hot fudge sauce is poured over the brownie. Seriously good!
Rendez-vous
100, Lorong Maarof. Tel:03-22020206
https://www.facebook.com/rendezvousbangsar
Located off the busy Bangsar square, this corner restaurant along the quieter side of Bangsar looks a little out of place among the Indian restaurants and sundry shops. Don't expect any fussy French food here as the place serves rustic and reasonably priced fare prepared by chef Florian Nigen from Bretagne, France. The neighbourhood joint exudes a more casual vibe so you can kick back and relax. The crowd is a mix of expatriates and locals. A big bonus here is the porcine element — a rarity in French restaurants in the city. Even their wines come with wallet friendly prices, where a glass starts from RM19++.
The relaxed atmosphere here takes you seamlessly from day to night, making it perfect for families or even a night out. If you're uncertain about the food, sample their lunch set, a steal for 3-courses at RM32++, where choices are changed daily. The menu also features various set meals that start from RM56 per person. You can also order their communal platters, piled with seafood or meats that include their homemade terrines.
For something indulgent, go for their Brittany seafood platter at RM395++ for two persons. You can tuck into an ocean's bounty like whelks, oysters, prawns, cockles and French spider crab. This is served with a creamy aioli or a tangy vinegar and onion dip. The meal also is served with a whole Boston lobster that two will share, a platter of French cheese and dessert of your choice.
