Joseph Kitchen @ Menara UOA, Bangsar

The online vouchers craze has hit the Malaysians mid of last year and had been growing steadily ever since. At the very beginning, I was skeptical to purchase those online vouchers, simply because I was in doubt as some of the deals are too good to be true.

Everything has it's first time. My first purchase was of online vouchers was back in March with MyDEAL, one of the few online voucher portal in Malaysia. The deal entitled me to redeem a 3 course set meal at Joseph @ Kitchen Cafe located in Menara UOA at Bangsar.

Joseph @Kitchen, Menara UOA Bangsar

The cafe isn't very big but the setting are rather spacious and cozy, offering a relaxed ambiance for those who dine in or even a coffee break.

Little place but a cozy atmosphere

The redemption of the 3 course set meal includes an appetizer, a main course and a dessert to be chosen from the menu specially cater for MyDEAL customers. The deal also includes a free flow of drinks with a choice of ice lemon tea or fruit juice.

Exclusive menu for MyDEAL customers

Ice Lemon Tea
The first serving came alright but the eventual servings were slightly diluted. Well, it's free flow, so I've got no complain but the eventual servings could have been better.

Next, came the appetizer.

Italian's Ball Platter (RM 12 per platter)
Homemade fried cheesy meat balls and potatoes with shrimp.
The meat balls were not as cheesy as claimed by it's description. The potatoes with shrimp meanwhile tasted very ordinary, where it features potato strips coating the near to tasteless shrimp.

Creamy White Mushroom (RM 8)
Stir fried white button mushroom, onions with creamy white sauces and topped with almond flakes and herb. Our second appetizer and this was the bomb! The white button mushrooms were so juicy and blends well with the thick creamy white sauces. The hint fragrance from the almond flakes is like icing on the cake.

The main course came shortly after the appetizers were served.

Carbonara (RM 14)
Creamy white sauce with turkey strips and egg.
Wonderful carbonara, just the perfect flavour and the sauce thickness that I wanted in a good carbonara. Two thumbs up!

Grilled Lamb Chop (RM 15)
Grilled lamb shoulder with black pepper sauce that is served with salad and fries.
The lamb were rightly cooked to my liking as it resulted to a tender and juicy meat. The black pepper sauce were as great, offering a real thick and pepperish flavour to the already well marinated lamb chop. The only downside of this is that the serving of the lamb chop are rather small.

Creme Brulee
Zoe ordered this as her dessert. I don't really fancy this dessert as I find it too sweet for my liking. All I can say is that, the experience of it is like having a pudding with melted sugar as the icing on top. Sounds very sweet, isn't it?

Banana Split
A rather very ordinary dessert that is not helped by the bland taste of the ice cream.

Me and Zoe enjoying our deal at Joseph Kitchen, Menara UOA Bangsar

I reckoned the deal was pretty a steal considering the quality of the food that we had and as well as the bottomless drinks which includes the choice of fruit juice (though a little diluted).

Courtesy from MyDEAL

For the deal, we paid a total of RM 39.80 for two online vouchers which entitle us to a two set redemption. Total savings from the deal was RM 40 (RM 79.80 - RM 39.80). It has been sometimes since I last had some western food as good as this, and Joseph @ Kitchen certainly does worth a revisit.

*Price shown in the pictures above are at normal price.

Atmosphere: 6.5/10

Food: 6.5/10
Price: 5/10 (base on normal price)
Verdict: One of the better western food that I've had experienced!

Joseph @ Kitchen Menara UOA Bangsar
Unit 2-7, Second Floor
Menara UOA Bangsar
Jalan Bangsar Utama
59000, Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel: 03 - 2282 2242
Business hours: Monday to Friday: 7.30 am - 9 pm, Saturday: 8.30 am - 8 pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Website: http://www.josephkitchen.com.my

Mum's 56th Birthday, Hi Tea @ Dorsett Regency Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Throughout the years, my Mum has always enjoyed buffets/hi-teas , especially those from the 5-stars hotel. When asked on why she is so into buffet dining, my Mum commented that she loves the wide spread selection of the food where it enhances her appetite.

It was my Mum's birthday during last February, and again she insisted on buffet dining. This time round, we decided to have a hi-tea at Checkers Cafe of Dorsett Regency Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Checkers Cafe at Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur

My mum fell in love with the lime tree

Chinese New Year was still ongoing during the time of visit and as such, the cafe was in a reddish mood, decorated with red cloth and cherry blossom.

Very relaxing ambiance

We were the only customers in the whole cafe upon our arrival. The numbers picked up eventually, but only by another two tables. Nonetheless, we were grateful as it gave us an absolute relaxing environment to enjoy our hi-tea.

1,2,3 - Time to survey the food spread

We started by this corner where it have a few chef preparing some fresh food such as satay and fried stuff.

The Chef Corner

Here are some of the spread from the Chef Corner.

Sushi
There were only two types of sushi featured here, makisushi and inari sushi. How I wish there were some sashimi especially salmon.

Chawanmushi
Japanese steamed egg in a cup that consists of some meat and ginkgo beneath.

Mixed Fried Stuff
It is hot from the wok. Onion rings, calamari rings, crab claws and some fish balls were the notable one.

Those that dislike oily food may find the steamboat platter rather interesting.

Steamboat with variety of ingredients
From vegetables, meat to seafood, just pick your favourite one and blanch them all.

We noted something special being featured in the buffet spread.

Fish Head Noodles

Fish Head Noodles
It was decent but could have been better with thicker condensed milk, at least for me.

Next, we look into the appetizer and the main course corner.

Appetizer and Main Course Corner

I must admit that some of their appetizer looked too good to be appetizer. Some of them were prepared and presented in a very artistic way.

Love the colourful spread that look so cheerful

Ready salad in a tea cup

Fresh Garden Salad

Luncheon Ham
Lovely luncheon ham that has a soft yet tender texture.

Mussels, Oysters and Prawns

Steamed Dumpling

Dim Sum
A below par dim sum.

Stew Beef with Vegetables

Fried Clam in Kam-Heong Style
Pretty decent though but cannot be compared to those from the hawker which tasted much better.

Assorted Buns

Mixed Fruits with shrimp paste a.k.a Rojak

In conjunction with the Chinese New Year festival, there was also a platter of Yee Sang added to the spread.

Yee Sang

Assorted local fruits

Whenever I'm at a buffet, I'm always excited to check out the spread at the For the Checkers Cafe, I must say that their desserts corner did not disappoint.

Desserts Corner

Fruit Punch
Consisted of tropical fruits, longan and lychee.

Ice-shaved desserts
Mix your own ingredients for a customize bowl of ice-shaved dessert.

For those with sweet tooth

Local Delights - Kuih Koci
Glutinous rice to compliment with cocunut flesh that were dunked in gula Melaka.

Local delights - Kuih Lapis

If the local delights do not appeal to your taste, worry not because they have plenty of cakes to choose from.

Plenty of cakes and pastries to offer

Cakes, cakes and cakes
I had no chance to try even one of them as I was too full with food.

Assorted pastries and cookies
My personal favourite would be the fruit tarts and chocolate cookies.

Chocolate Fondue
This made my day, as I've always love to dip some fruits and pastry into it.

No Baskin Robbins or Haagen-Daz ice cream but they offer some pretty decent ice cream to satisfy our ice cream craving.

My customize ice cream

Busy with the food

A little bit of this and that

The hospitality and the services of the Checker's Cafe attendant were excellent. Not only did they continuously offering to help us to snap pictures, they manage to fulfill our demands.

Firstly, we wanted to have a personal Yee Sang for toss. Our initial demand was rejected by one of the attendant citing that we need to order a personal platter separately as it is not included as part of the buffet. However, later on, another attendant together with the manager on duty prepared a special mini plate of Yee Sang for us, using those ingredients from the main Yee Sang platter.

Our customize Yee Sang by the attendant

Tossing for a better health and wealth

My second wish to the attendant was to have a birthday cake for my mum but I was told that prior notice was required so that they could prepare the cake. Well, I was a little disappointed at first but I was caught by surprise eventually. The attendant creatively prepared a slice of cake that came together with candle as a birthday cake for my mum.

My lovely Mum with the special piece of cake

You are getting younger Mum!

Happy Birthday Mum!

Although the hi tea were of nothing spectacular, but looking at your parents enjoying themselves is the best gift you could get when you buy them some meal. I promise to buy them more meals in the future and hoping with many happy returns. Happy 56th Birthday Mum and hope you have had a great one!

Back to the old school of sephia

Family portrait

Overall, I would say that the hi-tea spread at Checkers Cafe of Dorsett Regency KL met my expectation but nothing of spectacular. It might have a wide selection when it comes to dessert, but the main course was slightly off the track. The good thing is that, they have discounts for senior citizens who are above 55 years old.

This hi-tea at Checkers Cafe of Dorsett Regency KL starts from 12pm to 4pm and available on the weekends and public holidays. It is priced at RM 60++ per person with kids aged from 4 to 12 years old and senior citizens eligible for a 50 % discount.

Atmosphere: 8/10
Food: 5/10
Spread: 5/10
Price: 6/10
Verdict: Apart from the excellent hostess service, there is nothing much to shout about the food.

Checkers Cafe Coffee House
Dorsett Regency Hotel Kuala Lumpur
172, Jalan Imbi
55100
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel: 603 - 2716 1000
Fax: 603 - 2715 5000