#16 Johnny Rockets

Talk 'bout the invasion of old vintage American Diners. Johnny Rockets has landed on our shore with its very first outlet opened at The Curve.

With the ever retro 1970's vintage American diner settings (jukebox, B&W checker floor, waiters and waitresses in quirky outfit..), the exterior has outdone itself upon comparison with the food served here, which to me was a total let-down.

So, I grabbed a seat in front of the bar counter to check out what's cooking up at the busy kitchen.

The stuffy kitchen was packed with cooks and crews. Burgers were continuously prepared in abundance.

Let's get to the food shall we..

Vanilla Original Shake (RM 14.90)

Yeah, I must be crazy to pay a hefty RM 14.90 for a glass of milkshake. Smooth, creamy and full-bodied, yet the serving size was little. You just couldn't help but to find it overpriced (Damn I could get a venti vanilla frappe at Starbucks if I'm paying this equal amount!)

The Original (RM 19.90)

Here comes the disaster. The patty was rough on mouth, dry and tasteless, rendering zilch juiciness and tenderness. Yeah, the patty ruined pretty much everything.

The only thing good about the dish was the awesomely fried onion rings!

Oh, halfway pitching in my plate of dissatisfaction, loud music was abruptly played out from the jukebox with most of the crews busting out some choreographed dance moves.

Yerpz, the dance was an entertaining crowd-pleaser, minus the horrible, and I do mean horribly horrendous burger I had.

So, it's up to you now. Go be a judge and try it out.

Johnny Rockets
Lot G52, The Street,
The Curve, Mutiara Damansara,
Selangor 47800 Malaysia.
Tel: 03-77328366

#15 VCR Coffee & Cakes

Gloomily painted in dark grey, VCR Coffee & Cakes, a corner pre-Colonial building located at Jalan Galloway (right behind Swiss Gardens Kuala Lumpur...) looks nothing like a cafe, but more like an art-gallery, or a run-down backpackers' inn, or oddly speaking a combination of both.

And little do I know that the nice folks here are great meisters of their craft - coffee and delectable cakes.

The simplistically furnished interior decor mainly draws its inspiration from nature and all things basic and monotonous. You'll spot wooden stools, tables and laidback rattan chairs. There's even an alfresco rooftop area for coffee lovers to mingle around and admiring the (kind of) slum-like backyard while sipping on their cup of caffeine fix.

The King (RM 12)

Their best-seller item comes in the form (sucha appropriate name..) of The King, a sponge cake interspersed with banana and chocolate, coated with smooth peanut butter and topped with crushed peanuts. The combined taste of the banana slices together with chocolate creates an exceptional dimension of sweetness, not to mention a dash of salty sensation provided by the thickly smooth peanut butter.

Piccolo (RM 9)

Full bodied and intense, definitely my cup of Piccolo.

Definitely a great place to kick back and relax on your weekend with your favourite book and music playlist!

VCR
2, Jalan Galloway,
50150 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: 03-21102330
Business hours:
Daily: 8.30 a.m. - 11.00 p.m.

#14 Ah Yat Seafood Abalone Restaurant

Warning: *Non-Halal post*

Before heading back to hometown celebrating Chinese New Year, I attended my company's annual CNY dinner at Life Centre's Ah Yat Seafood Abalone Restaurant. The dishes were decent. No this isn't a review, but more like a montage of what I had that evening.

Jelly Fish and Snow Pear Yee Sang

Charcoal Roast Suckling Pig

Braised Shark's Fin Soup with Dried Seafood

Braised Abalone with M,ushroom and Vegetables

Poached Live Tiger Prawns

Steamed Live Sea Grouper Fish

Crispy Roast Chicken

Fried Glutinous Rice with Wax Meat

Red Bean Soup with Rice Ball

Sweet Chinese Pastries

Ah Yat Seafood Abalone Restaurant
2nd Floor, Life Centre,

20 Jalan Sultan Ismail,

50250 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-21663131

Business hours:

Monday - Saturday: 11.30 a.m. - 3.00 p.m., 6.00 p.m. - 10.30 p.m.,
Sunday & Holidays: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. - 10.30 p.m.

#13 Aku Cafe & Gallery

Less than a stone's throw away (excuse my playful sense on idioms) from Moontree House is Aku Cafe & Gallery, a quaint coffee shop and art gallery with a touch of local nostalgia.

Just follow the cutesy ants along the staircases, as another world of tranquillity awaits one behind that glass entrance.

Established by the people from Old China Cafe, Aku Cafe & Gallery savours the flavour from the past by incorporating decors that mostly comprises of a stylish blend of antique knick-knacks and modern art exhibits.

Wooden furnitures, old school box television and an old-fashioned standing fan are some of the graceful elements that made the place a sweet reminiscence of the past.

Ongoing art exhibition: Ikan - A Photography Essay by DevLee.

Deserted and extremely quiet, the place often feels like a secluded charm forgotten by the city's fast-paced modern development. Veiled by the beating pulse of the heritage district, this cafe offers a rather different environment to relax in with light music selection playing in the background. After placing my order, I chatted with the affable barista, who was very sweet and kind to show me how my cup of coffee be prepared using vacuum pot.

Coffee Blend (Siphon) (RM 11)

Smooth and mildly acidic, this petite but intense cup of house blend (amalgamating both local and international beans!) could convert the most avid milk-based espresso drinker into black coffee junkie. With a firm body and aromatic aftertaste, this has definitely made my list of best siphon coffees around.

Aku Special Cake for Coffee (RM 6.90)

One slice of their signature coffee cakes embellished with walnuts and chocolate chips makes a great complement with the coffee (as eponymously suggested!) as the sweet taste of this spongy dessert could balance out the sourish effect derived from the coffee. Furthermore, the homemade apple jam with goji berries makes a great side.

Nevertheless, the cafe is definitely one of the city's greatest hidden escapades from all the hustle and bustle. For sure I'll drop by again for some weekend light reading.

Follow the ants!!!

Aku Cafe & Gallery
No.8, 1st Floor,
Jalan Panggong,
50000 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-28576887
Business hours:
Tuesday - Sunday: 11.00 a.m. - 8.00 p.m.