Fri, 2010-09-03 14:17 — admin

Garden of Delights

If ever you're looking to combine both ambience and no-fuss, simple and nice food, then the English-garden inspired Garden lifestyle store and café is the place for you. With a wide variety of Western and Asian dishes to choose from, this eatery will have you coming back for the casual dining and cosy experience.

Not enough credit is given to ambience, no matter which food review you read. It may not seem like much, but ambience is sometimes the deal-breaker in choosing where you eat; would you eat at a dirty roadside stall if a better-looking place offers the same kind of food and quality? I didn't think so.
So, stepping into the beautifully decorated and very cosy Garden café, I was blown away by how much detail went into making this place a joy to be in. From the white and green colour schemes to the faux flowers nestling in little pots, it was clear that this place was designed to be a place to have a nice meal with friends and for melting the stress of the day away.

And it worked.

With prices ranging from RM 10 upward (but no dish is more than RM30), it is affordable for a once-a-week treat with close friends, in addition to being a wonderful place to chill, hang out and relax.

First to be served was a classic: Nasi lemak (RM 12.90), which comes with chicken rendang. All at once savoury with a slightly sweet-ish sambal, this popular breakfast staple is not about to spring you any surprises, but it will be a hearty meal on its own.

Up next was the The Garden Beef Burger (RM 15.90). Served with thick-cut fries and a side of fresh salads, the patty is hand-made by Garden. It is generously thick, moist and juicy; a little on the salty side, but it is a pleasant surprise, since I pride myself on being a burger enthusiast and I won't tolerate dry meat patties. It is not the best you'll find in KL, but it is a worthy dish to try out.

Burgers and rice are pretty common stuff, but wait! There is a spicy twist to the classic Spaghetti Aglio Ed Olio with Shrimp (RM 17.90). Plump, juicy prawns complement thin spaghetti rolled in olive oil, garlic, black olives and a hint of chili flakes. This was the standout for me.

And where would we be if we don't have our veggies? Try the Classic Caesar salad (RM11.90) on for size: Fresh, crispy lettuce, tomatoes, onion rings with croutons (I love croutons, I have a weakness for them in soups, salads and practically anything) make this timeless classic a good addition or starter to any meal.

Dessert came last (my favourite part) and I sampled the Red Apple Sorbet (RM9.90) and a slice of Blackforest Cake (RM6.90). Both were sweet and both were polished off in no time. 'Nuff said.

All in all, while the food in Garden is not a standout or a spectacular gourmet feast, much is said for the incredible ambience, the nice, fuss-free, tasty and simple food, and the whole experience of having a garden lunch in the heart of the city and finding a moment to relax in this crazy and hectic KL lifestyle.