Ampersand by Culinary Rebels, Damansara Uptown [CLOSED]

The cafe-craze-frenzy-wave seems to be never ending in the Klang Valley. Damansara folks have been experiencing a fluctuation of new cafes mushrooming in every nook and cranny of their neighbourhood, it is so hard to catch on the wave!

The first floor of the corner lot of one of the busies street in Damansara Utama (same row as the famous Village Park Nasi Lemak!) which used to house Ecole P, a elementary school themed cafe, has now re-branded into Ampersand by Culinary Rebels, a restaurant/dive bar that specializes in the perfect marriage of East & West cuisine.

Lemongrass Lychee Tea RM10

Lychee Cooler RM10

Latte RM10

American-style breakfast is always associated to cafes. Whereas Banana Leaf Rice, is always associated to Banana Leaf Rice Restaurants. Don't walk into Ampersand expecting your typical cafe food staple -  Ampersand arranged a perfect marriage between American-style breakfast and banana leaf, as their brunch menu features a unique, built-to-share, western style brunch with a touch of local taste:

Note: Brunch is served only on weekends.

Banana Leaf Breakfast 4 pax RM60 | 2pax RM35

Scrambled eggs, crispy grilled bacon, tomato relish, mixed mushroom, hashbrown, double cooked potatoes, German bratswurts, lebanese bread

Western-styled breakfast food, dished out in front of you one by one: potatoes, mushrooms, eggs...etc.- just like when you're having a banana leaf rice meal. The Banana Leaf Breakfast was certainly a breakfast fit for a king - all the typical western breakfast staple, with a local touch! Appealing to the eyes and stomach, and a fresh respite for cafe-hoppers Instagram feed which is usually saturated with your typical brunch dishes.

Monster Breakfast RM99

Scrambled Eggs, BBQ Pork Ribs, Char Siew Pork Belly, Bacon, German Bratwurst, Hashbrown, Lebanese Bread

An up-scaled and meatier version of Banana Leaf Breakfast. The name Monster said it all - the serving size is fit to feed a monster! 

The ribs were cooked to tender perfection - the meat flaked off effortlessly from the bones. The meat served at Ampersand leans towards the sweeter side though. Being a fan of  the sweet + savoury combo, I thought the ribs were a great addition alongside with the savoury German Bratwurst and scrambled eggs which were done right.

It's a WRAP! 2 pax RM44

Tortilla, Pulled BBQ Ribs, Char Siew Pork Belly, Egg, Pickled Cucumber, Greens, Raita, Mango Sauce, Salsa

Construct your own wrap by mixing and matching with your favourite ingredients! We were spoilt with three different types of sauces ranging from the savoury Raita (a type of Chutney) to the sweet Salsa and Mango sauce which was on the other end of the sourish spectrum.

I prefer the lean, Pulled BBQ Ribs over the Char Siew Pork Belly as I find the pork belly tad fatty - I am not such a big fan of fats so the high ratio of fats to lean meat of the Char Siew Pork Belly wasn't exactly my cup of tea. But nevertheless, it is all up to preferences.

The Sinful French 2 pax RM28 | 2-4 pax RM40
French Toast, Bacon, Brulee Banana, Blueberries, Strawberries, Peanut Butter Sauce & Gula Melaka

So sinful but so good. Fluffy french toast, with a sweetness just right, paired up with the perfectly caramalized banana and bacon for a touch of savoury.

I loved the Peanut Butter Sauce as it was not too cloying and provided a subtle hint of nutty aromatic, though my friends preferred if it packed with more peanut-ty taste.

Done with the brunch, and off we go to the mains! Unlike the brunch dishes, the mains are available daily, all day long, weekdays & weekends.

X-Rated by the Magician RM36
German Pork Belly (approx 350g) marinated with char siew sauce, served with their in-house special tofu puree and peanut butter mustard

The pork belly was perfectly marinated with a fat to lean meat ratio that was just nice. I absolutely loved their tofu puree and peanut butter mustard. As I sunk my teeth into the meat, my taste buds immerse in the flavourful sweet marinate of the pork belly, which was mellowed down by the creamy tofu puree, and a hint of aromatic nutty taste from the peanut butter mustard - somehow all just came together oh-so-perfectly.

Rebellion by Ray RM36
German Pork Belly (approx 350g), Traffic Light sauce: Chimichurri, Spiced Pine-Mango Chutney, & Capsicum Berry Sauce, Flashed Fried Cherry Tomato, Salad and Crunchy Capers

The Traffic Light Sauce was the star of the dish - why Traffic Light? Because the colours of the sauces (Red:Capsicum Berry Sauce , Yellow: Mango Chutney & Green: Chimichurri).
The meat was tad tough and dry to eat on its own on my opinion. But once paired with the sauce, it turned out fine.

Overall, Ampersand has a unique East meet West menu. Personal recommendation would be X-Rated and The Sinful French.

Ampersand by Culinary Rebels
19A Jalan SS21/37,
Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya

Business Hours:
Weekdays: 11am-3pm ; 5pm-11pm
Weekends: 10am-3pm ; 5pm-11pm
Closed on Wenesdays

Contact Number: 03-77329711
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ampersandbyculinaryrebels/

Huckleberry After Dark, Plaza Damansara, Damansara Heights

Huckleberry Food & Fare is one of Klang Valley's more popular breakfast & brunch spots that is renowned for its artisanal bread and pastries. I've dropped by numerous times for brunch (read about my first visit to Huckleberry HERE) and it frustrate me that Huckleberry doesn't open for dinner until last month, Huckleberry (finally) extended their opening hour past midnight, introducing Huckleberry After Dark.

For parking, fret not as the building next to Huckleberry where Kita Kita is located offers ample parking spaces for patrons, and the rate is RM3 nett after 6pm!

Expect a completely different vibe at Huckleberry After Black, even though Huckleberry After Dark shares the exact same compound as Huckleberry Food & Fare. From 5.30pm onward, Huckleberry transforms from a warm & cozy cafe, into a speakeasy, laid-back pub-restaurant-bar.

Huckleberry After Dark has a completely different , attention-grabbing menu which was crafted meticulously by their After Dark team.

Desserts galore at Huckleberry. However, Huckleberry's breads and pastries are not available at After Dark (any leftover breads of the day are donated to Kechara Soup Kitchen after 5pm).

One of the main attraction at Huckleberry After Dark would be their vast choices of unique, intriguing cocktails.

Handcrafted Cocktail

Charlie's Fix RM31.90

Rum & Maple with coffee.

One of the stronger drink on the menu. A smooth drink with a unique twist and blend of flavours, 

Minion's Juice RM24.90

Homemade Banana Rum, Homemade Pandan Syrup, Coconut Water.
Why Minion? Because. "BANANA!". An exotic cocktail choice that is worth a shot!

Moscow Mule RM22.90
Vodka, Lime, Fresh Ginger and Ginger Beer

Spiked Milkshake
Ever since I had my first alcoholic milkshake in Glasgow, UK, I have been searching high and low for places in Malaysia that serves alcoholic milkshake. Thank you, Huckleberry After Dark for putting an end to my search.

Summertime RM23.90
Gin, Coconut Ice-Cream, Fresh Lime & Mint

Canna Butter Kisses (PB&J) RM23.90
Vodka, Frangelico, Peanut Butter, Strawberry Jam, Peanut Butter Biscuits.

The spiked milkshakes were definitely something out of the norm, similar to alcoholic ice-cream, with more frills, flavours & punch. A playful drink that I thought was well executed, not too sweet nor too cloying!

Crafted Beer

From Left: 5AM Brew Dog RM29 & PUNK IPA Brewdog RM29 (Scotland)
Mountain Goat, Corona, Heineken, Harviestoun....Just to name some of the crafted beer Huckleberry After Dark offers!

Pitchers/Batched Cocktails

Pimm's Jug RM59.90

Pimm's No.1, Lemon Juice, Homemade Basil & Mint Syrup, Cucumber, Strawberries, Lemonade

A fruity & refreshing cocktail. A pitcher of cocktail can serve up to six or seven pax, perfect for a crowd.

Besides alcohol, what makes a happy customer? That's right, Happy Hour!

Huckleberry's Happy Hour runs from 5.30pm-8pm DAILY. Patrons enjoy 10% off any alcoholic drink and free Onion Rings (as shown in Brewdog photo) during Happy Hour.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

House Made Fresh Lemonade RM11.90

The Ultimate Slushie RM9.90

Fresh Lychee & Pineapple Juice, with a hint of Vanilla

Salted Caramel *Frill'd up* Milkshake RM15.90

Mind-blowned? Now let's dive in to After Dark's food.
Huckleberry After Dark menu features L.A. inspired street food, which are creatively & playfully named to blend in with the playful, speakeasy bar vibes.

Wholly Guacamole

The House Guac RM13.90
Huckleberry's in-house Nachos served with house-made Guacamole made with avocados, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, green chilies, jalepenos and lime juice. The colour of the House Guac gave away the ingredient with the highest proportion, avocado!

The House Guac gave us a crunchy+creamy start to our dining experience. The creamy guacamole, with a kick of spiciness, complements the house-made crispy nachos so perfectly. Perfect companion for a bottle of craft beer. Do check our their boards for Huckleberry's "Wholly Guacamole Special of the Week"!

Lord of the Wings

K-Pop Frenzy RM19.90 for 6 pieces, RM37.90 for 12 pieces

Korean chicken wings with spicy Gochujang sauce

Ahhhh fried chicken. I could never resists fried chicken. With a sweet and spicy sticky Korean sauce that gives it a punch, be prepared to get your hands messy with this bucket of finger-licking goodness.

Let's Ta-Co 'Bout It

Chuck Norris RM21.90
Beef Barbacoa tacos, served with BBQ Root Beer sauce, pico de gallo, fresh corainder and sour cream

Drop The Bass RM19.90
Battered Sea Bass Taco with house slaw, jalepenos & pico de gallo

Being a fan of beef, I personally preferred the Chuck Norris over Drop The Bass. The savoury BBQ Root Beer sauce to me, was the "hit" of Chuck Norris. Smoky savoury taste with a hint of sweetness yum! The tacos can be shared as an fun, bite-size appetizer, or eaten as a main.

The Bird Waffle RM24.90
House made waffle with Buttermilk-Fried Chicken Thigh, served with house made hot honey sauce.
The waffles were crazily crispy outside, fluffy inside! Pair it with the thick & juicy slab of chicken thigh, and slather with em' sweet honey, and you get a perfect marriage between sweet and savoury. Being a big fan of sweet and savoury combo, this would definitely be ,y favourite dish for the night.

Burgers She Wrote

Beast Mode RM26.90
A meaty burrger emcompass of Beef Patty, Barbacoa Pulled Beef, Duck Bacon, house made BBQ sauce, lettuce and fresh tomato. All burgers are served with Huckleberry's house made Brioche Bun & a side of fries. If you're in the mood for something with chuck loads of meat or you're feeling ravenous, go with the Beast Mode. Juicy, flavourful and best of all, meaty!

A Whole Lotta Dough

Missed Steak RM25.90
Spicy Magherita pizza served with homemade vegan sambal."Authentic LA-Style pizza", what customers who visited LA before claims about Huckleberry's pizza. What makes Huckleberry After Dark's pizza so special? Their sourdough pizza base! The pizza dough was crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside - A fresh respite from the usual crispy thin crust pizza.

The Mad Batter RM19.90
Skillet Chocolate Pudding, Chocolate Fondant, House Made Marshallows, Cookie Crumbs and Butter Cookies
Oh please just order this. Or you'll regret it. No words can describe the choco-gasm I felt when I dug into this masterpiece. Period. Make sure to dig in while it is still warm!

Dining in Huckleberry After Dark felt as if I was dining at a pub overseas. Personal recommendation would be the Cocktails (be adventurous and try something out of the norm!), The Bird Waffle and The Mad Batter (absolute must-order!)


Huckleberry After Dark
2G and 4G Medan Setia 2,
Plaza Damansara, Damansara Heights,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Business Hours:

Closed on Mondays
Tuesdays - Sundays 5.30pm - 12am

Instagram: @huckleberryafterdark

Tulip by That Latte Place, Sunway Pyramid [Non-Halal]

Once upon a time, there was this cafe called That Latte Place that served really decent breakfast and brunch food, amidst the lush green scenery of Yayasan Seni at KL City Centre. Sadly, That Latte Place was forced to relocated due to some unforeseen circumstances. 

After moving out from its beautiful, close-to-nature premises about two years ago, That Latte Place has since expanded to three other branches, one in Cheras Ikon Connaught, Map's Cafe in Bandar Sunway (Read my write-up of Map's HERE), and the latest branch Tulip by That Latte Place at Sunway Pyramid, which is so much closer to my place now!

Tulip is located at LG of Marrakesh, just a few shops away from Dip n Dip! Just like Map's Cafe, Tulip is a non-halal restaurant. Map's Cafe focuses more on the breakfast and brunch crowd, whereas Tulip covers a wider range of food & beverages, from all-day breakfast, to mains such as pasta and pork-y dishes and also craft beers!

Tulip by That Latte Place has a children's corner equipped with tents and play sets such as bowling sets, colouring sets & much more - a child's dream (and also a child-in-heart's dream!)

Signature Pork-Chetta RM25.90
Home-Roasted Porkchetta, crunchy skin-on pork belly (approx 200g) rolled and marinated in a blend of herbs and spice, served with greens and herb-infused pork gravy on the side.
A must-try! A huge generous slab of crunchy crackling pork skin, encasing the tender and juicy meat that is well-flavoured & will certainly leave you craving for more.

Oh-My-Ribs! RM35.90
Ribs (approx 500g) seasoned in rich spice rub & homemade BBQ sauce, served with fresh green on the side.

The ribs had a sweet and spicy notes which kicks in well. Decent, but not the best I've had - it is all up to preferences.

Bacon Baked Egg RM18.90

With mushroom, capsicum, bacon, Mozzarella cheese in house-made special red sauce, served with homemade toast.

A simple baked egg dish that was well executed - eggs were still runny when I dig in and amount of cheese were generous. 

"Siu Yuk" Egg Ben RM19.90

Poached egg on house made Roasted Porchetta and toast, served with Hollandaise sauce, with a side of sauteed button mushroom and greens. 

One of my absolute favourite - You've had the typical Eggs Benedict served with ham or bacon, now try one with a huge & thick cut of crispy on the outside, moist and meaty on the side Porchetta! The crackling & crunchy Porchetta skin complements the creamy Hollandaise sauce perfectly, with some greens and mushroom on the side to mellow down and perhaps reduce your guilt level in savouring this sinfully delicious dish. 

Bruschetta Melt Combo RM23.90
A combination of (from left) bacon, mushroom and smoked salmon Bruschetta, blanketed under Mozzarella cheese.

Creamy Salted Egg Carbonara with Crispy Battered Chicken – RM18.90
Calling all salted egg yolk fans out there! A new item in Tulip. I thought that the pasta was done right - creamy with a subtle taste of salted egg yolk. However, my dining buddy thought that the pasta lacked of the "Salted Egg Yolk kick". It is all up to preference I guess - I am not such a huge fan of salted egg yolk so the level of the "kick" was just nice to me.

Mocha RM10

Hazelnut Nutella Mocha RM13

Iced Coffee Float RM10

Flavoured Milk (Salted Caramel) RM8

Calling all discount-loving students! Flash your student card and you're entitled to a 20% dicount off your total bill. For non-students, fret not as Tulip also offers really affordable breakfast and lunch sets on weekdays (excluding public holidays).

Overall, Tulip by That Latte Place certainly lived up to my expectation, just like Map's. Personal recommendation would be the Pork-chetta and "Siu Yuk" Egg Ben. Price wise is still relatively affordable, given the fact that Tulip is located inside a concentrated shopping mall which is forever crowded.

Tulip by That Latte Place
LG 2.88, Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall,

3, Jalan PJS 11/15, 

Petaling Jaya 47500

Business Hours:
10am - 10pm Daily

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TulipSunway/
Contact Number: 016-850 3546