CAFÉ BARBERA,
18 Lorong Maarof,
Bangsar Park,
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2287 3628
Business hours: 8.30am-11.00pm (Sundays to Thursdays);
8.30am – midnight (Friday and Saturday)
Pork free
A menu of Italian dishes also available.
SERVING lavish Italian fare from appetisers and pastas to main courses and desserts, Café Barbera is just the place for a fantastic meal.
The building with a classical exterior is nestled amid the bustling Bangsar township.
The first Cafe Barbera outlet located in Bangsar has a classical facade.
It is more than just a fine place to dine, as the café also serves a range of speciality coffee
The first Café Barbera coffee shop was set up in 1870, in southern Italy by founder Domenico Barbera.
The coffee recipe is currently with the fifth generation member of the family, Dr Enrico Barbera.
The café uses its own premium beans, Mago, which is a blend of seven types of pure choice coffee beans selected directly from Brazil, Central America and Indonesia.
A strong aromatic smell of coffee wafted through the door as I entered. I ordered their Cappuccino Napoletano and Affogato.
The Neapolitan espresso was served with warm milk with foam and the beverage was pleasant and smooth
As for the Affogato, the shot of Italian espresso blended well with the vanilla ice cream for a creamier texture but it left a strong after-taste.
The black mussels were fresh and mild in taste, while the garlic bread tasted great with the sauce.
The Black Mussels appetiser prepared with sautéed garlic, chilli and basil, and cooked with fresh clam stock, was definitely something nice to start the meal.
The black mussels were fresh, while the accompanying garlic bread was delicious when dipped with the stock.
For those who like sandwiches, the Club Panini is a big portion with toasted panini served with a combination of streaky beef, slices of grilled chicken, fried egg, lettuce, cucumber, fresh tomato topped with cheddar cheese and honey mustard sauce.
Café chef Rimong Radin surprised me with the Capellini with Crab Meat dish.
The Capellini with Crab Meat was appetising and the stir-fried crab meat added crunch to the dish.
“I used the Angel Hair for this pasta as it goes well with the crab. I used a local crab and stir-fried it.
“The other ingredients include asparagus, chilli, fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomato and basil leaves infused with clam stock,” said the chef who joined me midway during the review.
The savoury pasta was appetising and crab added some crunchiness to the dish.
The Mustard BBQ Short Ribs are definitely a hearty main course for those seeking a wholesome meal.
Radin, a 36-year-old chef from Sarawak, slow-braised the Australian short ribs for two and a half hours to create a softer texture.
“Each serving has 350g of short ribs. The ribs are braised in brown sauce and a shot of espresso.
“It is served on a bed of mashed potato and vegetables accompanied with honey mustard barbecue sauce,” he said.
The tender beef melted almost instantly in the mouth. The flavourful sauce with a hint of sweetness is also a heavenly match with the short ribs.
Those with a sweet-tooth would definitely enjoy the delectable and rich Chocolate Fondant.
The combination of hot fondant and cold Vanila ice cream mixed with a fruity taste of sliced orange for dessert was perhaps the best to end the meal.
Diners can also try the café’s thin-crust pizza that offers a combination of two flavours, as well as the Cappuccino Shakerato.
Café Barbera also caters for events, seminars, birthdays and press conferences.
The first Café Barbera in Malaysia was set up in 2010 in Lorong Maarof, Bangsar, with another outlet in the KL International Airport departure hall.
Currently, there are four outlets in Malaysia, with the remaining two located at Sunway Pyramid and Subang Skypark.
This is the writer’s personal observation and not an endorsement by StarMetro.
