All In Cafe: nice western surprise

mash potato (RM4.80)

 There are too many cafe/ kopitiam around with pseudo western dishes which basically are just steak and pasta. However, once in a while we did found some restaurant which are slightly above the rest with slightly more authentic western dishes. We went around Greentown business centre for dinner before a movie and bump into this new restaurant: All in Cafe. Now, the name was not very original. And with the track records of restaurant around in this area, most of them would not last very long. Somehow, this area is rather jinx for eating place. Then again, most of the shops in the past were just mediocre at best.

carbonara pasta with mussel (RM12.80)

Just go around the square, the row of shops behind Astro, one will bump into a unremarkable signboard. The shop was rather quiet when we went in. The place is minimally decorated. Mind you, I am all in (pun intended) for minimalist design but this deco is rather bland, with just black ceiling and wooden bench. And the bench is rather stiff and not comfortable at all. Service is good, but then again, we are the only table occupied so would not expect much competition for attention.

The menu is essentially western choices, with the normal steak, chops, burgers and pasta. The selection is slightly more than the usual kopitiam but still less compare to places like Hot Jack. Although we were the only table, the food is rather slow. So while we waited patiently, we had a bad feeling....

mozzarella grilled chicken (RM19.80)

Boy, were we so wrong. The food is good. The mash potato is clearly was factory made not the one made from fresh potato but the gravy is so nice with a tinge of herbs. The grilled chicken with mozzarella is brilliant. The meat is juicy, not too oily. Cheese just melted and blended in with the meat. Was it the best? Not so, but memorable still. Colleen had high praise for the french fries which came together as side dish. With bit of spice and salt, the fries is just nice, not so oily but crunch-ly deep fried. Mine was the cabonara pasta with mussel. No choices of pasta there except spaghetti but it was alright for me. The pasta is not too creamy which some of the cook may go overboard with. Pasta with too much cream, while is delicious, will leave the stomach feeling uncomfortably full for a long time.  The mussel brought just the right amount of seafood freshness to the dish.

Well, despite on all the shortcoming, we still enjoy the food and felt it was worth the wait. We still felt it did not dethrone the top western restaurant for us, but it was a good start.

ratings: 3 half poink!
comments: considering the uncomfortable bench, slow service, and not so cheap price.... I would still visit for the good food.