Metal Box Restaurant & Cafe @ Empire Damansara, PJ

If you are in the vicinity of Empire Damansara, surely you'd have noticed the gigantic black steel container facing the road which stands out amidst the concrete two-storey building. Metal Box Restaurant & Cafe has been around for less than a year, but it constantly receives overwhelming response from the crowd especially during breakfast and lunch hours. 

Front entrance of Metal Box

The concept of the cafe is pretty simple; they just want to serve you with real food which you can seek comfort from. But the process of preparing real (good) food can be painstaking sometimes, as all the sauces are made from scratch in the house, along with fresh ingredients prepared ala minute upon order.

Prices at other cafes around KL/PJ may go up to RM40, but here you can indulge in good food without burning a hole in the pocket. Delightfully glancing through the menu, we notice that Metal Box's brunch items are all below RM21.90! 

Cappuccino @ RM9.90 

Mocha @ RM11.90 

We believe that the first meal of the day should begin with a good cup, and Metal Box offers a decent variety of coffee, pegged at a price ranging from RM6.90 to RM12.90 which falls within the standard price range.

Hemmingway @ RM18.90

One must try the best-selling freshly-baked croissant which sandwiches two poached eggs, homemade smoked salmon, wilted baby spinach, bonito flakes and seaweed flakes. Its presentation has already won our hearts, but what about the taste? We love the subtle savoury taste of the salmon which is perfect for our liking, unlike those heavily salty types.

But the biggest applause goes to the perfectly poached eggs which burst into golden cascade of yolky goodness upon one gentle poke. If you love your croissant airy and crispy with less buttery flavour, Metal Box's version will definitely wow you epecially when paired with the runny eggs!

Metal Box Baked Egg @ RM18.90

Next up is another well-executed dish, highly recommended for egg lovers. Two free-range eggs are soft-baked in a pot with a thick topping of freshly grated gruyere cheese. As we happily dig into the piping hot bowl of goodness, it is loaded with sliced smoked chicken breast, diced chicken sausage, potato, eggplant and homemade cannellini beans in tomato coulis.

Once again, the eggs are too good to resist. Dip the accompanying slices of French sour dough into the tummy-warming concoction and allow them melt in the mouth altogether! As Metal Box offers its brunch menu all day long, this fuss-free dish can be enjoyed at any time. 

Specialty French Toast (Signature) @ RM15.90 

Do you agree that almost every cafe offers typical French Toast but none of them is able to execute it so creatively like how Metal Box does? Our next dish is a sweet and savoury combination with an extra tangy punch from the fresh mixed berries coulis. The shot of Gula Melaka is a welcoming change from the usual overly sweet maple syrup.

Lightly coated with Nestum, we are surprised by the crunchy exterior of the golden brown French toast which is beautifully contrasted with a melting soft, pillowy interior. However, one will appreciate the extra crunch from roasted pistachios that further elevates the texture of the dish.

Steak A La Minute @ RM33.90

Metal Box serves more than just the cafe-style staples. We happily order the grilled Australian grass fed striploin steak (160gm) served with herb-roasted potato, sauteed mushrooms, wilted baby spinach and tomato confit for our main course.

The highlight of the dish is its yuzu kosho butter sauce, a salt-cured Japanese seasoning made of yuzu citrus peel and chilies which is commonly used in steamboat dishes in Japan. Adding this to a steak is a welcoming change as we love its complexity on the palate--- From a beautiful tang on the mouth to a pleasant peppery tinge aftertaste.

Bananatella Filo Bar @ RM15.90

We save the best for the last. Insanely addictive is an elegant and classy filo pastry served with vanilla ice cream and dots of nutella. A crisp and sweet dessert pastry, Bananatella is a stunner like no other.

Beyond the beautifully-crafted ultra thin layers, we are surprised by the fragrant and soft banana that joins together in perfect union with the kicker—Nutella almond cream. It has totally blown us away! When we least expect it, a burst of nuttiness delivers a surprising crunch that sends an instant smile to the face. 

I will certainly revisit Metal Box for its new items on the menu!


Do hop to Metal Box and get your brunch fix!

Verdict:

1. A good experience for real food as most ingredients are made from scratch in the kitchen but be prepared to tolerate with the long queues during weekends.

2. For such a generous portion of premium ingredients such as homebake bread, croissant and homemade canellini beans, you surely wouldn't regret.

3. Personal recommendations: Hemmingway, Baked Eggs

Metal Box Restaurant & Cafe

G-12, Ground Floor,

(same row as DPAC) 
Empire Damansara

Jalan PJU 8/8

Damansara Perdana

47820 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor.

Contact: 603-7731 9560

Facebook: fb.com/metalboxcafe

Instagram: @metalboxcafe

Business Hours:

Tues - Fri: 10am - 4pm, 6pm - 10pm

Sat - Sun: 10am - 10pm

Closed on Mondays

Seven Cups @ Empire Damansara, PJ

After my virgin visit to Seven Cups when it first opened last year (which I blogged: HERE), I'm back to this place again after hearing that it has introduced larger varieties of waffles, home-baked cakes and handcrafted ice creams in the house. 

Stepping into this corner shoplot, we are greeted by the clean, minimalist space with light pinewood accents. Despite of the cool, simple interior, the real sense of comfort that the cafe provides makes it an ideal venue for friends and family gathering or business meetups.

Deriving its name from the daily dose of coffee for 7 days a week, we know that the coffee business here is quite serious. As the name suggests, we have high expectations on its coffee and indeed the specially imported roasted beans from Singapore do not disappoint us at all.

Wote (Ethiopia), Karinga (Kenya) and Villa Rica (Columbia) Single Origin from Nylon Coffee Roasters 

Coffee here comes in two types: Black (Espresso based) or White (Milk), and the varieties differ according to the ratio of black and white composition in it. Whether you love your coffee pure black or with milk and foam, Seven Cups has gotten you covered.  

Aged Cold Brew @ RM12

A pleasant change from my usual hot-brewed long black, I find that aged cold brew is thicker and stronger in flavours as it is brewed for more than 16 hours and chilled. It is indeed a summer killer beverage to go for! 

Regular White (6oz) @ RM10

For those who love to have their coffee in a milder note, a true 6oz flat white is all you need to keep you going. Some may find it not as bitter and full-bodied as they prefer, because Seven Cups uses light to medium roast coffee. But if you're expecting incredibly clean coffee with pronounced fruitiness and citrus notes, here's the right place to go.

Taking the sweets as seriously as they take their coffee, the homemade bakes are equally noteworthy and solely available here on a rotation basis. If you're lucky, there ae more than 6 types of freshly-baked cakes on the counter including the bestselling buttercream cakes and sea salt caramel brownies.

The Salted Caramel Cookie @ RM12 looks so tempting!!

Earl Grey Lavender Butter @ RM10

This homemade cake is everything soft-minded; so smooth and light yet rich in buttery taste. Combining the delicate floral flavour of lavender cream with the refreshing taste of earl grey infused buttercream, this cake is truly an indulgent afternoon treat.

Perfectly fluffy and moist without being overly dense!

Salted Caramel Chocolate Banana @ RM12

I personally love my cake rich and dense, and the banana moist cake layered with chocolate sauce here is exactly what satisfies both my soul and body. The extra creamy salted caramel icing with a touch of caramelized almonds adds a nice finish to the already delicious cake.

But it is the waffle selection that has us on cloud nine. By far, the classic French Butter and Maple Syrup Waffle remains as my top favourite, because the moment of having buttery aroma lingering in the mouth with lightly sweet maple syrup is simply irresistible! 

Weekend's Special Waffle @ RM13.50

Seven Cups has been experimenting with new flavours of waffle. Luck is on our side, and we get to try the freshly-baked waffle topped with torched marshmallows on a Dark Chocolate Mousse and finished with a drizzle of dark chocolate sauce and a dusting of milo.

Crisp and hot out of the iron, the Belgium waffle here is lightly crisp and well-browned on the outside with a moist, light and airy interior. It is a nice change from the usual crispy-crunchy type I have. Oozing out like lava, the piping-hot chocolate sauce is surprisingly light in sweetness.

Alternatively, you can top your waffles with the town's most popular handcrafted ice cream from Inside Scoop. Seven Cups currently has a pop-up ice cream parlour here, serving 9 flavours ranging from the indulging Valrhona Chocolate to the nutty Pistachio. For first timers, do try the crowd's favourite Cempedak and Durian flavours, and you'll never regret.

Do hop to Seven Cups and get your sweet tooth fix!

Verdict:

1. Be it hot food or chilled cakes, Seven Cups has improved as compared to my first visit. 

2. I appreciate their effort and seriousness in their coffees, cakes and waffles. Recommended if you want to try something different from other cafes. 

3. Personal recommendations: Earl Grey Lavender Butter, Signature Waffles 

Seven Cups

(Opposite Texas Chicken)

G-25, Ground Floor,

Empire Damansara

Jalan PJU 8/8

Damansara Perdana

47800 Damansara,

Petaling Jaya,

Selangor.

Contact: 603-4065 0037

Facebook: fb.com/7cups

Instagram: @sevencups

Business Hours:

Mon: 11am - 11pm

Wed - Sat: 11am - 11pm

Sun: 11am - 8pm

Closed on Tuesdays

Pot & Kettle Cafe @ Empire Damansara, PJ

Pot & Kettle is tucked along the street in Empire Damansara where the colorful umbrellas used to be hung at, but it seems to have been overlooked since it opened a couple of months ago. That may be because it looks dark from the outside and many do not know that it is a hidden gem serving a good range of gourmet pasta, pizza and homemade cakes. 

As soon as we step into the cosy space, we are greeted by a vibrant interior with splashes of colours on the graffiti walls and furniture. The ambiance is so lively that it adds a nice appeal to a younger, more vibrant audience. 

Sofas are tucked nicely into the corners where diners can enjoy some quiet time with
plenty of warm kisses penetrating through the tall glass windows.

Dainty tea pots and picture-worthy kettles are arranged beautifully along the rack,

reminding us of the quirky name of the cafe itself.

As for the menu, the owner keeps it simple with an acceptable range of Asian and Western menu (Salad, sandwiches, pasta and pizza), but injects some juices of creativity into each.

Pot & Kettle Burger @ RM18.90

Despite of having a dozen variations to choose from the menu list, first-timers should start with the signature Pot & Kettle burger, which features lightly charred beef patty with a blanket of melted cheese on top, served with mesculn salad and jumbo fries. It definitely stays true to its roots as a comfort food. 

Where's The Spaghetti? @ RM24.90

A touch of fun and mystery is also injected into the menu, now let's guess where's the spaghetti? Out of curiosity, we order a plate of the spaghetti that is well-hidden within the gigantic beef meatball. Slightly chewy and dense, it gets the texture of the meatball right on the mouth.

As we happily dig into the meatball, the spaghetti comes in a delightfully soft texture and it is
well-coated with drizzles of mild, sweet pomodoro sauce and generous dusting of cheese powder. 

Braised Moroccan Lamb Shank @ RM38.90

Meat lovers would die for the Moroccan version of lamb shank which is braised slowly to the bones until it becomes wonderfully tender, moist and literally falls off the bone. I personally love the bright balance of herb flavours that harmonize well with the Mediterranean veggies and jumbo fries.

Each chunk of the meat, consisting of lean and greasy parts, is bursting with wonderful flavours to the heart of the shank. 

Latte @ RM10.00

Coffee staples are also available at Pot & Kettle. If you are not fussy about your cup, the mild version of latte here is pretty decent to pair with a slice of cake or two. 

Raspberry Frizzy @ RM8.90
A perfectly refreshing summer drink that you shouldn't miss! 

Mars Bar Cheesecake @ RM12.00

As the finale of the meal, homemade dessert always saves the day especially when it is sweet and creamy, silky and crunchy all in one bite. Sitting on a bed of crisp crumb, the melting good cheesecake is the gooey and dense type that you'll never forget. 

Do look out for this hanging kettle signage whenever you're in Empire Damansara!

Verdict:

1. We appreciate the attempts of Pot & Kettle in whipping out signature items that are original, and unique.

2. Tastewise, I think it has gone rather light for its dishes and coffee. Or perhaps it is me that favours strong flavours lingering on my tastebuds. 

3. Personal recommendations: Mars Bar Cheesecake

Pot & Kettle Cafe 
G18, Ground Floor 
Heritage Lane
Empire Damansara, 
Damansara Perdana,
47800 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor. 
Facebook: fb.com/potnkettlecafeKL
Instagram: @potnkettlecafe
Twitter: @potnkettlecafe

Business Hours:
Sun - Thurs: 12noon - 10pm
Fri - Sat: 1pm - 11pm
Closed on Mondays