Chiaroscuro provides ample dining space on a lovely, shady terrace – perfect for a short afternoon coffee or a long romantic drink in the evening. Inside the restaurant, things have been kept simple and uncluttered. Starched white linen and sturdy wooden chairs are set around large tables that give guests ample space. It creates an ambience that is inviting and comfortable yet refined. The same theme is also evident in their simple yet elegant menus, detailing a decent-sized selection of Italian classic as well as more inventive interpretations of Mediterranean cuisine.

Not another Japanese restaurant you might say, especially in an area already well established for such cuisine. On the very same row, you can also find a Rakuzen and Hyotan. But thanks to their impressive corner lot, Tomoe manages to stand out from their competitors. Besides, the free valet they provide is strong incentive, allowing diners to drive up and walk straight in.

First impressions count and Frames certainly scored high in that aspect. Its chic and minimalist interior, chilled tunes, low lighting and an eclectic ambience derived from the frame-lined walls; each encasing an inspired moment or memory, roused great expectations. With headily excited taste buds, we were ready to “let (Frames’) masterpieces of taste paint a picture of bliss on my palette!” as promised by the menu. But truly, in this case, the pictures outshone reality.

Everyone enjoys replica art – the intricate imitations of food made of plastic. There is something oddly attractive about the colour and detail. Invented by the Japanese to display the dishes and food that they serve in the restaurant, it serves as a magnet for potential customers walking past.

From the outside, Kafe Brisik doesn’t really draw you in. Besides the laminated menu with less than impressive photography of the food, the rather tacky banner and blown up food photos plastered on the outside hardly helped. If that is not enough to turn you away then maybe the unbearable silence from within the restaurant might. On this particular Sunday lunchtime, patrons were conspicuous by their absence. It really doesn’t help Brisik’s cause with the Duck King next door packed to the rafters and queues developing outside. This was truly an experiment in food quality as a function of a restaurant’s occupancy.

Ask for Hot Station, and Ampang residents will give you blank stares. Refer to this eatery as Nasi Lemak Taman Kosas or risk local derision. There’s nothing by way of ambience, especially since the stall just moved further down the road due to new buildings taking up thhe original space, but that’s okay, because the nasi lemak is exquisite.

Not to be confused with the Soo Kee mee stall in Jalan Imbi, the 20-year old Soo Kee Restaurant instead has char siew and roast duck in a class of its own.

As far as local neighborhood institutions go, Aziz Dolmat is about as underrated as they get. A staple of any Pandanite’s dinner options for the past 30-odd years, this painfully understated noodle joint still gets no love. What you will love, however, is the lovingly prepared yet Spartan-looking mi bandung which reminds one of hearty home-cooked meals with an affectionate cherubic aunt slaving over the stove.

Mezze, located inside Tang’s departmental store, is definitely eye candy. With its African-influence décor and beautiful details on every piece of furnishing, it looks like a place you could bring a date to. But be warned though, Mezze is not recommended for a romantic dinner date for two.

We often look to Singapore to lead the way. Cleaner, busier and more efficient; these are traits of the island-nation that stick in the mind, providing a beacon of example for us across the causeway. Therefore, we are always in anticipation of the latest attempts of Singaporean food chains that aim to muscle in on the local market.
Fig and Olive, around in Singapore for more than seven years, moved in to Sunway Pyramid’s new wing barely five months ago and judging by the idling staff at the front of the restaurant, they haven’t been too well-received so far.

What happens when one of your favourite places attempts to conquer new ground? Like a favourite band you love, you lie in fear for what might happen if they tried to adopt a new sound or re-invent themselves in the name of personal discovery.

Tucked away in a secluded corner at The Gardens, the unobtrusive entrance of Yuzu belies the huge space that this Japanese restaurant occupies. To draw a distant analogy, perhaps this restaurant is like its namesake, the yuzu fruit, which appears small in size but big in flavour. For the uninitiated, the yuzu is a tart-tasting citrus fruit that is rarely eaten on its own, but its fragrant rind and juice is used in Japanese cooking for flavouring and garnishing. Think of what a lemon is to western cooking and you get the idea. We loved the warm Zen-like ambience of the place, with its extensive use of wood and bamboo combined with interesting water features. Service was very attentive; empty plates were promptly whisked away and the free-flow o-cha regularly refilled without asking.

The Ming Tien foodcourt is one which can satisfy any craving and if hype is to believed, the bak kut teh here is apparently very good.Although service by the stall's waiter was enthusiastic, it took quite a while before the steaming pot reached the table.

Greenwood Cafe is tucked away in the hustle and bustle of SS2. Its decor is simple yet modern with dim orange lights with white chairs and wooden tables spaced out across the spotless premise.

The George & Dragon is located in Bangsar Shopping Centre, just behind W.I.P. The mugshots of the Liverpool team displaying above the ceiling shouldn't discourage any Manchester United fans for a pint, (as long as they don't display reveal their fan identities!)

Step inside this restaurant, first thing that you'll notice is the amount of travel books neatly arranged on the shelf. Lonely Planet, Let's Go or Rough Guides - more than enough to inspire your next holiday destination.

Situated in the wing that connects Gardens to Mid Valley Megamall, Rak Thai is a pleasant corner that benefits from a lot of space. The décor is very natural and calming, with lots of wood and Thai paraphernalia. For those who love

This little known Japanese café has actually been in operation for over nine years. Located under the shadow of the Pavilion across the road, it looks like this quaint place will most likely continue to slip under the radar of most diners, with so many brighter and more extravagant eateries around. The dark glass frontage, obscuring any view into the café, doesn’t help either.

Rather than steer away from the negative connotations of fusion cuisine with its mish-mash of confused flavours, Simply Fusion decided to embrace this challenging form of cooking whole-heartedly. They couldn’t have made their intentions clearer with a name like that.

This latest eatery in Desa Sri Hartamas offers a variety of Vietnamese, Thai and Cambodian dishes. Their forte lies in Vietnamese food as the owners also run the Vietnam Passion Restaurant at Chulan Square, Kuala Lumpur