Zoe, Bangsar, KL

Perching on an upper floor in a quieter part of Bangsar is Zoe, a casual fine eatery that has won me over with its fusion food, especially the starters.

I made a reservation for Sunday dinner and was more than glad that they attended to my request. The staircase leading to the restaurant was vibrant; its wall decorated with catchy posters and media reviews. The interior was relaxing, although its deco is a confusing mix of country themes.

As my family and i sat, the friendly waiter distributed menus and carefully took our orders. We even had some from the lunch menu (because they seemed appetizing). Low lighting (tricky for photography here) and gentle background music, we later occupied the entire place. There is an open kitchen bar in which you can watch the chefs work their culinary skills then dine.

Muhammara with Flat Bread was one of our favourites that night. Frankly, i first heard of this here. This red pepper dip was tasty and whet appetite. It was easy to eat that we had extras of bread to go with.

Mussels in Coconut Milk was another favourite of mine. While mussels were fresh and common in any other Western eatery, the coconut milk gravy was an inspiring twist. Hints of sweetness indeed.

How good can an egg omelette be? This Fluffy Thai Duck Egg Omelette pleasantly surprised me- it can be more than good! Pillowy and light, yet thick with egg and right amount of saltiness.

Not pictured is Trio Mushroom Soup. A safe soup and aromatic for mushroom lovers.

A truly local dish was the Mee Keluak. Those who have not tasted keluak will have a hard time to eat. Buah keluak requires a tedious amount of time and attention; proper preparation to remove its poisonous cyanide. It was earthy in texture and dry mixed with the noodle.

We missed the little detail- barley, in the Squid-ink Calamari Barley Risotto. While its texture was unique, we are used to eating barley so it was ok. Was expecting a bit more uumph but settled for ok.

Basque Style Crab Meat Tagliatelle had lots of crab meat to live up to its name. However, one try is sufficient.

Mushroom and Asparagus Tagliatelle may seem like the ordinary in the menu but it was among our favourites of the night. This i can order again.

Lamb Ragu Pappardelle was a popular dish there and i can agree. Well-cooked, tender and flavourful, match tastefully with the pappardelle.

We were there for a birthday celebration and at the start, the waiter whispered to me of a surprise- on the house. This pair ball of dough was delightful. Sweet and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside without being too doughy. Excellent customer service!

Towards the end of our dinner, the chef/owner came to greet, chat and ask for feedback. It is this little detail- the willingness of chefs to come and meet guests, that i find carry weight to an eatery to set them above.

While the price may be above average, the friendly character and heartfelt food make it an interesting spot for a chill evening for family and friends.