Review: Calabria Cafe & Restaurant

Updated 3 November 2011

Has since closed but replaced with an Italian cafe.

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I decided to post this up today after reading Joe's post on Milwaukee Steak Corner. This is not on the same restaurant but the one just next to it called Calabria Cafe & Restaurant. I got acquainted with Calabria via a makan kaki whom posted about this place in Friedchillies few years back. At that time they were located in Bandar Sungai Long before shifting to the current location. Calabria is basically an Italian cafe serving the usual pizza and pasta but a look into their current menu, the list had expanded serving steaks as well.

This time round, hubby ordered a Seafood Soup (RM9.80) which came as a lightly herbed tomato based soup laden with seafood; from prawns, calamari, fish fillets, clams and mussels. A light soup with just the right balance of tomato taste of not too soury that my boiboi was enjoying it too.

I'm not sure since when hubby had a thing with risotto but it seems of late he has been ordering that if he sees them on the menu. This time no difference and he asked for a Beef Risotto (RM15.80), where the rice is cooked in a vegetable stock that came with sauteed striploin. We were disappointed though as Calabria did not use Arborio rice. We suspected they have used Calrose rice instead. The taste was alright but seriously the texture is totally out. So don't order risotto here.

We ordered pizza and spaghetti as options for my boiboi since we weren't sure how was his appetite that evening. Hubby picked a Pizza Quattro (RM13.30) that have four sections of different ingredients namely, chicken pepperoni, beef salami, roasted chunky chicken and tuna with tomato paste topped with mozzarella. My boiboi had 1 slice of the chicken chunks and said it was good *roll eyes* so much so that he asked for a second slice which is a good sign. I had one slice and find the crust a bit too thick. Could have been better if it's thinner by half.

After reading the menu that baked eggs & capsicum, onion, mushroom and chicken with tasty cheese and parmesan in a herbed tomato sauce spaghetti which sounded kinda interesting and delicious, hence I opted for that. This is supposedly to be Spaghetti Spanish Style (RM11.80) and the thought of baked eggs made my mouth waters in anticipation. When it arrives, hubby and I stared at it, asked ourselves what it is??? Hello, did we order egg omelette??? Hahaha... I flipped over the omelette and saw strands of spaghetti coated in thick tomato paste. Oklah it wasn't baked as claimed but nevertheless I still enjoyed this pasta. The omelette is tasty enough with the said ingredients in it. The spaghetti is cooked to perfection with the thick tomato paste clung onto them, the way I liked them. Boiboi had a few bites of the spaghetti before he gave up hahaha... overloaded by now!

That cheeky little fella did not stopped at the spaghetti even though he declared he was full. He asked for a slice of cake for dessert, well its more like hubby asked if he wanted any dessert. Checking with the staff, they only have Tiramisu (RM8.00) and so we have one to satisfy the small fart! I had a few small bites ("someone" was guarding with his watchful eyes!!! Eventhugh he was generous to share with us but we were told to take small bites only hehehe...) and it was kinda good. The sponge fingers are not soggy nor dry, lightly fragrant with coffee. The mascaporne cheese portion is not heavy at all and was best combined with the sponge fingers but of course nothing beat FBB's version. Order here!!!

Hubby had Affogato (RM6.20) and we were all given drinking water (no charge!!! yay!). Bill came to a total RM71.40 after adding in 5% government tax and another 5% service charge. Service here is pretty smooth and attentive as compared to its chaotic neighbour, well maybe because they're not packed to the brim which we liked, can eat in peace!

Silly me, I did not check if they're halal or not but it's pork free for sure and they have several Malay wait staff. I guess that says it all huh.

Calabria Cafe & Restaurant
11G Jalan Kasturi 1,
Plaza Kasturi,
Off Jalan Balakong,
43200 Cheras, Balakong
Tel: (603) 9080 3004

Technorati Tags: balakong + italian