Dinner @ Garden Cafe, One Utama

Before our movie last Saturday, me, Steven, Sylvia and Eugene went to the Garden Cafe in 1 Utama for dinner. Located at Lower Ground just right beside Nike and Hang Ten in the new wing, it's pretty easy to get to. Back a while ago, that place used to be an abandoned back alley. Never will it occur to me that it will be transformed in to a cozy hideaway from the busy shoppers just outside, hidden away from view.

Decorated with mock leaves and flowers, suiting it to the theme of the cafe itself, it looks posh and exclusive - which reminds me of Full House, NZX i patronized and reviewed a while back. From the decorations, it bears a strong resemblance - clean, white interiors.
When you walk into the cafe, you will also be greeted by tunes played by a pianist on a white grand piano as their centerpiece. Decoration inside as I mentioned earlier, is pretty refined. Little pots of flowers decorate each wooden white table top. Romantic street lamp posts light up the interior.Set in what looks like a cottage garden, we can see arches covered with blooms around, wrought iron gates, hanging basket hooks, tulle, small potted plants and plenty of silk flowers.It is hard not to relate them to Full House, NZX and Full House, Sunway Pyramid. In fact, they are under the same management.

We were promptly seated and browsed through the menu and concluded that there’s nothing exciting on the menu. That’s my only gripe la. So we settled for the recommended Black Pepper Chicken Chop (RM 17.90) and Steven ordered Seafood Spaghetti (forgot how much.. :P).

Beautiful menu

So lovely huh.. With all the flowers printed on the menu.

Here’s I am smiling happily with the lovely scenery all around me. So coincidently i was wearing flowery dress that night.. Hehe.. Perfectly fit into the environement.. :)

The black pepper chicken shop is very similar to the one in Fullhouse. It arrived promptly, served on a huge white plate with the side vegetable were garnished too with garlic and ginger sauce. Most restaurant will just throw some plain vegetable on the plate and call it a day. I was surprised that they served me the meal so promptly. Less than 5 mins ordered and I already got my meal served on the table! I guess it has been prepared and the chef just heated it up. It was the most awful black pepper chicken chop that I had in my life. Even a normal restaurant can serve better than here. The meat was very tough, dry and not fresh! The sauce tastes more like mushroom than pepper.

Nice to see, not nice to eat! Awful!!

Eugene ordered Lamb Shank (RM26.90). By this time I stopped taking any picture as I was upset for the black pepper chicken chop I ordered. However, I noticed that the lamb shank was handsomely made, fragrant and very juicy. The gravy looked quite creamy and Eugene said it tastes some ‘goaty’ smells.

Garden’s ambience is really, really beautiful. A touch of nature with classy elegance created a fairy-like effect during our dinner session. In all honesty, Garden offers above all excellent ambiance and services but taste wise, there are many rooms for improvement. Personally, I only like the ambiance here and think I will drop by again for a cuppa drink and catch up with friends. Despite the drinks here are not cheap.

Honey Ice Lemon tea which has a small hint of flower taste in it.

Overall the menu had a variety of western and local food but comparing it to Full House, i think Garden Cafe could probably add in a few more.

On top of that, everything in this restaurant is for sale! (watch out for the tags attached to the furnitures!)

Just like Full House, Garden Cafe is a boutique cafe where the boutique and the cafe are fused but it isn’t as obvious as Full House cause the boutique here has it’s own space.


Overall Rating: 2.5/5 (food wise, except the ambiance)

Price: Above average

Service: Good

Ambiance: Relax, romantic.

Garden Lifestyle Store and Cafe

LG-308C, Lower Ground Floor,

One Utama Shopping Center

Tel: 03-77286441