Bandits, Bukit Damansara
My first visit to Bandits was when it first opened its doors a couple of years back (I can't recall exactly when...) and it was apparently under a different management (or so I am told). So, when KL Food Hunter's Daniel Ang invited me to try the new Bandits menu with him one weekday afternoon, I was eager to see what it had to offer. The first visit I had there left me rather disappointed but this time, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the new management had introduced a very extensive menu.
The dishes are simple, but there is enough variety to keep any kind of diner happy. The decor has changed quite a fair bit, too. It used to be very industrial chic with the makings of a typical hipster cafe. Now with the black tiling and yellow grout, Bandits looks more like an underground bar...above ground. It doesn't gel very well with the brunch vibe, but if it is aiming to become a bar-type establishment, it makes sense.
Ice lemon (peach?) tea seems to be the choice drink here, especially among the lunch crowd. When Bandits first opened, the lunch crowd had little choice for their meals but now with the revamp, it seems to have become a popular spot for the nearby office crowd.
And it isn't hard to guess why. The portions are sizeable, the prices reasonable and the presentation Instagrammable. The big breakfast, be warned, is true to its name and is big enough for two to eat comfortably. It's easy on the eyes and a little heavy on the stomach, but with the fruit bowl and a decent mix of vegetables (tomatoes and onions count as veges, right?), you can be sure you're getting a somewhat good nutritional breakfast. What I loved most from this platter was the herbed butter and the multigrain bread.
We were served barbecued chicken strips with mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. This is a good meal to have for lunch because it is quite light in the carb department - easy to avoid that post-lunch food coma.
But if you work for a Japanese company and happen to have adopted the Japanese way of corporate life in which you are encouraged to take naps... then I would suggest you go for the lamb shank. This hearty meaty dish is sure to get your melatonin levels going and you will be fast asleep well before tea time.
A good balance between the two would be their beef stroganoff. The Russian dish is served with mushroom rice and grilled vegetables. Go easy on the rice and you will have had a superb lunch without that drowsy feeling after.
Bandits 16 Jalan Medan Setia 2, Plaza Damansara, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur