- Natalie Tan
The Famiglia, Damansara Uptown
Ever come across an Italian-Western cafe? That’s right, not a restaurant. A cafe. Established just 4 months ago, The Famiglia at Damansara Uptown has a very different ambience compared to your traditional classic Italian restaurants. The modern and intimate setting is perfect to enjoy a chilled-out lunch break, or even a dinner party with friends and family.
The first thing that I noticed upon arrival was its simple and minimalist interior. The wooden tables and chairs gives a rustic feel. The overall feeling of the place felt very cosy and welcoming.
Our first course was the Soup. We tried both the Borscht soup (top - RM14) and Mushroom soup (bottom - RM16). The Borscht soup was inspired by a Russian recipe having similar traits to the minestrone soup but they added beetroot for a distinct flavour. I really liked how clean and light it was. This is perfect if you’re looking for something light with a bit of spice.
The Mushroom soup was our favourite with its classic creamy texture, yet not too rich. This warm and comforting soup is perfect to have on a rainy day.
Accompanying both the soups was the Bruschetta (RM11). The bread was light, hollow and had a crunch with every bite with freshly chopped tomatoes and basil on the side.
To kickstart our mains, we sampled a medley of their pasta; The Italian Cabonara with Bacon (RM18), Aglio Olio (RM18) and The Amatriciana (RM18).
We truly enjoyed the Amatriciana the most and I would highly recommend this tomato-based pasta dish. It has a similar taste profiles to the Arrabiata sauce with olives and fresh herbs making the flavours more pronounced.
My personal favourite and one of their most popular dishes was the Pork Lasagne (RM25). Made with homemade pasta sheets, it has a creamy texture that melts in your mouth!
We had the opportunity to try their new special dish, Pork Wellington (RM70), which will be added onto their Christmas special and also become their signature dish. This was the wonderful juicy Pork Wellington.
For those pork lovers I would highly recommend giving this a try. The meat was cooked just right, juicy and tender with the exquisite pastry bordering the pork was just the right combination. Alongside they provided us with some homemade crunchy well-marinated wholesome chips to enjoy with the Pork.
Moving on to the star of the menu is the Porkie Chop (RM23) and Sous Vide Chicken Chop (RM21) served with homemade sauces comprising of mayo, honey mustard, black pepper and mushroom.
The sauces paired really well and both the meats were well marinated and cooked to perfection as they remained juicy and tender on the inside. I couldn’t contain my excitement when I saw the juice from the meat oozing out. An absolute delight!
Tiramisu (RM13) was a great start to our dessert!
To cap off our meal, we were treated to an assortment of desserts. We tried the Panna Cotta (small - RM5; big - RM10) in 3 flavours – Chocolate, Pandan and Original (Vanilla) as well as their homemade Tiramisu served with Chocolate ice cream and chocolate chips. A burst of flavours and a perfect way to end the evening.
I will definitely return for their pork & chicken chop as well as to try their other dishes. For those who are looking for authentic Italian & western dining experience, make your reservation today!
The Famiglia 81G, SS21/60, Damansara Utama 47400 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia
Tel: +603 7710 0396
Email: thefamiglia81@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefamiglia81
Instagram: thefamiglia81