Cafe Lafayette is what I would considered as a hidden gem tucked on the upper floor amongst the shophouse in Damansara Uptown. Facing the back where the road leads you to 1 Utama, finding this place isn't exactly easy. However, if you were to pay attention to the brown signage, it shouldn't be so hard. After all, using Waze or Google Maps will definitely get you to the spot, just have faith in it. 

Upon walking up the stairs, you should be greeted by a old telephone booth that is painted in red. If you don't see it, you're in the wrong alleyway up. Cafe Lafayette's design of the place too is rather relaxing. Warm spots of exposed bulbs placed throughout the cafe alongside a comfy long couch. In any way, the cafe feels quite romantic and calm to say the least.

Many might not know that Cafe Lafayette is actually a great place for Italian food. Not to say that it's entirely authentic, but the elements of flavour and generousity of portion is spot on. 

Fairies Tea - RM9

Courtesan - RM9

Started off with a pot of Fairies Tea which has a green tea base, topped with various other citrus-like flower leaves to give it that sweet and acidic taste. It’s light, aromatic and really pleasant on the palate.

For those who prefer something more relaxing and calming, go for the Courtesan tea, which has a similar taste profile to Ribena, citrusy and fruity. 

For those who do not enjoy tea as much, you can also opt for their wide selection of coffee and chocolate-mix drinks.

Mushroom Soup - RM9.90

For starters, we had a bowl of creamy mushroom soup that is made in-house. Done with several types of mushrooms, the flavours were compelling to say the least.

Smoked Chicken Risotto - RM20.90

Coming on to the mains, one of Café Lafayette’s signature dishes is their risotto. The first one that we tried was the Smoked Chicken Risotto, served with a side of salad.  Although the rice is not exactly risotto rice, the creaminess and richness of flavour was superb. Apart from the mushrooms and garlic that gives it that depth of flavour, the added smoked chicken finished it off with some ‘oomph’. Absolutely delicious and highly recommended!

Beef Risotto - RM25.90

For the beef version of the risotto, you’ll be glad to know that there is a generous amount of sliced sirloin steak, cooked to tender pink-perfection. The beef variant also has a little more capsicum and cherry tomatoes in place, but overall, good flavour.

Pesto Penne with Prawns - RM24.90

Followed by a serving Pesto Penne with Fresh Prawns. The sauce is made from scratch using fresh basil and olive oil. Sauteed with a good amount of garlic and onion, the pesto base taste absolutely delicious. It is also incredibly well seasoned to say the least. Penne was cooked al-dante, which was perfect as it does give it some bite alongside a good coating of delicious pesto.

Lambshank - RM45.90

Last but not least, we had something a little more luxurious – braised lamb shank. Beautifully lay on a bed of salad and served with a generous amount of tomato-based sauce. Braised till tender perfection, cutting through the meat requires almost-no effort at all. Simply put, the lambshank has a decent balance of flavour alongside tender-soft flesh. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to order it right of the shelf, as it requires a one-day in advance reservation. It is, after all, done with fresh lambshank.

In conclusion, Café Lafayette is probably the best place to get a delicious Italian meal at an affordable price. If you wish for it to go much lower, do look out for their lunch set promo, with everything being less than RM15, including a drink.

PS: They too offer their cafe as an event space, along with catering for up to 70 pax, max!

Address:

Jalan SS 21/1, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Operating hours: Daily 11.30am-11pm

Tel: 03-7732 3188

FB: https://www.facebook.com/lafayetteofqq