It's really funny how I have never noticed this little bakery/ cafe before, even though it's been open in the main Hartamas area for years*:
(* Located just a few doors down from Spicy Kitchen)
Oh, and just in case you were curious:
Mini language lesson (German):
BACKOFEN
Oven.
(Source: www.dict.cc)
Anyway, Backofen in Hartamas is a simple place - basic but comfortable. I liked how the inside of the cafe area had a slight fragrance of baked bread as it's "perfume" though:
That night, I shared the Cheese & Mushroom Broil (RM 7.50) with SooJ:
It turned out to be simple but tasty - fluffy bun, hollowed out and filled with sliced mushrooms in a cream sauce, and topped with a thick square of melted cheese.
(Has to be eaten when it's still hot/ warm though or it gets a bit "gloopy")
I also tried the Soup of The Day - Tomato (RM 4):
Not much to comment about this - the taste wasn't that great and the texture was a bit too thick but it was priced at RM 4.... so can't expect too much, right?
The menu is a bit of a mish-mash between classic Austrian (no pork though) and some clearly Asian influenced dishes. Sooj ordered one of the popular "fusion" specialties, the Spicy Fried Spaghetti (RM 11):
Overall, the slightly spicy/ sweet/ savoury fried spaghetti was fragrant and appetising. Wouldn't mind ordering it if I feel like a heavy, carby meal.
(Actually, I think it was big enough to share between 2 people)
I tried Beef Goulash with Rice (RM 11):
(Can also be ordered with bread/ bun at the side, instead of rice)
Haha... Sorry that the photo doesn't look very appetising...
(I couldn't figure out how to make it look nice)
:)
Overall, the taste was ok...
The savoury tomato based sauce went well with the rice, but while the generous amount of beef was fairly tender, it wasn't quite as tender as I would have liked...
(Again, the serving size is really big for the price... I couldn't finish this)
Lastly, I tried the Chocolate Cake (RM 4.50):
Not that it was bad, but when you've been spoiled with cakes from (places like) Just Heavenly and Fat Boy Bakes,... well, maybe it's not fair to compare?
(Don't get me wrong: The chocolate cake at Backofen tasted fine actually - Quite moist, quite chocolatey....)
Here's the thing...
While none of the food completely blew my mind, I think it tasted good considering the decent pricing - I'll definitely be heading back some time.
(Also, SooJ mentioned that the fried rice there is pretty tasty and I can't resist a good fried rice....)
:)
So, it's: Decent selection of Austrian and fusion/ Asian food at reasonable prices (for the Hartamas area) and friendly service BUT nothing bad to say except that there were some hits and misses on the menu and parking in the area can be a pain.....
Summary Sheet:
Backofen @ Sri Hartamas, KL
No. 34, Jalan 25/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 KL.
Taste: 5
Ambience : 5
Service : 7
Price** : RM 25 per person
Parking: OK
** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-2300 6676
Opening Hours: Mon to Sat 10am – 10pm, Sun & Public holidays 8am – 8pm
NO PORK SERVED
OTHER REVIEWS:
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- YongKaiLoon.com
- Becklee's Blog
- The Lust For Life
- Silent
TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Backofen, Bakery, Austrian, Desa Sri Hartamas
Posts
Oooh! I thought you were going to learn Thai before German? LOL. I can't believe that I have yet to patronize any outlets in Hartamas besides Souled Out. I guess it is time to head there soon.
ReplyDeletenoted, will wanna drop by here :P
ReplyDeleteeven those of us who have been to hartamas would miss it
ReplyDeleteit's just so understated.
Thanks to a good friend who brought me there. =)
The lamb chop is good too
well worth the money
I brought another 2 friends there some time last week and I believe one of them went back like twice since that time.. lol
gosh, it's impressive how this place has managed to survive. i've only eaten here once, in 2004/5 ... but it looks like prices have stayed virtually the same since then! :D
ReplyDeleteand the beef goulash does look yummy actually ... though i would have guessed it was chicken rendanag, heheh...
reasonable price too :) but like PA, I hardly venture here nowadays!!
ReplyDeleteto Paranoid Android:
ReplyDeleteThai seems so difficult though...
(Not that German seems very much easier!)
to ai wei:
Hope you will enjoy it. Just don't expect it to be too delicious...
(... but the prices are definitely very good for that area!)
to sooj:
Pat LIVES there (well, very near there anyway) and even he didn't know about it, right?
to Sean:
LOL.
Well, the rendang looking goulash was a decent meal - got a bit "jelak" half way through though... but only because there really was too too much of it.
(Such a generous serving!)
to thule aka leo:
Well, why not? So much to eat there and it's not super far from your house wat. :P
aiiyah.. was just there that day and thot of u laaaa :P
ReplyDeleteaiiyah.. was just there that day and thot of u laaaa :P
ReplyDeleteErmm.. I think there are better selections of eateries ard tht area.
ReplyDeleteBut the bread aint bad ;p
Cheap! I wont mind going!
ReplyDeletethats alot of carbs from your goulash!
ReplyDeletenvr noticed this place either, just opened?
to Ciki:
ReplyDelete..... then why never call me lah? :P
(Long time no lunch/ makan. When r u free?)
to thenomadGourmand:
Haha. Yeah, sure the food isn't fantastic... but it's a good value for money place in Hartamas, if you want Austrian food. :)
to Jason:
Darn worth it loh! If I knew the serving is so big I would have shared with my friend.
(Was sooooo full after that)
to "Joe" who is constantly craving:
Haha.
Well, I didn't finish all the rice, just most of it. :P
(Apparently this place has been open for YEARS. Sean and Boo_licious have eaten there in 2004/5!)
I remember eating at a Backofen in Bangsar about 20 years ago. Wonder if it was the same management then? I used to love going there.
ReplyDeleteto Lyrical Lemongrass:
ReplyDeleteWah. I'm not sure if it's the same mgmt but if it is then that's pretty impressive....
(Nowadays, restaurants can disappear a year or 2 - if can last >15 years, it's EPIC!)
I love the smell of baking bread!
ReplyDeletewah...nice nice....like the restaurant name too
ReplyDeleteto PureGlutton:
ReplyDeleteMe too! It's such a lovely and appetising smell, right? :) :)
(I bet it smells awesome there in the morning when everything's fresh)
to vialentino:
Hope you enjoy it if you go there. It's not the best Austrian food in KL but for that price, it's good. :)
Hi
ReplyDeleteGreat information about some dishes and there are mostly people like these dishes.
to Food Pakistan:
ReplyDeleteHello...
... and thanks. :)