I haven’t been to Bangsar Shopping Complex much since they renovated the new wing and still is renovating the old wing even though it used to be a favorite hang out especially the old Austin Chase Cafe . So when I had to arrange a lunch appointment in that vicinity, my mind immediately search for  a familiar name, BSC (my fond abbreviation) but of course for a quaint lunch will be at House +Co. I live in a time warp, I know there has been a face lift to the whole complex but I  am totally unaware of the  any renovations done to the shops, so imagine my utter surprise when I finally found my way up to the third floor, where the “new” House + Co is, well housed.

The third floor (the new wing) has been totally renovated, it now boasts of  a Japanese Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant called Imperial Palace and a very much vamped up and amped up House +Co.  House +Co,  is now no longer your quaint hide in the corner cafe playing stepsister to their extensive and expensive homewares. The homewares has a taken a back seat in the new storyline, and behold Cinderella, ella , ella eh eh…transformed into a princess!  It has its own little “moat’ (a small neverending pool, which is cause of great aggravation to some customers as the flowing water is very subtle almost still and in the dim lightin, it looks just like very shiny reflective tiles right  next to the “al fresco-ed” tables. It seems that on average 5 customers would step into the “moat”  everyday. Actually one even threatened to sue the restaurant whilst I was there, but I suspect that was a save face remark, after he could not clear the jump across.

Decor at House + Co, homey. The main room-big marble bar and quaint white tables with chairs and comfy long couch sets the tone immediately. Like a house , there are many rooms, on the left of the main and only entrance , one can see tables with divan chairs , tucked in a corner, it was full of people who seem to be in some business discussion or other; further in- separated from the main room would be the kitchen and display of homewares. Next to it, a big and long table that acts like  a  dining table and some customers were seen sitting there with their laptops having some sort of discussion.

Food, they still have their famed nasi lemak and Nyonya Curry Laksa (RM21). But I must say the Nyonya  Curry Laksa was a bit of a let down. The pear avocado salad (RM23), absolutely delicious and garner them some brownie points. But the real clincher was the kendondong fruit juice(RM14). Kendondong by the way is a real sour hard local fruit, which tastes not unlike an apple. But crushed and blended with ice into a juice, it is near divine. There are not many places that one can get this.The last Nyonya restaurant that had this drink in Damansara Jaya gave up after a while because their blender caved in , at least that was what they told me. After  numerous disappointed trips I was left wanting. Now I have  found it at House + Co, and they do it so well too! Two thumbs up for not sending out diluted juice.

Next the pineapple and banana sandwich on toasted ciabata (RM19) is also a winner for me, but the plum layer cake (RM3.50) although delicious was not outstanding as it tastes not unlike  the Indonesian layer cake .

Okay, I confess I had to make two trips to chow down so much food, one at lunch hour and another at tea time.The second meeting was deliberately arranged there so that I could get more photos.

What is the damage to the pocket at House + Co? This is not your daily lunch place unless you don’t mind spending at least RM35 on a  meal daily. But it is certainly a great place to hang out with your girlfriends and have tea or luncheon dates whenever. It is also very conducive for business meetings as they have amenities like free WIFI ( this should be no brainer actually), and it quiet and elegant for  a good discussion. There is an element of coziness with the decor, something about  throw cushions  and pots and pans I guess, but there is still a certain formality to it , probably because there is no clutter and it is rather clean lines and no frills.

The only setback, service still needs to be worked on. The staff seems eithe ro overzealous in clearing of glasses or seems confused about bringing the number of plates when two people are sharing, but otherwise , I see into my crystalball, many more visits there.

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