food

Get a slice of Manhattan in TTDI

BY YAP PIK KUAN
October 07, 2015

At Bowery Petit, you can eat pizza by the slices, or have your freshly baked buns and snacks on the go. – The Malaysian Insider pic, October 7, 2015.Bowery Petit, a bakery-cum-cafe and pizzeria, is the latest addition to Taman Tun Dr Ismail’s culinary map, joining German bakery Der Backmeister and fine dining establishment DC by Darren Chin in the same row.

With an express aim to recreate the food and feel of the Manhattan neighbourhood in the Taman Tun suburb, the eatery dishes up New York City specialties thin crust pies (a.k.a. pizzas), monkey bread, frozen custard, bagel balls, milkshakes, alcohol-laced pecan tarts and more.

Its interiors are chic and posh with tables and chairs to one side, facing a delectable display of baked goods and sweet treats that will leave you drooling. The New York City skyline is outlined on one wall, transporting you to the busy metropolitan city. Jazzy tunes blare out from the speakers and the space easily fills up with the sounds of overlapping conversations when crowded, making it feel like an upmarket version of a New York diner.

The cafe just opened its doors last month, and on our first visit on a weekend, we decided to try the classic four cheeses (RM12.80) and the house special, the Bowery Torch (RM15.80) pizzas.

With blue cheese, mozzarella, grana padano and mature cheddar, the four cheeses was a classic option with the blue cheese lending a salty taste to each bite. However, my dining partner and I are not fans of the blue cheese’s pungent smell and flavour.

We enjoyed the Bowery Torch much more with tender cubes of slow-roasted beef ribs with a smoky house BBQ sauce. With crunchy onions and olives for texture, the slice was a burst of savoury, meaty flavours with a hint of sweetness.The New York City skyline on the wall is a nice touch, adding to its Manhattan theme. – The Malaysian Insider pic, October 7, 2015.

While the pizza slices were not quite as large as another popular New York pie place, we agreed that they were made with quality ingredients.

Drawn to its name, I picked out the herb and cheese-flavoured monkey bread (RM5.80). Essentially a pull-apart bread, it was soft and fluffy. With a delicate herbal fragrance (I detected rosemary) and a cheesy crust, it was a delicious and addictive snack. It’s also easy to pack and eat on the go.

The fluffy monkey bread comes in several flavours. – The Malaysian Insider pic, October 7, 2015.In the drinks department, I appreciated that Bowery Petit kept it simple and used the classic A&W root beer (RM11.80) for its float as it was a nostalgic taste of my childhood. I let the ice cream melt into the root beer for a creamier and richer drink. Beer and stout floats are available, too, for those who want to spruce up a pint.

We were recommended their milkshake flavour of the month, cookies and cream milkshake with coconut (RM15.80), and it was a good call! The coconut added a sweet and fragrant edge to the milkshake.We highly recommend the cookies and cream milkshake with coconut for those with a sweet tooth and coconut lovers. – The Malaysian Insider pic, October 7, 2015.

With things like key lime pie, dulce de leche sundaes, choux a la cremes, Boston cream pies and beignets (coming soon), Bowery Petit definitely demands a revisit. The plus point is they don’t shy away from using alcohol in their desserts.

Bowery Petit grab-and-go concept of small bites and snacks seemed to emulate the neighbourhood hangouts in New York City where people can stop by to grab a snack while also allowing for quick, casual meet-ups.
If you’re looking for substantial mains or brunch fare, Bowery Petit is not the place but we hear that a Bowery restaurant is in the works.

While it’s not as hipster as fellow TTDI cafes Thursdvys and Artisan Roast, nor does it position itself as much of a bakery as Der Backmeister and Frisky Goat, Bowery Petit is the only place in TTDI that is simultaneously a cafe, bakery, dessert bar and pizzeria. 

How well this all-in-one place stands up to the seasoned eateries, only time will well but if the crowds coming and going on our visit there are anything to go by, they may have just found their niche. – October 7, 2015.

Bowery Petit | Address: 48 Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur. | Tel: 03-77100295 | Opening hours: 11am-11pm daily | GPS coordinates: 3.141659, 101.627033 | Pork-free

* All of The Malaysian Insider food reviews are incognito and reflect the personal opinions of our merry band of foodies. If you know of any restaurant serving awesome grub, share it with the rest of the world and drop us a line with details at [email protected].