The Breakfast Rush

What: Antipodean, Bangsar, KL

When: February 2012

Food: Western

Rating: 7/10

I have had my eye on this little Australian cafe in Bangsar for months. Ever since Antipodean moved into the packed Telawi area I have been meaning to go and try the food, and I got tantalisingly close last month when my Tall Pal and I actually made it in, sat down and began eyeing up the menu before the waitress politely told us that they would be closing in 5 minutes due to air conditioning problems.

But finally, one sunny Saturday in February, I got my chance. Aussie Boy visits Antipodean every single weekend for his weekly bacon fix and can’t praise it highly enough, so I invited myself along to one of his breakfast sessions and found myself stepping into the fairly slick yet welcoming cafe that was packed – inside and out – with breakfasters.

That is what I call a breakfast menu!

It is easy to see why they come. The breakfast menu, which is only served until 11am, is a sight to behold and includes almost everything you could think of; from porridge to croissants, traditional bacon and eggs to less traditional banana bread with cream cheese. The prices are just as varying, and while some things seem reasonably-priced; RM18 for a huge breakfast platter seems acceptable, others seem rather steep; I didn’t fancy paying RM14 for two slices of French toast with berry compote.

The post-11am menu is equally tempting and packed full of healthy salads and sandwiches and ingredients such as couscous which are greatly missed down in this haven of rice and noodles, and the plates that I spied coming out of the kitchen looked to be piled high with colourful fresh food. I had already decided that Antipodean would require multiple visits – I couldn’t possibly try everything I fancied in one go!

A lovely Flat White

Aussie Boy knew exactly what he wanted but I was stuck craning my neck awkwardly up at the menu – there is only one menu on a chalkboard on the wall, which is a little impractical even if it does look cool. 

The drinks choice was extraordinary – the list of coffees alone was enough to make me dizzy – and the fresh juices had funky names while herbal teas also made an appearance. Aussie Boy ordered a Flat White (RM9) which he claims is the best coffee around, and it came after a slight delay in a neat cup and saucer with a heart patterned on the frothy milk; adorable.

Hot Honey Lemon

I opted for a Hot Honey Lemon (RM8), which seemed somewhat overpriced but did the trick, with its lovely combination of warm, sweet and sour working to soothe me while we waited for our food.

Considering that the place was jam-packed, the food came out fairly quickly, and AB’s Big Breakfast (RM18) was quite a sight to behold. He had picked pork bacon (you can opt for beef or chicken versions) and the two tiny rashers were enhanced by the huge pile of fluffy scrambled eggs, a slice of toasted, buttered wholegrain bread, a large serving of baked beans and two tomato halves. He adored it – he has it every week – and while the bacon portion seemed a bit skimpy, it was certainly a large and attractive breakfast offering.

Big Breakfast with Bacon (a prize if you can locate the bacon!)

Aussie Boy’s pal Richard joined us, and he opted for his ‘usual’ of the All-Day Breakfast (RM18), which is a similarly large plate of the eggs, the bacon and the toast, but this time with a hash brown and a generous serving of grilled mushrooms. This platterful also disappeared, and both men agree that these choices are good enough to warrant a repeat order every single time they come.

All-Day Breakfast with Bacon

I couldn’t face a huge fry up, so I was girly and ordered the Muesli (RM16), which came in a deep dish but was a rather disappointing portion for the price. The smattering of muesli was topped with a fresh fruit salad and a scoop of thick yoghurt drizzled with honey. When the mixture was combined with a dash of the milk provided, it was a light and enjoyable breakfast, but certainly something I could prepare at home in a more exciting fashion.

The Muesli was less exciting than I hoped

This was, perhaps, my mistake for ordering something rather plain. The sheer volume of people eating breakfast at the weekend shows that Antipodean have something seriously good going on, and my neighbour’s choices looked quite extraordinary. There were many orders of Banana Pancakes coming out of the kitchen, and the various croissants stuffed with eggs, salmon and greens looked quite amazing. I vowed I would be back when I was in a more adventurous mood.

Despite being so busy, the staff served us well and we were not pressured to leave even after the plates had been cleared. The restaurant is clean, neat and stylish, and even has a hidden children’s play area to keep the little ones amused while the adults indulge in fat slices of cakes and freshly brewed coffee. With a menu as intriguing and healthy as the one that adorns the wall, it is easy to see why Antipodean is a magnet for foodies seeking a change from fried rice, providing they are willing to fork out that bit more.