Botanica + Co @ Bangsar South
If dining among plants and trees is your thing, Botanica + Co is where you should head to. With natural sunlight shining through and lush greenery surrounding this greenhouse cafe, patrons of Botanica + Co will hardly feel like they’re surrounded by four walls – the effect of floor to ceiling to rooftop windows, no doubt!
The rather spacious dining area was adorned with plenty of potted plants as well as beautiful drapery greens, the liveliness is what makes the restaurant so captivating.
The outdoor seating was equally comfortable and inviting.
Their extensive menu featured a good mix of local and western cuisines such as Botanica Spicy Shashuka, Smoked Salmon Egg Benedict, This Season’s Roasted Chicken, Crispy Big Chicken Nasi Lemak, Korean Bowl and Hainanese Chicken Rice, just to name a few. There’s also a long list of pizzas as well.
Sam’s Signature Laksa (RM41.00)
I’ve heard good thing about their laksa (previously was Sam’s Crab & Crayfish Laksa), the broth was cooked with flower crabs, seafood, laksa pesto and special chili paste. Served in a claypot, the broth was indeed thick, creamy and fragrant from the variety of spices and heart ingredients. The broth with just the right level of spiciness and not too heavy to the palate was addictive and we almost polished off the Laksa broth 😛
The Laksa also came with generous ingredients included two sizable Tiger Prawns, poached chicken, crispy bean curd sheet, julienned fish cake, silver sprout and quail egg.
Remarkable broth and generous ingredients, everything seem perfect until……..I bit into the one of the Tiger Prawns. The flesh was mushy with an unpleasant taste which I should have known from its blacken prawn head. My earlier good impression of this bowl of Laksa was marred by the bad tasting prawn. For that steep price charged, I really hope for a better quality control of the food.
Americano (RM12.00) & The Bo+Co Big Breakfast (RM35.00)
The breakfast platter consisted of two organic eggs (poached, scrambled or, sunny side up), roasted tomato, turkey ham, buttered toast, mushroom and chicken sausage. Pretty standard condiments for big breakfast, but the portion certainly a bit underwhelming.
Four Cheese Pizza (RM37.00)
Cheese lovers like us were greatly delighted by this pizza topped with Brie, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Ricotta, Porcini Puree, rosemary and muscatels. Simply cheesilicious!
Verdict: Overall, my dining experience at this much loved garden-inspired restaurant was not impressive. The Instragram-worthy interior was unquestionably scored high marks, service was okay despite the large crowd but the food did not meet my expectation (in terms of taste, portion and price).
Botanica + Co
G5 Podium, The Verticals, Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar South City
59200 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +6016-965 6422
Operating hours: Mon – Thur: 11.30am to 10.00pm
Friday & Eve of Public Holiday: 11.30am to 12.00am
Sat: 9.30am to 12.00am
Sun & Public Holidays: 9.30am to 10.00pm
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Ground Floor, Alila Bangsar, No. 58 Jalan Ang Seng, 50470 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: +603-2268 3818
Operating hours: Mon to Friday: 8.00am to 10.00pm
Sat & Sun: 9.30am to 10.00pm
Website: https://www.botanica.com.my/restaurant/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BotanicaCo.my/
Ah, I see their signature laksa is still around (albeit at a higher price and less quality ingredients) though your broth looks more like a laksa now compared to the one I had. Yeah, at RM41, you’re entitled to fresher ingredients than what they gave you. And I agree with you, the look of your Big Breakfast isn’t very big! >_< Looks like the portions and quality have gone down since I was last here. At prices like these, the ambience certainly trumps the food.
Kris, but the ambiance alone doesn’t enough to lure me for a revisit 🙁
Yes, dining among plants and trees with natural sunlight shining through and lush greenery surrounding is definitely my thing. I want to eat that Sam’s Signature laksa with huge shrimp. Looks so yummy.
TM, hope you can get better quality food during your visit 🙂
Oh dear. Another place where decor scores top marks but food is so so. I bookmarked this place to visit but based on your experience, I won’t be rushing over so soon.
PH, maybe I’m the unlucky one, you still can make a visit as majority ratings of this place are quite good.
That’s one sumptuous laksa, I’m more interested with their plants! Looks so lovely.
KY, it was but marred by the bad quality prawns >_<