RECOMMENDED: BLACK MARKET (NON-HALAL) / CAFFEINEES (HALAL), Kampung Pandan, KL

We heard from someone that Black Market serves pretty good food at reasonable prices in Kampung Pandan, KL (near to Jalan Tun Razak) so we decided that's where we were going to check out one evening. Since it was a weekend, we called ahead to make a reservation and we were thankful that we did so as the place was more or less fully booked. You do need to look out for its neighbour, a Chinese banquet restaurant and its sister establishment, Caffeinees instead, as Black Market shares the same entrance but is situated behind Caffeinees. A free-standing colonial bungalow is transformed into Caffeinees and Black Market is the bungalow/building behind this.

Upon entering Black Market, you don't really see the restaurant as much as you do the wine cellar with a circular stairways... until a few steps later when the automatic sliding door opens up and brings you into the "lion's lair". True to its name, the restaurant is in an all-black theme and water is served in stainless steel goblets. We were seated at an inside table that faces the Royal Selangor Golf Club, pretty tranquil. Wanting a sample, we placed our orders for: 1) Sausage platter @RM28 - SG foodie recommends this especially to gourmet sausage lovers, 2) Black scallop pasta @RM36 - small portion with nicely done scallop and squid ink pasta which was not really black though, 3) Wild ginger fried pork Ribs @RM42 - this was a recommended dish and while it was flavourful, SG foodie found the fried ribs to be on the tough side so personally won't recommend this, 4) Incredible hog pizza @RM28 - thin-crust sausage pizza with mozzarella cheese that appealed to K2. Pricing is not overly expensive but the portions were not very big either. SG foodie wouldn't mind returning to this place for a second try.

Decided to walk over to Caffeinees for dessert. Caffeinees also serves food which is Halal. We ordered a Dark Chocolate Chocolate (a must-try for chocoholics!), Earl Grey and Lemongrass Tea with a Tiramisu and a Strawberry Waffle. After our drinks were served, we experienced a blackout so we only got to try the Tiramisu (average) that came from the chiller. This place reminds SG foodie of Levain - this popular Euro-Jap cafe at Jalan Delima (opposite Prince Court Medical Centre) that serves food and yummy pastries.