Japanese-inspired Nippon comes with its own sauce.
Good to know that some things don’t change. Although the former cafe Les Deux Garcon had recently been renamed Sixteen to cater to a new generation of customers, we were happy to find that the quality of food at this cozy culinary outpost had been maintained.
When we popped in for brunch recently, we noticed some minor changes to the interior. There was now a little green nook next to the entrance where assorted potted plants were clustered together, and some were hung overhead beside the glass picture window. Together with the many oversized pots of verdant green just outside the walkway, the greenery evoked a feeling of soothing tranquility at the cafe.
The entrance of Sixteen.
While perusing the menu, we munched on flaky Almond Croissant (RM12) and Raisin Roll (RM10). Known for their pastries before this, Sixteen doesn’t have a large table display of baked stuff but the few choices that we had were on-point and went well with our freshly brewed coffee.
Our first brunch choice of Golden Harvest (RM23) was a heartwarming option: two slabs of delicious sweetcorn fritters adorned with a rosette of smoked salmon and a wobbly poached egg. Served with pineapple salsa and chilli oil, it made a nice change from the usual Big Breakfast fare of sausages, eggs and beans.
Mindful of its main clientele in the location which comprises office workers and residents from the surrounding suburb, Sixteen proffers various poke bowl-style rice bowl creations for lunch. To dial up the healthy, wholesomeness factor, red rice and basmathi rice are used instead of white rice as the base.
Ayam Kesum Chilli. — Photos: ALICE YONG
Out of the four variations we tried, our dining party voted Taste of Delhi (RM35) the pick of the crop.
Top marks for the appetising and aromatic lamb curry served with fluffy, pea-studded pilau basmathi. Cucumber mint raita, boiled egg, diced fried tofu and crunchy papadum added to its taste appeal.
Coming in at a close second was the robustly flavoured Ayam Kesum Chilli (RM25). This scrumptious rice bowl featured Sixteen’s special house recipe of chicken cooked with daun kesum (polygonum minus) on a mound of Spanish rice. Lending varied textural interest to it were tempeh (fermented soybeans), hardboiled egg, pineapple salsa, fried tofu and ulam (blanched long beans and raw local herbs).
The Japanese-slanted Nippon (RM36) bowled us over with its ensemble of red rice with diced seared tuna, avocado, edamame and cucumber. Wakame, pickled ginger, spicy mayo and furikake, along with mildly sweetish gyoza sauce (concocted using soya sauce, lemon juice, honey and chopped spring onion) helped to amp up the flavour quotient.
Golden Harvest – sweetcorn fritters with salmon and egg.
Thanks to the sprinkling of fruity-sweet pomegranate seeds and judicious use of honey soya sesame dressing, the Buddha Bowl (RM23) – a simple combo of red rice, fried tofu, tempeh, wakame, edamame, black beans, lettuce and mushroom – scored as a winsome vegetarian-friendly meal.
We will also vouch for the splendid Scone, served with house-made strawberry jam and cream (RM7) and Marble or Orange Cake (RM6 per slice). Baked fresh on the premises, the delightful treats are ideal as dessert or for afternoon tea.
If you want to have your daily dose of carbs, we firmly recommend this place for healthier and more fun options.
Buddha Bowl is a vegetarian option.
SIXTEEN
No.16, Jalan 2/109E
Desa Business Park
Taman Desa
Kuala Lumpur.
03-7980 0200
Business hours
Daily: 8am to 930pm
