Barat Vegetarian Restaurant, Bangsar

I chance upon this restaurant, and was completely taken aback to find a fine dining Mediterranean-styled vegetarian restaurant in Malaysia! Most of their dishes do not contain egg, and some contain garlic or onion but customisable and alternative vegan options are available. Not only did it satisfy my desire to empty my wallet once in a while, it definitely left my tummy full and pampered.  I went on both occasions, once during its opening (RM30 per person) and during the Chinese New Year week (RM88 per person). They have decided to continue to serve tasting menu, and also ala carte for the less adventurous. Generally, their dishes taste either salty or sweet and very flavourful, which is well-suited for its small portions. I requested from them to send me their Valentine's menu but they forgot to do so! Maybe I should have been more loving to them <3! Take note that calling them for reservation or enquiry purposes will cause immense frustration as most of their workers do not speak proper English. Please learn Hindi before you choose to call them.

Barat vegetarian has now officially launched and their tasting menu is at a stark price of RM125! The dishes are similar to the opening tasting menu below, except for some minor differences. The new dishes are Cauliflower and blue cheese soup, and Oreo cheesecake. Please avoid tasting menu if you're not a fan of cheese! 

Caution: Please do not continue reading below if you are not adventurous! 

Opening tasting menu 

1) Pumpkin soup with bread (top - tinged with heat of ginger and flying spoon) and Cauliflower soup with blue cheese (bottom)

Both of the soups are thick, creamy, sweet and salty! Perfect for sensitive and non-sensitive taste buds! The gradient of the blue cheese is just enough for the cheese lover but makes you full already with just the soup - prepare an empty stomach! 

Rating: 7/10

2) Grilled peppers stuffed with cheese, roasted plum tomatoes stuffed with prunes and herb oil

Every bite of the bell pepper gives you a strong cheesy texture but light cheesy taste, and every bite of the tomatoes give you an oozing sweetness from the prunes.  On my second visit, the tomatoes were over-cooked, had a soury taste and ladened with oil. 

Rating: 8/10

3) Patatas bravas (fried potato cubes) and homemade spicy tomato sauce with herbs

The patatas bravas tasted normal to me, but the sauce was infused with different kinds of herbs and flavour which makes it interesting with every bite. The sauce complimented the patatas bravas well! 

Rating: 7/10

4) Aglio Olio
with mushrooms, zucchini and grilled lemons

Just like any other aglio olio.
Rating: 4/10

5) Fried Cheese with spiced jam 

The sweet but lightly peach jam complimented the cheese balls which were generously ladened with cheese (cheesy texture but light cheesy taste). Interesting combo! Suitable for cheese lover like myself!

Rating: 8/10

6) Pistachio carbonara with sun-dried tomatoes 

My favourite dish of the day! Not like any ordinary carbonara. The cheese is infused with pistachio flavour, leaving only a subtle savor of cheese behind. The tomatoes were chewy, sweet and grilled to perfection! Perfect blend to prevent you feeling "jelak"/glutted. The second time I tried this the tomatoes were sour. I guess it's based on your luck, or charm?

Rating: 10/10

7) Couscous laced with curry, coupled with glazed baby carrots, grilled asparagus & pomegranate dressing

The carrots were too small, thin and not juicy enough. Couscous tasted rather dull to me, however I appreciate the quality and the well-thought preparation in making this dish. 

Rating: 6/10

8) Cucumbers bite with hole 

with pesto, tomato and cheese, and spicy tomato sauce with herbs 

I like the combination of different flavours with every mouthful of the cucumber bite. 

Rating: 7/10

9) Fried mandarin oranges 

with currants, rocket leaves and sesame dressing

The fried mandarin oranges were served warm and juicy with every bite. The sweet sesame dressing complimented the citrus flavour of the oranges, working together with the fresh rocket leaves and currants leaving your taste buds confused, yet captivated. 

Rating: 8/10

10) Watermelon Gespacho

It does not taste like any ordinary watermelon. Infused with other natural ingredients, resulting in a non-alcoholic proper cocktail with a tinge of bitterness. A healthy way to down your sorrowness away!

Rating: 8/10

11) Red velvet with vanilla ice-cream, chocolate sauce and a tinge of peach (top) and Oreo cheesecake, mango ice cream and a tinge of peach (bottom) 

The red velvet and oreo cheesecake are amazingly fresh, lightly sweetened yet aromatic, and melts in the mouth. This is really well prepared considering that it is eggless!

Rating: 10/10

Chinese New Year tasting menu

Generally, I did not think their chinese dishes were great,  it's a mediterranean restaurant after all? Ratings are relative to the price, quality and taste. 

1) Chinese Yee Sang 

The ingredients were thoughtfully prepared, however there were too much wakame seaweed making the yee sang taste too briny, and overwhelm the taste of all other ingredients. 

Rating: 4/10

2) Golden bag infused with vegetables

A good attempt to making a golden bag! Too much sauce and tasted conventional.
Rating: 4/10 

3) Cucumber and crackers bite

Similar to the cucumber bite above, but replaced with crackers. Good if you love snacks. I prefer the cucumber bite as it was juicy and refreshing!

Rating: 5/10

4) Nian gao (Chinese New Year's cake) 

The nian gao was well made with layers of yam and sweet potato.  I find the pesto-like sauce together with nian gao abit odd but interesting for the adventurous and multi-cultural persona! 

Rating: 7/10

5) Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream, jellies and tinge of peach

The chocolate flavour in the brownie was too subdued and and too light, making it taste bland - akin to a sponge cake. Perhaps a bigger portion would suffice?

Rating: 4/10

For the non-adventurous, please read here!

Ala carte

I decided to order similar dishes to the above as I truly miss them! They serve other dishes in addition to the dishes shown above. Further, they informed that they will continue to add more choices to their ala carte menu, and change their tasting menu after their launching on early April. 

1) Pistachio carbonara with sun-dried tomatoes 

Similar to the description in the tasting menu section above, but the ala carte version makes you feel "jelak"/glutted halfway into this meal! It is less salty, but the cheesy texture and the sour sundried tomatoes make you feel you had enough of it. Suitable for sharing with another dish, else, prepare a jug of water next to you!

Rating: 9/10

2) Pumpkin soup with bread

The pumpkin soup is less salty than the one served during tasting menu, and a very hearty, lightly pumpkin-flavoured and creamy soup! Goes well with the free wholemeal and white bread that is served with vinegar and olive oil. Any additional bread will costs about RM2.90, which was disappointing as I thought it should come free considering the price of their food. However, the good-natured worker that day gave me additional bread for free, perhaps due to my friendly personality! Don't forget to smile :D!

Rating: 10/10

Address: No. 17, Taman Weng Lock, Lorong Kurau, 59100 Bangsar, KL
Contact: 03-2284 2119
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barat/1552264595086787