Forbidden Kitchen

A fresh hideout in Ampang for customers who want to flee to a space that feels like it's a hundred miles away from the city.

Forbidden Kitchen is housed in a two-story bungalow in a residential enclave, complete with leafy gardens, a swimming pool and lots of alfresco seating.

The food is a mixed bag of recipes from around the world. The Asian component of our supper snack: green papaya salad with squid, mint & spring onions. Refreshingly sweet and tangy.

For the European experience: Italian bruschetta topped with chopped Cameron Highlands tomatoes, basil & garlic. Everything we tried was well-prepared, with prices that won't hurt the wallet (expect to pay below RM50 per person for a full meal).

From the Middle East: Persian kashk-e-bademjan _ pureed eggplant with onions & curd, served with pita bread. Tasted like olive tapenade, with savory overtones.

Bad news: no booze is served. Good news: last orders are only at 11pm daily.

We usually pay minimal attention to the music at restaurants, but this one had fascinating chill-out tunes ranging from Stravinsky to Enigma. Surreal, with this backdrop.

Forbidden Kitchen,

498, Jalan Lima, Taman Ampang Utama, Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-4266-3195