Greek Restaurant Kuala Lumpur – Kalamata Café Desa Sri Hartamas
Words: Monica Tindall
Photos: Peter Tan
Greek restaurants in Kuala Lumpur are few and far between, and one with a Greek chef is even harder to find. However, Kalamata Café ticks both boxes, serving Greek food made by a national.
Greek Restaurant Kuala Lumpur – Kalamata Café Desa Sri Hartamas
From the outside, you might not guess the colourful jewel tucked away in Desa Sri Hartamas’s side street. However, ascend the narrow staircase of Jalan 26a/70a to the first floor, and you’ll find Kalamata Café. Its distressed blue tables, brick-orange and teal walls, and hand-woven rugs are a vibrant contrast to the shophouses and double-parked cars below.
From both Greek and Egyptian heritage, restaurateur Mannix Amber serves dishes from his childhood. Raised in Athens, many of his recipes have been passed down through generations. That’s not to say you won’t find a few surprises on the menu. Mannix adds some Mediterranean favourites, boosting the compilation with hearty smoked meats they have perfected in-house.
Menu & Prices
Greek cuisine is known for its fresh ingredients, simply presented and seasoned, so that the natural flavours of each are enhanced and celebrated. There’s no better example of this than the classic Greek Salad (RM 25, header image). Chunks of tomatoes, sliced cucumber, red onion, green capsicum, black olives and feta cheese are tossed in a simple herb vinaigrette. It’s savoury and refreshing, an excellent beginning.
Hummus (RM 15) is the classic chickpea recipe, smooth and creamy, with homemade tahini. It’s drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with paprika and dried herbs. Soft pita bread is the perfect scoop.
Another vegetarian option is found in the Grape Leaves (RM 20). The tender greens are packed to the seams with rice, herbs and tomatoes. Homemade tzatziki adds moisture and a light tang.
The Pie Trio (RM 45) is a recent addition to the menu, allowing guests to taste Spanakopita, Cheese (mozzarella and feta), and Lamb & Beef pies on one plate. Filo pastry serves as a light, flaky case for the rich ingredients. We find merit in each style, with their warm and satisfying profile. However, when forced to pick a favourite, the spanakopita comes out top, balancing acidity and creaminess nicely.
Another menu newbie, the Greek Beef Meatballs (RM 39), comes in a homemade rich, crushed-tomato sauce. We recommend not wasting an ounce of sauce by dripping it over the mound of long-grain rice with vermicelli noodles flavoured with butter and olive oil.
The Beef Pasticcio (RM 39) is like mac ‘n’ cheese but fancy! The Greek-style pasta is full of elbow pasta tubes, bechamel sauce and marinated Australian ground beef. It’s topped with mozzarella and baked until golden. And, oh boy, is it homey and comforting.
You might be thinking we’ve had more than enough food for one meal, but with a Greek chef in the house, we’re so easily talked into (told we’re) having more. Chef Mannix is quick to say that the Smoked NZ Lamb Shoulder (RM 200, serves 3-4 people) is not Greek; it’s a special that he enjoys making. Slow-cooked for 12 hours with apple wood, it’s incredibly succulent and tender. The shoulder is served over long-grain rice mixed with grated carrots, sultanas and cashews. Tzatziki and a light chimichurri with coriander and green chilli allow us to season to taste.
We finish with a spot of sweetness with the Semolina Cake (RM 15). It’s made from coarse, light-yellow durum wheat, butter, yoghurt and grated coconut. The dense cake is drizzled with honey syrup and sprinkled with slithered almonds. Thick homemade Greek yoghurt contributes a nice tang, breaking up the sweetness. We pair it with Arabic Coffee (RM 15), cooked the traditional way over the stovetop in a metal pot, and the newly introduced Yoghurt Blend (RM 12), a healthy option combining yoghurt with frozen berries.
Kalamata Café – Greek Restaurant Kuala Lumpur Review
Homey, satisfying and authentic, this Greek restaurant in Kuala Lumpur delivers on all accounts. The food is presented with no unnecessary frills, just good-tasting, comfort cuisine. Service is genuine and personalised, and the quaint interior transports us to a picturesque fishing village in the Greek Isles.
Reasons to visit Kalamata Café: an authentic Greek restaurant in Kuala Lumpur; must-order the trio of pies (if you can only fit one, get the spanakopita), smoked lamb shoulder, and Greek salad; they also cater events, as small as a family and up to 800 pax and counting!
Kalamata Café
5-1, Jalan 26a/70a, Prima Ville, Desa Sri Hartamas
50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Link to Kalamata Café on Google Maps
+60176659102
Contact the team via WhatsApp to book a table, arrange wine, enquire about catering or order delivery.
*Undercover parking and valet next door in the Glomac Galeria building. Street parking is limited.
**Vegetarian options
***Child-friendly (there are high chairs, and the setting is casual)
****Pork-free
Kalamata Café Opening Hours
Tuesdays to Sundays: 10:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.
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