KEN HUNTS FOOD: Arabica Estate Cafe @ Automall, Karpal Singh Drive, Penang.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Arabica Estate Cafe @ Automall, Karpal Singh Drive, Penang.

Arabica Estate Cafe occupies the vacant spot right next to Milkcow at Auto Mall, Karpal Singh Drive; an established brand that has branches across the country. The decor at Auto Mall is modern with industrial vibe in shades of wooden beam; the place is airy and diners get to enjoy the natural sea breeze but it can get extremely warm in the afternoon. The menu is small... covering a few types of Pizza and Pasta. The place is new and clean... and with the soul-touching sea breeze, it can be an ideal spot for an evening meet up.

The pasta menu is indifferent as compared to other cafes; left with no other options I had to settle for Smoked Duck Spaghetti (Rm 22). The decision was a right one, the Smoked Duck Spaghetti appeared in the form of Arabiata, a spicy Tomato sauce. The Spaghetti was nicely cooked (though not as al-dente as we would have hoped) and evenly covered. There was a hint of spiciness, packed with a herbaceous punch. It was a pity that the Smoked Duck was too rough in texture though.

Waffles are a dime a dozen in Penang but Arabica Estate's Wonderberry Waffle (Rm 16) was lip-smacking. It was crispy on the outside (so crispy that biting it will generate a crackling sound) and fluffy-soft inside. The crispiness could last longer if not because of the overly-drenched Strawberry syrup. I would prefer to buy the Waffle alone, without having anything served together with it, plain Butter and Maple Syrup should do the justice. For Wonderberry Waffle, there were some fresh Strawberries and Blueberries, topped with a dollop of Nestle Vanilla Ice Cream. Forget about the ersatz Ice Cream, the Waffle itself was good enough to make another visit.