Taurean Cafe: An iconic place to dine and chill out

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EVER since Taurean Café at The Arch opened last year, I have frequented the place very regularly, almost daily sometimes, and once, I hit a record of three visits in a day. It is not difficult to understand why.

Taurean Café is beautifully spacious with ample privacy with a signature ambience of simplicity in harmony with warm décor. Thoughtful design elements are embedded into their furniture (for example, extended panel rests on their sofa seats for handbags!). The overall effect is cosy and relaxed.

This is a restaurant that is designed from scratch. The owners did not make do with a ready shoplot and thus were able to exercise creativity in design and décor. You can take your pick at several seating zones; the "Aquarium" which is like a room enclosed by a fish-less aquarium on one side and glass panels all over except for the doorway (this is my usual spot), the cosy corner filled with plush sofas in inspiring hues, main area for tables separated by wood and brass panels; and of course, the two alfresco zones outside.

Food selection is extensive. We counted about 140 dishes and desserts, plus another whopping 159 drink choices! (I will tell you more about the refreshing mocktails in another review!) The staff are always friendly and offer swift service. And of course, before I forget, you MUST try their blueberry cheesecake!

Parking is relatively easy all around the building. If you are chilling out at night, the alfresco area has a huge television screen or if you prefer to gaze at the stars, you can also feast your eyes at the spectacular golden landmark of Jame' 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque glittering over the moonlight horizon.

And now, the food. Five lasses converged in Taurean Café recently and you can be sure that this was a gathering of gluttons! Since we had a sizeable number of mouths to pamper, I gleefully ordered various items for sharing. What is unique about Taurean Café is that their portions are "just right" and priced slightly lower than other restaurants so that ladies do not overeat and men can always order extra helpings.

My first recommendation is always the Buttermilk Toast. I noticed that the first time I ordered this specialty, the fragrant milky goodness permeated the air and soon other tables ordered the same toast! Bite into it and you are transformed to a feel-good world. Everyone I know who tasted it attested that this is one of the best toasts ever!

I am a carbo-lover, and I love my grains! Hence, let me recite to you my all-time favourites at Taurean Café. I adore the Kampung Fragrant Fried Rice, Kampung Ayer Fried Meehoon (said to be the family recipe handed down from the owner's grandmother, the dish looks simple but it is rich in flavour and not too oily), Chicken Kolo Mee, Taurean Chicken Rice, Crispy Chicken with Rice (Once, I saw eight plates of this being served over an one hour time slot, and there are so many things to try here!), Lamb Chop with Fries (at just $6.50, can you imagine?), Asam Fish with Rice, Chicken Wings with Fries and my new discovery, the Chicken Stone Rice.

This seems like a lot of food, but there is nothing that food aficionados cannot muster when it comes to something pleasing to the palate. The Crispy Chicken with Rice was drenched with a herbal sauce with a musky flavour and it tasted so good that we were wondering whether we should have seconds.

Asam Fish with Rice (my husband usually has it with prawns) was another popular choice and everyone relished the generous serving of the asam gravy, finishing all the rice that came with the dish. The Lamb Chop with Fries (I adore the fries here, the imported potatoes are daily peeled by the kitchen staff and not direct from the pack, hence the taste and freshness) went well with everyone as the lamb cutlets were tender and rich in flavour. Dipped in the mint sauce, the juicy meat was enhanced to everyone's satisfaction.

Of course I must also mention the yummy Chicken Wings which comes in a rattan basket with French Fries as a side dish. These juicy wings are marinated overnight and come in a nice size so that you get to relish the meat. In fact, this dish is a perfect accompaniment with any main dish as it is a fun snack yet delicious in every way.

I had not tried the Chicken Stone Rice before, and I must say that I am very impressed. The method of cooking in a hot stone bowl effectively sealed in the flavour and the special blend of sauces, and the rice was still warm even though I had spent some time taking photos. You can smell its aroma before even eating. It was indeed love at first bite — the taste was absolutely delicious as the gravy and the delicate juices of the chicken meat had been absorbed into the rice during the cooking process.

After an utterly satisfying meal, what next? We do what women are good at — it's dessert time! Not to be missed are the Banana Fritters with Ice Cream as well as the Waffles with Ice Cream. The deep fried bananas are sweet and just ripe inside. A slice of that topped with Vanilla ice cream will simply make your day. This is also the best waffle that I have enjoyed for years. I was told that the owners and chefs had taken about a month just to perfect this recipe but they have achieved sheer perfection.

The waffles were golden crispy brown, served with a generous dash of delicious butter scotch sauce and were good even when eaten on its own but add the ice cream, and you will just realise how much you have missed in dessert haven.

The verdict? Go to Taurean Café if you want a great café to enjoy a good meal with your friends, or even if you want personal time by yourself to relax or surf the net (free Wifi) or to chill out with your buddies. It's a great place to be! The Brunei Times