The Morning After, Pavilion

The deal: RM30 for RM60 cash voucher for food and drinks at The Morning After

What we got:

In contrast with TMA's other outlets in Jaya One and Ativo Plaza, the one in Pavilion, KL wasn't a proper restaurant per se, but rather a counter-cum-kitchen with tables surrounding it. Perhaps it was because of there was no proper cooking area, that the food did not turn out as good as expected.

Wild mushroom soup (RM9.90)

TMA's wild mushroom soup supposedly came with 'hints of truffle oil', but we didn't taste any, not in the slightest. In fact, the soup came really bland, lacking even the basic taste of regular mushrooms. 

Pumpkin soup (RM9.90)

Although the taste of pumpkin in the pumpkin soup was more discernible than mushroom in the mushroom soup, it still wasn't one of the better ones we've tried (my favourite is still the one from Opika).

The American Dream (RM19.90)

The American Dream a.k.a. the big breakfast, with your typical egg, beef bacon, lamb sausage, roasted cubed potatoes, cherry tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms and buttered sammie, i.e. TMA's version of a bagel. The lamb sausage, potatoes, cherry tomatoes and mushroom were good, but the bacon was rather dry. The egg, too, was overly cooked, and so came out dry and, for lack of a better word, flaky.

Mexican Baked Eggs (RM17.90)

The Mexican baked eggs came topped with baked beans, with a filling of cherry tomatoes, peppers and chicken chunks. These eggs also lacked flavour and seasoning, and the one-dimensional taste of overly-done eggs and cheese resulted in us not finishing this dish. As with every dish so far (yes, including the soups), this came with buttered sammie. We found the texture rather tough, and while it tasted all right, our mouth got tired after a while.

All in all, we were not impressed by the food at TMA's Pavilion outlet. It could be that food at its other outlets (with a proper kitchen?) may fare better, but based on this experience, we are not likely to revisit.

Tax: Service charge of 10%

How much we paid: RM32.25

Amethyst Restaurant, Publika

The deal: Western breakfast set for 2 at Amethyst Restaurant

What we got:

All-day breakfast platter for two (RM32)

For this deal, we got to choose between one all-day breakfast set (portion for two) or two brunch omelette casseroles. Wanting variety for our brunch, we opted for the breakfast platter, which featured a garden salad, glazed sausages, cocktail sausages, two sunny side-ups, toast, ham, a slice of bacon, hash brown, more sausages, mushroom and baked beans. 

I'd have to say we were a little bit disappointed that the portion above was for two. The group-buying site which featured this deal wasn't very specific about the portion, and perhaps it was partially our fault for not writing in to clarify, but the deal page (in its vagueness) somehow led us to believe that the portion shown above is for one.

Size aside, the breakfast items turned out to be fairly good--save for the beans and the hash brown. They were served in a small cup of very watery, what I presume to be sauce/gravy, which was pretty bland. The hash brown, on the other hand, were fried so much that they became hard and rather hard to eat. 

My favourite item on the platter would have to be the glazed sausages. The sauce tasted like sweet, thick barbecue sauce--which we loved. 

Our drinks were a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice (which tasted diluted) and a cup of cappuccino.

Tax: Service charge of 10% (included in the deal)

How much we paid: RM25

Kaffe Cafe, TTDI

The deal: All-day big breakfast set at Kaffe Cafe 

What we got:

All day breakfast (RM20)

When I chanced upon the Kaffe Cafe deal, I thought it was a pretty good one--two all-day big breakfast sets at Kaffe Cafe, TTDI for just RM25. After all, some of the cafes in Bangsar/Publika serve up 'big breakfast's for about 20 bucks per person sans drinks, so at RM12.50/pax, the deal seemed reasonable enough. As you can see above, the plate had scrambled eggs, 3 cocktail sausages, 2 slices of ham, 6 coins of pepperoni, 2 mini hash browns, baked beans, mushrooms, toast and half a tomato on a bed of lettuce--value at first glance, I'd say.

While the cafe's environment was decent (cosy and inviting), unfortunately we couldn't say the same for the food. The first thing I reached out for turned out to be the worst--the scrambled eggs. It was so salty that I could taste the egg only after I'd tasted the salt. It was practically egg-flavoured salt! To say it was a chore to finish the eggs would not be an exaggeration; my partner decided he could not finish it because it was too salt-laden to bear. Truly the worst eggs prepared any style I've ever had.

The mushrooms didn't fare much better. They were wet--not in a good way--and tasted like they'd not been cleaned/had the juice squeezed out of them properly, if you know what I mean. Thankfully the rest of the breakfast tasted all right; the sausages, ham, pepperoni, hash browns and baked beans were fine, while the grilled half-tomato and toast were average. 

Cappuccino and flat white (RM9 each)

For drinks, we got the cappuccino and the flat white. Nothing to complain about here.

All in all, it was a rather disappointing breakfast. Whatever was good on the breakfast platter was marred by how bad the scrambled eggs were; we went searching for more drinks after just to get rid of the salty aftertaste in our mouths. Based on this first impression, we doubt we'll be revisiting anytime soon.

Tax: Service charge of 10%

How much we paid: RM25