The Journey Cafe @ SetiaWalk, Puchong

To recap my weekend, it was well-spent with the fellow foodies to explore new eateries around Puchong. Finally I managed to pay my virgin visit to this newly opened cafe at SetiaWalk.

The Journey Cafe looks pretty ordinary from the exterior, but upon stepping into the cafe, I was immediately fascinated with the old school dining concept.

Being a travel-themed Lounge Cafe, The Journey provides a cozy, warm ambiance to make you feel like home regardless of where you travel. The concept of simplicity and comfort make me feel at ease, and eventually have better appetite there. 

I love the wall decor of world map complemented with an old school luggage bag 

and decors that bring nostalgic notes to the cafe. 

On the other side, I notice the comfy sofa in earthy tones located at the corner with ample natural light shining through the glass window. It looks good to have a coffee date peacefully there. 

The must-try item is of course the specially brewed coffee, which is the signature item in the cafe. The Journey brews fresh coffee beans from 5 Senses, flown directly from Roaster in Australia. Mine was the one on most right: Iced Latte Macchiato which is perfect for my noon coffee dose. 

APPETIZER

#1 Grilled Chicken Salad @ RM13.90

Let's kickstart the feast with a healthy choice! Sitting on a bed of fresh vegetables with light mayo dressing, the chicken salad is great for munching especially when loaded with croutons. The portion is pretty decent for individual enjoyment or for table sharing. 

#2 Fried Button Mushroom @ RM12.90

Button mushroom is always my favourite whenever I have pasta or Chinese soup. But I rarely have this version: Whole mushroom deep fried with batter into golden brown perfection. It is crispy while served hot, but remember to finish it quick before it turns soggy. 

#3 Swedish Meatball with Fries @ RM11.90

How bout some beef meatballs for you? It reminds me of IKEA meatballs, what do you think?

#4 Shrimp Bruschetta @ RM9.90

Comes in 2 variations- Shrimp and Grilled Chicken- I picked the former one. The seafood flavour gives a lift to the overall flavour, something refreshing that I'd die for. Great as a light bite while you're on the go. 

BREAKFAST SET

#5 European Continental @ RM18.90

The breakfast sets here are the most sought-after items in the menu, and hence they are available for all day. A platter of German pretzel roll, two-eggs-your-ways, beef bacon, chicken sausage, baked baans and sauteed mushroom is perfect for the day! What's more can I ask for? 

#6 Aussie Brekkie @ RM18.90

Nevertheless, I prefer this because it consists of a piece of 100g grilled beef tenderloin, scrambled eggs and grilled tomato. Best paired with the lightly toasted baguette.

#7 Smoked Salmon Sandwich @ RM15.90

I skip the breakfast sets, and go for this salmon sandwich instead. Being a great fan of salmon, I am delighted to see the thick slices of salmon with delicious smoky tinge. I guess the best part is the generous fish roe topping on butter-toasted bread roll. 

MAIN COURSE

#8 Beef Lasagna @ RM17.90

#9 Juicy Beef Burger @ RM16.90

Moving on to the main courses, we begin with a series of American delights which are injected with the flavours of Asian. Both lasagna and burger are made of beef, so I have no choice but to give them a go. 

#10 Norwegian Salmon Steak with Creamy Sauce @ RM25.50

The salmon steak is pretty decent for this price, considering the thick, high quality cuts of salmon. However, it can be a winning taste if the sauce can be less creamy but richer in taste.

#11 New Zealand Lamb Grill with Mint Yogurt Sauce @ RM17.90

Served hot from the kitchen, the lamb chop exudes a strong minty aroma that wakens my senses immediately. Some may love their meaty portion to be medium rare, but here the meat is perfectly cooked and I love the delicate texture. However, it is advisable to go lighter on the pungent sauce so that you can really taste the lamb.

#12 Tenderloin Steak Grill topped with Garlic Sauce

The beef tenderloin is grilled into perfection and you can choose your own sauce if you don't favour the pungent smell of garlic. BBQ, Black Pepper and Mushroom Sauce are the popular picks for beef. 

#13 Australian Lamb Shank @ RM48.90 per set (Ramadhan Special Promo) 

The lamb shank is only available in the seasonal menu, specially catered for those who are breaking fast. The special Ramadhan promotion comes in a 4-course menu: Soup, Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert. Don't forget to try them out before Ramadhan ends!

PASTA

#14 Spicy Softshell Crab Spaghetti @ RM18.90

The softshell crab is crispy and savory for my liking, and I enjoy the light tomato sauce with a touch of spiciness to tickle the tastebuds. The portion of spaghetti is surprisingly huge, and definitely worth every penny.

#15 Aglio Olio Spaghetti with Shrimp @ RM16.90

Among all, my favourite is the aglio olio spaghetti which I believe is a fusion of Asian and Italian flavours. Unlike many I've tried, the aglio olio here is not dry and spicy at all! In fact, it is very appetizing after being lightly tossed with olive oil and garlic.

#16 Mushroom Carbonara @ RM16.90

It's an ultra creamy version of carbonara which I adore alot! Such comfort food would satisfy the palate especially during rainy days where you need something hot and comforting.

#17 Chicken Carbonara @ RM16.90

DESSERT

#18 Carrot Walnut Cake

The Journey Cafe has a cake chiller next to its counter for patrons to pick their favourite choice of cake. First that attracts me is the carrot walnut, with thick layering of cream cheese between the well-stuffed carrot and walnut cake. It tastes good with the right balance of savory cheese, crunchy nuts and level of sweetness.

#19 Raspberry Snow Cake

Another great choice for cheese lovers is this slice of almond cake laced with raspberry and cheese mousse. The texture is very soft with distinctive creamy layers that melt easily in the mouth. Not too sweet for me too. 

#20 American Chocolate Fudge Cake

Next is a very solid chocolate fudge cake which is packed with American chocolate goodness. Truly a sinful indulgence that I just can't resist... Go choc crazy by adding double choc gelato!

#21 New York Cheese Cake

What not to miss is the house specialty cake: Cheese cake! The creamy cheese sititng on the crust is irresistibly good, especially when it has a tinge of zesty lemon flavour to make me craving for more.

#22 Red Velvet Cake 

How about the classic selection: Fluffy cake layered with smooth cream cheese?

GELATO

#23 Gelato

If your appetite is more than ample, it's time to attack the gelato bar after the cake selections. The Journey Cafe serves gelato with more than 10 flavours to choose from! Unfortunately, my stomach is already stuffed, I guess I'd have to come back for this next time. Perhaps for an afternoon tea or dinner treat!

By the way, The Journey is celebrating its Grand Opening Promotion now,
all dine-ins will get 15% Discounts until 31 August 2013.

Verdict:
1. Quality wise, the foodstuff are fresh and comes in sufficient portions. The service and ambiance are the winning points of the cafe.

2. The coffee is not something to wow about, but the food dishes are pretty decent. There are still room of improvement for the dipping sauce and pairing sauce for the dishes.

3. Recommended: Aglio Olio Spaghetti with Shrimp, New York Cheese Cake, Carrot Walnut Cake

The Journey Cafe
Setia Walk B-03-G,
Persiaran Wawasan,
Pusat Bandar Puchong,
47160 Puchong,
Selangor.
Contact: 013-335 4983
Email: thejourneycafe.my@gmail.com
Facebook: fb.com/thejourneycafe.my

Business Hours:
Tues - Fri: 11:00am - 10:30pm
Sat - Sun: 9:30am - 10:30pm
Closed on Mondays