Speaking of wholesomeness, here's something else that's newly unveiled on Avenue K's second floor: Upbeat Health Bar, which serves nutritious, low-guilt fare near the Fitness First gym.Try the Mission flour tortilla wraps, assembled on order & packed with ultra-creamy mushroom croquettes, cherry tomatoes, lettuce & an addictive "secret house sauce" (RM8.90, 411 calories).Peanut butter shake mixed with bananas, chocolate whey & milk (RM9.90 for 261 calories), plus flax seeds for extra texture (RM2 surcharge). Understandably, it's not what we'd describe as delicious, but it's not undrinkable.

For folks who need further evidence that Avenue K's star is on the ascent, this revamped mall now features a Swedish cafe whose selection extends well beyond meatballs.Svea Cafe opened this past week inside the Taste Enclave food court, though its full menu remained unavailable when we visited. For now, customers can check out recipes like "Seamen's Beef" (RM18.90). Tastes kinda like typical stew, but that's not necessarily a terrible thing. Coming attractions comprise seafood cakes, salmon soup, pork chops & ham pies.Interesting desserts include the "ris a la malta" rice pudding with almonds & cinnamon (RM10) ...... & the warm Swedish porridge of oats with cranberries (RM10), exceptionally healthy-tasting (but could be too bland for some).

A peek at a new watering hole, SOP at Paradigm Mall's boulevard.SOP's menu seeks to please crowds, starting with Parma ham platters, then moving on to pork bacon carbonara pasta & stretching into pork burger, chop & knuckle territory before winding up with a Guinness chocolate lave cake that's creamy but could benefit from a bolder, more beery resonance.German beers are a highlight here, spanning the pleasant-drinking Bitburger to the likes of Wernesgruner & Licher.

KL can already welcome another destination that's destined to draw coffee devotees in droves.Brewmen is trying to open in a low-key, nearly hush-hush manner, but it can't fly under the radar for long, not when it offers temptations like filtered coffee (RM11, specs: Guatemalan single-origin, AeroPress-brewed)... a robustly respectable latte with full-bodied complexities (RM10 nett, Costa Rican beans from Dutch Colony Coffee) ...... plus light, low-acidity cold brew coffee (RM12, El Salvador beans; notice the Central American theme right now) ...... & the interesting red affogato (RM12), with Rooibos tea to replace the regular espresso shot.For food, Brewmen should start serving sandwiches this weekend; for now, customers can munch on the festive seasonal special of a Mandarin orange cupcake (RM8) ...... or a big chocolate brownie, warmed up to order & partnered with vanilla ice couple (RM12).Scones are available too; all in all, this place feels like one to watch this year.

This understated, unfussy outlet seems set to nurture a placid presence at St Mary Residences; it's casually elegant, maintaining the spotlight on enjoyable food served by a hardworking team.With a chef like Zanella, everything's worth eating, but our top pick's the Ancona-style brodetto, a seafood soup that brims with fresher-than-expected octopus, mussels, clams, fish & shrimp. Beautifully satisfying.Hearty, house-made fettuccine with a thick truffle sauce (RM38+). Pasta that provides pure pleasure & compelling comfort.Ravioli filled with Piedmontese beef (RM28+), robustly savoury.Baked gnocchi sorrentina (RM42+), carbs made cheesy with mozzarella, tangy with tomato sauce & buoyant with basil leaves.Sicily's sweet pride, ricotta-choked cannoli fried pastries, to wrap up this feel-good lunch.Baked spinach & gorgonzola cheese pie (RM24+). Crispy-creamy textures, mild-&-light flavours. Another pleasant starter that two can share.Warm apple phyllo strudels with a stuffing of pine nuts, a thin coat of grappa sauce & a cool companion of raisin ice cream. RM18+.Carte Rouge Bordeaux, Calvet (RM78+ by the bottle). Zenzero's cheapest wine is a well-chosen, earthy one.