Shunka unfurled this past month in Solaris Dutamas, offering a fresh option for Japanese fare. The name might sound familiar because Shunka operates outlets in Penang, Kedah & Perak; this one marks its first KL branch.The Shunka chain's executive chef, Malaysian Elven Tan, spent six years working in Japan; one of his favorites is oden (RM20 before taxes), the classic winter stew of boiled eggs, daikon radish & fishcakes in a light but umami-rich broth. Pure comfort food.Grilled pork belly (RM6.90). A worthwhile bet; lots of juice, plenty of flavor on this plate.Pork's paramount too: Shunka serves Kurobuta black pig tonkatsu (RM20), a full 20 percent cheaper than Ichiriki's at Mid Valley Gardens, but perhaps 20 percent less expertly executed too.Shunka prides itself on sending its chefs every year to the Land of the Rising Sun to sharpen their skills. The food here, including mentaiko-topped salmon (RM17), is reasonable enough for a restaurant with a mid-range pricing.Unagi sushi katsu, crunchy battered maki with eel, egg & cucumber (RM14).Eel is essential in surprising ways on Shunka's menu: Try the Unagi gyoza (RM16)

The Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar has opened; its main F&B attraction is Mediterranean restaurant La Cucina, a cushy venue with several interesting ideas emanating from its open kitchen.Meals here start on a confident note, with bread, olive oil & tapenade that would fit in well at many trattorias & tavernas.We have mixed feelings about some of the dishes though. These scallops are excellent but the risotto, while aromatic with both saffron & truffle oil, is unsettlingly mushy.Salads can be selected from a display counter (two for RM34++).Pumpkin gnocchi with beef short ribs, kale, boletus mushrooms & shaved pecorino in pomodoro sauce. Not terrible, though the gnocchi could be a bit less stodgy.The menu calls this taglioni, though it's really closer to ravioli, stuffed with smoked duck & topped with crumbled feta, spinach & pine nuts.This pizza, nicely crowned with house-made lamb sausage, avocado, rocket leaves, cherry tomatoes & buffalo mozzarella but let down by a not-crisp-enough base, illustrates the potential of this place; La Cucina's recipes sound sensational on paper but need a bit more finesse in execution.Desserts come from a chiller; cool-looking range, with no lack of figs, fruits & nuts.Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar also currently features all-day-dining establishment Link for buffet hunters as well as pastry-&-coffee shop Le Petit Cafe; more outlets may open next year.

No monkeying around here; Coffee Etc's team is eager to please. The Belgian waffles here won't cost much more than RM10.90 per serving, but the vanilla ice cream & blueberry jam toppings are significantly humbler. The waffles themselves are nonetheless pleasant.Coffee Etc's coffee? No real complaints; works fine to curb caffeine cravings.

Waffling over where to wander for waffles?First up, Wafflemeister, the first Malaysian outpost of a London-based business that specializes in handmade Liege waffles.Wafflemeister's offerings are OK, supplying a reasonably rich chew, though punishingly priced. Simple to spend north of RM30 per person on a waffle & a beverage.The counter-argument might be that the ingredients here fall under the 'premium' label, with Belgian choc fudge, Italian-style gelato & fresh whipped cream (lots of it!) used for both waffles & milkshakes.

Cafe Amo is run by a team that _ based on first impression _ appear pretty genuine about wanting to make customers happy; there's a sense of respect here that's palpable, including respect for the city's heritage & for the art of making satisfying coffeeSoft-launch snacks; Cafe Amo will serve desserts that range from Oreo mille crepes & Baileys chocolate mousse cakes to durian mochi & durian creme brulee.Patrons can savor single-origin Panama Geisha or Jamaican Blue Mountain No. 1 coffee (RM23-RM32 for those specialty options, hand-drip & siphon) or brave the equally enticing Ocean 11 & Rose Garden coffee concoctions, one fragrant with tangerine & the other with rose (RM12-RM14).