Stepping into Ecole P is like taking a nostalgic journey down memory lane. Yes, specifically the lane to your childhood school. It’s like stepping back into my primary school classroom. After all, “ecole” is school in French, so it’s no wonder the owners drew their inspiration from there.
The tables, complete with scratchings, are fashioned from old school desks, menus are written on exercise books and cutlery is kept in pencil cases stuffed inside school bags. Charming vintage vibes are everywhere: a blackboard for pinning up messages, book shelves holding old-school books and dictionaries and even a corner displaying snacks in plastic bags and bottles.
To further enhance the old school ambience, drinks are served in tied-up plastic bags placed in metal mugs and some food are served in tiffins and juvenile plastic plates.
Care for some tea?
The menu is an eclectic mix of creative East-meets-West fusionistic dishes. The owners try to come up with unusual dishes that often are a twist or tweaked from an ordinary dish. Take the Roti Canai Burrito (RM11.90) for example. It’s a whole piece of roti canai rolled with smoked chicken breast, caramelised onions and vegetables, served with dhall salad. It’s certainly a novelty item, especially for kids.
In fact, Ecole P’s dishes are pretty child-friendly. There’s the Peanut Butter Sandwich (RM6.90) which is a French toast with peanut butter and homemade mixed berries sauce. Their soups are served in tiffin carriers in substantial portions, with garlic bread by the side.
Peanut Butter Sandwich
Check out their Mixed Mushroom Soup (RM9.90) which is made from blended shitake, button and oyster mushrooms. Or how about the Roasted Pumpkin Soup (RM9.90) served with cranberries, salted egg yolk, beef bacon and garlic bread
We like the Citrus Salad. At only RM9.90, the big bowl of mixed greens, dried fruits, oranges, hawflakes, chicken and goji dressing is satisfying and make any vegetables lover very happy.
Coke and Sprite Chicken Wings (RM13.90) are good bites to keep busy with while waiting for the mains. The slow-braised chicken wings in Coke and Sprite reduction have addictive sweet and tangy flavours clinging to them.
Coke & Sprite Chicken Wings
Most of the main dishes on the menu have east-west fusionistic elements. The chefs here love to use black tilapia for their fish dishes. The 3 fish items we tried all had this freshwater fish in them. The Fish & Asparagus (RM18.90) has pan-fried black tilapia fillet served with stir-fried roasted potatoes and broccoli and asparagus pea puree. Flavours here were light – good for those who prefer delicate seasonings.
Fish & Asparagus
There are a couple of pasta dishes using the black tilapia. I’m not entirely thrilled with these personally as I found the rather strong fishy flavor rubbing off onto the pasta. But if you like the novelty of eating assam laksa spaghetti and almost-Thai style linguine with black tilapia, then knock your socks off.
Fish a la Laksa Spaghetti cooked in asam laksa broth served with pan-fried black tilapia (RM16.90)
Chicken dishes seldom fail and I liked the two that I tried in Ecole P. Both are well-marinated and tasty and go down well with kids and adults. The Chicken Tandoori Schnitzel (RM17.90) were pieces of pan-fried bread-crumbed honey brined chicken breast with tandoori marinade served with salad, lemon and raita. Schnitzels with a tandoori slant – can’t go wrong there.
Chicken Tandoori Schnitzel
I loved the nostalgic crushed “fish biscuits” in the Chicken Chop (RM17.90). Crunchy and appetizing, the deep-fried boneless chicken thigh has been marinated in fermented beancurd before being coated with crushed “fish biscuits”. To balance up, there’s Asian slaw and mushroom sauce drizzled over mashed potatoes.
Chicken Chop
Non-meat eaters would be pleased to have the House Vegetarian Pasta (RM19.90). The spaghetti was cooked in the Chef’s special composition of evaporated milk, curry leaves with mushrooms, french beans and deep-fried mushrooms. It tasted like an exotic creamy carbonara, thanks to the aromatic curry leaves.
House Vegetarian Pasta
The Nasi Kambing Turmeric (RM21.90) had raisin fried rice accompanied by a mini claypot of braised lamb in raisins and carrots. This was one dish that didn’t quite hit it off with me. Perhaps there was too much turmeric in the lamb so the taste composition was a bit skewed.
Nasi Kambing Turmeric
I have heard much about their Nasi Lemak Creme Brulee (RM10.90) before coming to Ecole P. Taste-wise, it actually covered all the elements of nasi lemak! The coconut creme brûlée was infused with ginger and pandan and served with berries “sambal”. To complete the nasi lemak profile, there were anchovies, peanuts and cucumber sitting prettily on top of the creme brulee. I can’t say I hate it because after the first spoonful, it kinda grew on me. Love it or hate it, it is something that has to be tried once!
Nasi Lemak Creme Brulee
Kids, or even adults would love the Egg Waffles (RM14.90) here. There are a couple of choices for fillings and toppings like peanut butter, nutella sauce, Kapiti triple chocolate ice cream, Oreo crumbs, toasted marshmallows, dark choc pearls and even honey stars!
Egg Waffle filled with strawberry sauce, Kapiti vanilla ice-cream, tangy orange sauce with fresh apples, orange and strawberries
Ecole P
First Floor, 19 Jalan SS21/37
Damansara Utama
Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7732-9711
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ecole.p
Business Hours:
Weekdays: 11am-3pm, 6pm-10pm
Weekends (Saturday-Sunday): 11am-10pm
Closed on Thursdays