After
years of pursuing their individual culinary careers, brothers Brian and Sam
Soon, recently joined forces by pooling their skills and experience to present
diners with the culinary creations of two chefs instead of one at Big Bro 2.
 |
| Facade of Big Bro 2 Cafe at Taman Seri Austin, Johor Baru |
This may
explain their penchant for pork and how they use various meat cuts in their
menu which is pleasing the palates of diners, many of whom are regulars from
the neighbouring suburbs while some even travel from across the city to dine here.
NO-FRILLS CONCEPT
Opened
in a commercial square of a city suburb, the family-friendly café has a
no-frills approach reflected in its furnishings. The long wooden tables for convivial dining were
created from disused wooden pallets and varnished into a smooth sheen.
 |
| Rows of stainless steel mugs for your drinks! |
As
diners select from canned and bottled soft drinks and beer or homebrewed herbal
tea chilled in an open ice trough, I’m reminded of a bygone era of how regulars
used to do likewise from our friendly, neighbourhood provision shop!
In
those days, a bottle-opener may be hung from a convenient spot for customers to
pop open their fizzy bottled drinks and pick up a straw to sip their beverages.
 |
| A serving of Grilled Mushrooms |
At
the back of the dining hall, menus are written on two broad chalkboards in two
languages – English and Chinese – for easy reference but if you must read from
a hand-held menu, just ask and the waitresses will produce the menus from their
wide pockets.
A
glance at the menu tells me that besides the two chefs’ reputation for good
food, their competitive prices must be yet another attractive reason for dining
at Big Bro 2.
FAIR PRICES
 |
| Chef Brian Soon presents his special Ubud-style Babek |
I’m
not only pleasantly surprised but very pleased with its contents and flavour as
I taste thin slices of real mushrooms in every spoonful.
Meanwhile
I’m keeping an eagle eye on the items coming out of the kitchen and watch as
other diners are served main courses ranging from Angus Ribeye (RM68), Grilled Lamb
Rack (RM50) and Pork Knuckle (RM55) to Barbecued Pork Ribs (RM23) and Chicken
Cordon Bleu (RM21).
As for me, I fancy it’s smart to pick
the Pork Combo (RM25) as it comes with a slice of pork chop, a plump sausage,
bacon strips and freshly made potato mash on a bed of sautéed spinach.
 |
| A Pork Combo serving |
He also assures me that their own-made
sausages in a range of flavours, are created from his own recipe which favours
more meat than other ingredients.
I’m
comfortable with my portion of Pork Combo but smaller eaters may opt for lighter
meals like Fish & Chips (RM17), Chicken Ala Picatta (RM17), Pork Chop (RM18)
and pasta in Carbonara (RM15) or Aglio Olio (RM13) sauces.
 |
| Creme Brulee topped with marchmallows |
As I chew into the crispy bits, boldly crunching
bone along with meat, he tells me the serving is only half a duck and it’s so
new that he has yet to price this item and place it on the menu!
I like to end my tasty meal sweetly and
Brian offers dessert choices like his signature Chocolate Lava (RM6) and Crème
Brulee (RM6), topped by pretty marshmallows and dusted with sprinkles of icing
sugar.
I
lick my lips at the end of the meal and consider how their fair prices for the
reasonable portions of delectable meals must be drawing diners back again and
again.
BIG BRO 2 CAFÉ (NON-HALAL)
28
Jalan Seri Austin 1/1
Taman
Seri Austin
81100
Johor Baru, Johor
TEL: 6016 -
7550868
HOURS Open daily 5pm to 10.30pm
Friday,
Saturday and Sunday, open from 12pm
FOOD Western specialties with an
Asian twist
PICK Beef Steak, Pork Knuckle, Pork
Ribs, Lamb Rack and
PAY No GST but corkage charges apply
MOOD No frills contemporary café
SERVICE Efficient
English-speaking staff
I SAY… Go give it a try
A version of this was published in The New Straits Times, Life & Times on 13 February 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment