RGB at The Bean Hive at Damai: Restaurant Review

RAW reincarnated: This might look like an nondescript residence in an evergreen neighbourhood, but its placidly innocent facade is deceptive. RGB is poised to become one of KL’s buzziest new cafes, run by the caffeine-passionate pioneers who spearheaded the recently closed RAW Coffee in Menara Equity.

Bungalow+Cafe

Step boldly through the signboard-free entrance of this bungalow on Ampang’s Jalan Damai & breathe easy once you spot the coffee-brewing counter in this spartanly clean, brightly white-walled interior. The team members at RGB – which stands for either ‘Roast Grind Brew’ or ‘Rather Good Beans,’ depending on whom you interrogate – were initially taken aback when we popped in as surprise visitors, but they proved thoroughly warm, winning & welcoming.

CoffeeBar+MicroRoastery+VegetarianEatery+EventsSpace

The place, nicknamed ‘The Bean Hive,’ still seemed like a work in progress on a recent afternoon; RGB aims to become a full-fledged multifunction venue that’ll not only house a coffee bar but a boutique micro-roastery, vegetarian eatery & events space.

Comfy, Cushy Chairs

Farther inside, here’s the comfiest section of RGB, filled with cushy chairs; on a calm occasion, we could linger for hours.

British-Themed Corner

London Calling: Check out the British-themed corner with a couch that’s certain to host dozens of derrieres in the week ahead.

Novels for Browsing

Love the choice of novels for browsing; this is the rare place where Goethe’s Faust shares shelf space with Sex And The City.

Tempeh Lettuce Tomato Coconut-Oil Wrap

RGB’s menu will furnish a sense of comforting familiarity for RAW loyalists: the Tempeh Lettuce Tomato coconut-oil wrap is back, though RGB says the recipe has been fine-tuned even further. It’s a terrific treat for fans of tempeh; other wraps available include ones with eggplant & freshly made pesto, hummus & roasted veggies, or four cheeses & tomato.

For Bargain-Hunters

Bargain-hunters, take note: It’s well worth heading to RGB on Thursday or Friday this week (August 28 & 29). As an opening promotion, these wraps – as well as most of RGB’s other food offerings – will be sold at RM10 nett per plate. Only about a five-minute drive from KLCC, RGB’s the ideal lunchtime oasis for folks working in the city centre.

Vegetarian Burger

We polished our plate too for this vegetarian burger; RGB’s patties are produced on-site with components that change from time to time. Our patty comprised a chewing-optional blend of broccoli & mushrooms, partnering perfectly with a nice, crisp bun with an enjoyably yeasty flavour. Oh, and for health-watchers, there’s no microwave here.

Other Delicious Options

Other options include angel hair pasta, frittata, pumpkin soup & a salad tossed with house-made mayo that’s prepared fresh daily, with the selection expected to expand eventually. These past years of experience have done a world of good for the food creators of RAW/RGB; their wholesome recipes are more delicious than ever, with convincingly balanced tastes & textures.

RGB’s Chocolate Brownie

Ask for RGB’s chocolate brownie, served with yoghurt & orange zest. Densely gooey, richly nuanced, it’s captivating.

Don’t Forget the Coffee!

And of course, coffee; RGB baristas Han & May currently strut their stuff with Sumatran Mandheling. Times have changed dramatically for KL’s third-wave coffee scene since we first visited RAW years ago, back when it was still an unknown brand in an infrequently patronised location in a city where great coffee remained rare. And here’s some more encouraging news: RGB is also scheduled to open another outpost next week at GTower, so watch for that too.

Housekeeping Notes

RGB at Jalan Damai is open Thursday & Friday this week, 8am-4pm. It’ll be closed this weekend (Saturday-Sunday), but will officially launch on Monday, Sept. 1, & remain open everyday, closing early in the evening. The other GTower branch will probably also maintain office hours.

Final Thoughts

‘Hidden cafes’ & coffee bars at pleasantly unexpected locations or with acronyms for their names have performed very popularly in the Klang Valley throughout this past year; expect RGB to keep the track record running. Thumbs way, way up for this revival of a potentially resurgent favourite. Expect to hear much more about RGB in the weeks to come.

Location and Contact Details

RGB at The Bean Hive

35, Jalan Damai, Off Jalan Ampang

Tel: 03-2181-1329

Find RGB at The Bean Hive’s directory listing here.