Antipodean at Jalan Telawi, Bangsar: Snapshot

Some people go to brunch on a Sunday morning for a quiet coffee and a croissant, and perhaps with a nice book to while away a few hours. Others go for a big, satisfying meal and a chatty, perhaps even raucous, catch-up with friends over smoothies. Antipodean’s Telawi branch is definitely the latter – and that is not a bad thing.

As we arrived, a smiling waiter, or perhaps the owner, opened the door for us and we strolled into the delicious-smelling melee: wafts of sausage, bacon and fresh coffee danced in the air with chat coming from nearby tables, full of groups of young friends sipping drinks and taking selfies, and families enjoying a ‘proper’ breakfast instead of a rushed midweek morning snack.

And a ‘proper’ breakfast is a suitable word for such a meal: the menu is so big that it’s written on the wall, perhaps because no human could possibly lift a book with all the delicious concoctions on offer.

My first co-diner opted for something predictably tempting: the Big Breakfast (RM23), with pork sausage, beans, scrambled egg, grilled tomatoes and toast. He also ordered a carrot juice, to add some much-needed nutrition to his morning.

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My other companion went for something a little less conventional: the Smoked Salmon and Roasted Vegetable Salad (RM25), which looked as pretty as it sounded healthy.

The salmon was fresh and tasty, and the roast veg – consisting peppers, mushrooms and pumpkin – was nicely cooked and flavoursome.

I decided to be a little more adventurous and ordered something a little less conventional which had been recommended to me by a colleague: the Rosemary Marmalade Feta on Toast (RM20).

Strange-sounding but delicious, the cheese was rich and creamy and nicely balanced by the sweetness of the preserve. Not to be outdone on ‘properness’, though, the dish also comes with a side of bacon – which, as we all know, is the greatest side dish known to man.

Before I realised I was full, I noticed the muesli (RM18), which was lurking on the enormous menu. I couldn’t refuse (I always think muesli is a bit like ‘breakfast dessert’ so it seemed fitting). It came with creamy yoghurt, honey and fresh fruit and was a great way to round off the meal – and start the day.