Review: Jibby & Co at Empire Shopping Gallery

Returning to Subang’s Jibby & Co, this time to try its lunch & dinner selection. For earlier entry on Jibby’s breakfast, see March 23 post.

Start with salads

Jibby serves fresh, hearty ones with fun twists, such as this visually tantalising version of Salad Nicoise (RM28 before taxes) that substitutes tuna with blue swimmer crab meat (a step up, for sure), combined with tomatoes, corn, new potatoes, half-boiled eggs, french beans, baby romaine, onions and boiled eggs with a sesame dressing.

Panko-crumbed boiled egg with salmon, asparagus spears, zucchini, dill, edamame, ikura and seeded mustard dressing (RM29), a princely portion that could easily work as a main course.

Light bites

An eclectic list of light bites is also available, ranging from salted egg yolk chicken ‘popcorn’ (RM22, leaning a little more toward wet than creamy) to hummus with minced lamb and pine nuts.

Mains

Whole soft-shell crab burger on brioche (RM29), a big treat for fans of this crispy crustacean, coupled with Asian coleslaw, spicy mayo and sweet potato fries.

Not everything here’s a smash hit though; we wanted to like this appealing-looking pizza, topped with Moroccan-inspired lamb shank meat, pine nuts, roasted aubergine, za’atar herbs, natural yoghurt and baby spinach (RM35), but it was less punchy-tasting than expected, with a base that evoked supermarket-variety crusts. But no point being negative and dwelling on this.

Desserts

Lots of cakes in the chiller; temptations include Vogue (RM16.50, fraisier genoise sponge, mousseline cream, vanilla and strawberries), Meteora (five-layer hazelnut dacquoise, praline and paste), apple cakes with almond crumble, chocolate pavlovas, lemon meringue tarts, nutella cakes and more.

Wine and Cocktails

Jibby & Co is strictly halal, as is much of Empire Shopping Gallery; there seem to be only four or five outlets in this mall, such as Italiannies, where customers can unwind in the evening over wine and cocktails.

Italiannies, mercifully less than a three-minute stroll from Jibby & Co, has a lounge at the back that’s hidden but spacious, ideal for escaping the crowds.

The house wines at Italiannies are OK, but the cocktails aren’t, barely befitting their deceptively low RM20+ price tag. The Mojito is more fizz than liquor, while the Sangria is artificial-tasting and cloying.