Review: Whimsical Gelateria and Caffe by Cielo Dolci at Solaris Dutamas

Whimsical lives up to its name: Ong Kee Win, the Mad Hatter behind Cielo Dolci, has unveiled a new wonderland of frozen fantasies in Solaris Dutamas, where adventurers can revel in tea parties of gelato served in curiouser & curiouser combinations. From dough to dolci: Whimsical takes over the shop-lot previously occupied by Solaris Dutamas pioneer Craft Bakers, opposite Namoo On The Park, behind the main Publika mall.

The kitchen at Whimsical currently opens 9am-5pm, when hot food & everything else on the menu are available; the cafe remains open through 11pm, but for now, it’ll only serve gelato, cakes & beverages after 5pm. Once things become more settled in a month or two, expect the kitchen to operate during dinnertime too.

Whimsical keeps Cielo Dolci at the forefront for gelato in the Klang Valley; this is a full-fledged cafe where ice cream made in the traditional Italian fashion is imaginatively infused into the menu.

Tomato Salad with Basil Gelato

Basil gelato becomes a cooling, who-needs-pesto-sauce dressing for this tomato salad with Japanese cucumber strips, lettuce, chives, goat’s cheese & balsamic reduction (RM20.90+).

Big Breakfast

Beef bacon gelato (with bits of seared meat in a luscious fior de latte base) transforms what would otherwise be a run-of-the-mill Big Breakfast (scrambled eggs, beef sausage & pancakes) into an idiosyncratically sweet-savoury, hot-&-cold showcase of what Whimsical has the potential to produce more of in the months ahead. RM24.50+.

Much of the Menu is Gelato-Free

Much of the eclectic menu here is nonetheless still gelato-free; there are baked & poached eggs for brunch lovers, as well as several Japanese-tinged pastas. Sample one served cold, crowned with deep-fried prawns & collaged with seaweed strips, ebiko shrimp roe, vinegar & soy sauce (RM25.90+).

Waffles

The waffles here prove yeasty-tasting, per Kee Win’s preference, hearty with vanilla cinnamon gelato, strawberries, lashes of chocolate ganache & almond flakes. RM21.90+.

Mueseli and Coconut Gelato

Whimsical serves whopping bowls of muesli, turned into a tropical treat with coconut gelato (laced with Gula Melaka), plus honey cinnamon milk. RM15.90+. Ideal for weight-watching eaters who desire desserts; the scoop of gelato probably contributes fewer than 200 worthwhile calories to a nutrition-loaded ensemble.

French Toast in Chocolate Batter with Bananas

French toast in chocolate batter with bananas, accompanied by dark chocolate gelato (or substitute with chantilly cream). Whimsical will also serve cakes soon, made for this cafe by an indie baker who specialises in chilled mousse confections. 

Sangria Sorbet

Whimsical’s repertoire extends beyond the regular Cielo Dolci flavours; liquor-laced varieties are available here & only here (prepared & stored separately from non-alcohol flavours). The Sangria sorbet tickles the taste buds with tannic hints of Cab Sav. RM10.90+ per scoop (gelato without liquor starts at RM7.90+ for a single scoop, RM12.90+ for double, RM17.90+ for triple).

Guinness Gelato

Robust-tasting Guinness gelato will satisfy patrons who like stout beer, while the Baileys-&-chocolate & rum-&-raisin flavours will have their fans too. All available for eat-in or takeaway (a counter will be open soon to tempt passers-by on this corridor); Whimsical’s timing couldn’t be better, surfacing amid the current hazy heatwave

Coffee

Surprise! Whimsical’s coffee is a highlight too, well-crafted by one of Epiphany’s former baristas with a Sumatran-Brazilian blend that’s concocted exclusively for this cafe by Three Little Birds.

Cotton Candy Affogato

Cotton candy affogato (RM13+) is another only-at-Whimsical delight, discernibly different from the coffee-&-candy creations elsewhere. Pour the espresso into the cup, in which the revelatory treasure _ a scoop of coconut-&-Gula-Melaka gelato _ is concealed underneath the mountain of floss.

Ice Chai Americano

Whimsical takes pride in its many beverages; the Ice Chai Americano (RM12+) comes spiced up with cinnamon & star anise. 

Speculoos Hot Chocolate

Gelato is Stored in Italian-Constructed Pozzetti Tubs

Unlike Cielo Dolci at Paradigm Mall, Whimsical doesn’t exactly display its gelato. Each flavour is instead individually stored in Italian-constructed Pozzetti tubs (probably the first time these have been seen in Malaysia), completely covered beneath lids in stainless-steel storage, kept perfectly insulated & consistently smooth & sumptuous.

Location and Contact Details

Whimsical Gelateria & Caffe by Cielo Dolci can be reached here:

Whimsical

D2-G3-05, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur

Open nearly daily, except Tuesdays. Tel: 03-6419-0966

View Whimsical’s directory page here.

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