Sekor & Co at Ukay Heights, Ampang: Review

This new family-run restaurant is a soulful sanctuary that’s set to become a neighbourhood favourite in Ukay Heights – perched on the first floor of a shop-house with a leafy view of serene suburban surroundings, Sekor & Co promises lovingly prepared home-style recipes that its founders, Melati & her husband Greg, inherited from their forebears.

Step in & you’ll feel as if you’ve been welcomed into Melati & Greg’s own home; this is a casual eatery with a no-fuss charm, nestled above Melati’s family’s bakery downstairs. Take a table outdoors for a sense of having completely escaped the city’s bustle. And here’s a romantic tale: Greg surprised Melati by presenting her with the key to this formerly vacant space for their fifth wedding anniversary this year & furnishing it so she could start her own eatery here.

Gyu Tan Don

Melati is of Malay-Indonesian heritage, & the food here reflects both her roots & her travels – the latter is represented by the gyu tan don, which is meant to evoke Melati’s memories of Melbourne’s Menya – thinly sliced marinated ox tongue grilled with red chillies & onions, served with rice & miso soup (RM35).

Meaty Meals with Pleasingly Mellow Flavours

But the most cherished dishes are the ones Melati grew up eating, like semur lidah & daging balado (RM35) – meaty meals with pleasingly mellow flavours, surprisingly not too fiery. You’ll also find ayam masak sekor, a secret recipe handed down by Melati’s grandmother – ghee-roasted chicken with potatoes & gravy (RM26), best savoured with salted egg & sambal bajak (RM4).The heart-warming menu also includes claypot chicken rice with salted fish (Melati’s stepmother’s concoction), beef stroganoff (a favourite of Greg & Melati’s young son, Isaiah) & tenggiri masak tempoyak (a Pahang home-town speciality).

Duck Pate

Greg is French, which explains the excellent duck pate (RM24; rustically textured), partnered with lovely bread & orange chutney. This selection is available for dinner, Tues-Sat; on Sundays, Sekor & Co serves a brunch menu that comprises everything from nasi lemak & bakso to crepe squares & open sandwiches. Wine is not offered, but patrons can bring their own.