Coconut Cafe At Heeren Street, Malacca
It was Tien Soon who discovered Coconut Cafe, located at Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, which is directly opposite the Baba House / Hotel. Judging from Tien Soon’s post, it was, somehow, looked promising. Since he has written quite a detailed review on Coconut House, I shall cut straight into my first visit (Tien Soon’s second’s) visit to Coconut House. Yes, we had lunch together.
I ordered coconut blended with vanilla ice cream. Since I had tasted pure coconut ice blended at Nilai before, this combination of coconut and vanilla seemed to be a little odd to me, but it turned out to be not that bad after all. Tien Soon ordered mocha ice blended while his girl friend had Irish coffee.
Thinking that their aromatic sauteed mushroom would taste somewhat like the one I had in La Casa cafe, Kepong, I ordered as our appetizer. However, when the mushrooms were served, we were all looking at each other and amused by the look of the dish. It was just, I mean, just edible and it didn’t open up any of my appetizer.
I also ordered warm rocket salad. This was even worse than the mushroom. No pictures were taken, not even a single one. It was horrendous. Why would I want to eat vinegar? Not enough jealousy in me, is it? Tien Soon’s girl friend, Lee Chen, didn’t even touch it after the first try.
Thank God the last three dishes turned out to be way much better than the previous two. Their pizza was worth a try, as it was really crispy, fragrant and crunchy. With fresh tomatoes cubes, three types of cheeses and other ingredients, it was something refreshing compared to those normal fast food pizza joints like Pizza Hut or Shakey’s. I was too hungry to take the pictures of the fillings. Maybe Tien Soon can share his picture with me.
We then had slow roasted pork shoulder. This was really good. Except for the outer layer which was slightly hard, it was really tender and juicy. The fats melted and blended with the herbs and spices just nice, to give your tongue that tantalizing taste. The pork shoulder is roasted till half cooked, then marinated with fennel seeds, olive oils, lemon juice, garlic and dry chilies before wrapping it in aluminum foil and left overnight in the oven, with wood fire slowing roasting the pork to fully cooked.
Up next was baked seafood with spaghetti. To me, this isn’t seafood since they only put in a few clams and some sotongs. Yes, that’s all. A little pathetic, don’t you think so? Taste wise, there are much better spaghetti out there. Maybe Earl Ku’s spaghetti might tastes better than them, you never know.
And that was our Sunday’s lunch. It was a little disappointing as it didn’t meet the expectation that I hope to see after reading Tien Soon’s post. However, its understandable. I went back there again, but this time, for work. With the boss around, food tasted much better as he introduced me dishes that tasted much better.
Rosemary chicken, marinated with, well, rosemary and served with porcini(a type of mushroom) sauce. When it was served right after coming from the stove, it was really fragrant and I couldn’t wait and took a bite first. However, I would strongly suggest that they use chicken breast, chicken wings or chicken thighs, better still if they are boneless.
The boss served me tiramisu and scuffle (souffle?) pudding. The pudding was unique, but I think it is an acquired taste since my partner didn’t really like it. As for the tiramisu, the boss proclaimed a few facts about his tiramisu. I dare not say anything on this since I have yet to try the real and authentic tiramisu. It tasted quite good except it was kinda watery instead of solid.
Overall, I don’t highly recommend Coconut Cafe as I think they still have a lot, and I mean, really a lot to do to improve their culinary skills, especially in terms of decoration, flavour and smell. However, since their pizza is quite unique, I would say, you need to visit this cafe at least once. It maybe your one and only visit, but at least, you give them and yourself a chance.
January 9th, 2007 09:28
[…] By the way, Jason actually visited Coconut House Melaka for twice in 2 days, to continue reviewing and evaluating the foods at wider perspective. […]
January 9th, 2007 09:32
With the year of the Fire Boar just around the corner, did you know that you are born a Fire Boar in the Rat year? After reading nearly all your blog entries, you do seem to have the characteristics of a boar - enjoy eating, easy going and have a very ‘prosperous’ physical shape (excuse the euphemism!).
Just to inform you that vinegar is very common in salad dressing - fine examples are apple cider and balsamic vinegar. If lemon is not available, vinegar is often used in combination with olive oil. As for rocket, it is quite common in Europe and the Mediterranean but it is not a localised vegetable/herb. Eating rocket is an acquired taste like enjoying water convolvulus fried in belacan. If you want to know more about international cuisine, just watch Jamie or Nigella and in just half an hour or so, you might even learn how to make soufflé.
January 9th, 2007 11:36
那个那里是souffle来的，pudding就差不多，souffle‘发’到出杯口，很漂亮的，但是很难烘烤，很考耐心和工夫。
January 9th, 2007 11:45
drink and dessert look fine,but the appetizer mushroom and seafood with spaghetti so pathetic!
the only reason visit this cafe is worth to try is pizza!
January 9th, 2007 11:49
omg. why din u ask me about the place earlier?
ye zi wu sucks.
i agree you definitely have to visit it ONCE, but just walk in and walk out!
January 9th, 2007 13:06
The deco of Rosemary Chicken is so cin cai . Looks like just simply put on some vege. Haha…
January 9th, 2007 18:53
Everything look so little….enough for u?
hehe but I like the look of the roasted pork shoulder. LEMAK!
January 9th, 2007 21:46
I used to work there and regular there few years back when they were good. Now losing its identity. Their another shop in KL Jln Pudu Lama is much better now, since their pioneers (Zhuang Ruo & Ai Wei) also there most of the time, and most things from melaka coconut house were moved to KL too. Feel a bit pity for the place… but still hope it’ll sustain…
January 9th, 2007 21:53
Oh yeah, their tiramisu is a real good one! So far I would say the best in Melaka, whereby it retain the original recipe and methods as in Italy. Most restaurants and hotels here modified theirs and made this dessert crooked. And of course, their pizzas, calzone. The nicest woodfire pizzas in town.
January 10th, 2007 16:05
Hehe, I never like coconut thingy. I won’t go into that restaurant not give it a try, because I scare of the coconut smell. :P
January 10th, 2007 17:47
WAH!! LOOK SOO YUMMY
January 10th, 2007 17:51
Giovoni : The word boar made the whole thing look so glamorous. LOL. Substitute the word boar with pig and that is what best describe me I guess. Jason the fire pig! *snort snort* LOL.
I got to admit, it was my first time having salad with vinegar. Maybe I did have the it before, but they used old vinegar and the taste is really overwhelming and I didn’t like it at all. As for the rocket, it was still ok but not the vinegar part. I haven’t been watching the TV for years / since I came into my uni. -sweat- Even if I do, they are mostly CSI and etc. :P
Twinsmom : 妈的, 中骗了!
Mspretty : You are right, their pizza is really something. It’s really crispy, crunchy and fragrant, no doubt. But for others, they need a lot of improvement.
Decypher : LOL. You didn’t tell me earlier! Eesshhh~ So bila want to go drink coconut together?
Bryan : Yaloh, some more the decoration style is very the Chinese. They really need to improve on their food decoration. Most of them didn’t really look appetizing.
Che-Cheh : Despite the small portion, it was just nice by the end of the dinner / lunch.
Allison : I had their tiramisu, it was way too watery until I was like eating porridge. Besides, it wasn’t chilled long enough. Their pizza is really good though.
Suzette : The restaurant name is Coconut House, doesn’t mean the house is full of coconut or the food are cooked using coconut ler. -sweat-
Boss Stewie : Sort of lah.
January 12th, 2007 09:26
Do u still remember whats the price of the tiramisu? Do u recommend Coconut House for Valentine’s? thanks
January 12th, 2007 12:08
Trinity : The tiramisu was priced RM12, if I remember correctly. Hmm, I won’t recommend it for Valentine’s, as the place got no air-con. I am sure you want to dine comfortably, right? Nadeje would be a better choice, but lack of food/dishes.
January 16th, 2007 08:54
Okie…i found out that it is closed every wednesday…so much for valentines huh (vday on wednesday too). by the way, whereabout is Nadeje in Melaka? Did u do any review about it? Thanks
January 16th, 2007 10:04
Trinity : Nadeje is at Costa Rica Hotel, near Plaza Mahkota. :) I have done reviews on Nadeje and basically, I am the spoke person for Nadeje. Serious. Part I and Part II. I know the boss from the day he started his business (before he started his cafe) and I have been helping him to promote all these while, especially on the internet. ;)
January 21st, 2007 00:39
hey there jason, i’m from pj and i’m currently in malacca and will be for the next 2 years. i love to eat. lol! and i’m still looking around for great food in town.
i do agree with you regarding coconut house’s culinary skills.
i think its overrated.
i tried their set the last time i went there.
the soup was bad. really bad. it tasted like sliced mushrooms added into water mixed with flour and MSG. as for the pizza, it was just mediocre but i must say i was impressed by how generous they were with the cheese.
trinity: apart from nadeje, you could try howards(somewhere near jonker’s) or bamboo hut(near stadhuy’s)
or you could get some take out and head to the jetty at the portuguese settlement. just be prepared that you and your date would not be alone. its a great hang out spot.
January 21st, 2007 01:32
Len Jin : You are here for work or studies? Maybe we should meet up or something, I seriously need some food kakis around to help me with my food reviews and assignments. Yes, it was unique because of the cheese they are willing to put onto their pizzas. Not superbly good but its decent enough to be recommended. ;)
January 21st, 2007 15:22
I am studying in MMMC. I read more of your entries after I left my message and I must say that you really are that hardcore on food. lol! I’m not there yet. I don’t have that much time to venture out to look for places.
Oh rights~ i’m not too sure if that cendol place you reviewed was the one i went to.
However, i do have a place in mind whenever i think of cendol; Ole ole baba nyona. Its the same row as the Pizza place. It looks like a sundry shop but they have the ice shaving machine at the entrance. You won’t miss it.
A bowl of durian cendol will set you back for Rm2. The gula melaka that they use is more of the diluted kind, so it easily mixes with the ice and santan.
And the durian paste, is just heavenly.
Its located one row before Nadeje cafe.
I’ve tried the food at Nyonya Suan(its connected to Ole ole baba nyonya, but somehow, they will not bring the durian cendol over). The food; i can’t make comparisons to any other outlet yet, but i must say that i like the itik suan, ayam rendang and ayam serai dishes (ayam serai is not on the menu).
Don’t bother going on sunday afternoons when tourists drop by for lunch and when the restaurant is packed. The manager will be the cockiest then. He deserves to be shot in the head.
February 7th, 2007 09:13
Hi there jason..do u happen to know what time coconut house starts their business on saturday afternoon? please let me knw or email to me if u happen to know their phone number too =] thanks much
February 7th, 2007 11:42
Trinity : They start their business from 12noon on weekends if not mistaken. I have their name card, but it’s in my office. Perhaps, I will check it out for you when I am in the office. But don’t go there too early, because most of the dishes won’t be ready during noon.
February 7th, 2007 22:33
Thanks dude, i already got the no from the star article by u =] u are kinda popular huh? =p
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/1/13/southneast/16533972&sec=southneast
Just wondering apart from coconut house and the Nadaje, what other nice places to go for lunch? Again, i have v day in mind =]
February 7th, 2007 22:36
Trinity : Let me email you, alright?
July 5th, 2007 11:17
Hi jason, do you have the phone number for Coconut House, do we need to do any bookings?
July 5th, 2007 11:29
Ee Ling : I lost their number. You don’t need any bookings. :D
June 24th, 2008 02:31
i really hate d stuff work there!!really damm shit!!they tought d thing tat they cook is d best ….wat a suck!!!and d plc is so sucks!!!!!
June 24th, 2008 02:32
Man : Over the months, their service and food quality has dropped dramatically. I don’t patronize them anymore.
June 24th, 2008 19:09
jason:yes!d food r really really bad!!!i heard ppl gt ask d chef to change bk d recipe..but d chef always said “no no,d old recipe is wrong!d new recipe tat i make it is rite!!cant change!”but the thing is ppl do like d food tat make from old recipe..i really think d chef is a very sombong ppl!!he always thougt he is d best chef in d world!!suck!!!!n dun wanna listen other ppl comment!!hate tat!!really dun understand wa he thinking!!
June 24th, 2008 19:12
jason: dun u realise tat??
June 24th, 2008 19:27
Man : It has been years since I last patronized the shop. So, honestly, I don’t know much about the eatery anymore. However, from many feedback, they are nothing but bad. I wouldn’t recommend anymore, if you ask me. However, some of them said the KL / PJ branch is doing pretty well.
June 25th, 2008 02:09
jason: “pretty well”?i dun think so…hav u went there b4?
June 25th, 2008 02:10
Man: Nope. But that’s what I heard. :) The KL branch, not the Malacca.
June 25th, 2008 13:37
YAYA…TAT’S WAT I MEAN…HAHA..ANYWAY…I THINK THEY R D SAME….WAKAKA..IF U REALLY GO THERE DUN FORGET TO TAKE SOME PICTURE AT THERE…I WANNA C..K..
June 25th, 2008 13:39
Man : Sure thing. :)