A Tale of Two Sandwich Eateries

Of sandwiches,  sandwich eateries, and how the same thing can be different

The sandwich bar, long a mainstay of a Western lunch, has morphed into a variety of styles in the Klang valley, but thankfully the days of supermarket-sourced generic bread with an unimaginative filling in between are a thing of the past.  Restaurants offering sandwiches as their mainstay do vary considerably however, as in this review of two outlets in the same suburb of Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur.

Wheatz and Grainz presents itself as a healthy, wholesome sandwich eatery, and that impression is reinforced when you enter the airy, brightly-lit restaurant with its cement floor, pastel coloured walls, lightweight bleached wood furniture and a few feminine touches in the colourful cushions on the cement wall bench. A big glass display case showcases various artisanal breads, reinforced by handwritten signs that the bakery uses unbleached flour, with no additives or preservatives.  All bread is baked daily on the premises, with the kitchen occupying a large area at the back of the restaurant. The place is run by three women with a shared passion for baking.

Chunky wholemeal, baguettes, reinforced white breads, and a variety of home-made cakes (made with butter, the sign reminds) occupy the display case and make for interesting browsing.  The bakery also bakes biscotti and oatmeal biscuits for sale in small glass jars.

A blackboard offers a small selection of sandwiches and various double-shot coffee brews.  Orders and payment are made at the till, with sandwiches made and delivered to the table.

The sandwiches are presented with a small side salad of butterhead and sliced tomato on a white rectangular porcelain plate. The Rosemary Roast Chicken sandwich had slices of chicken breast on a bed of butterhead and sliced tomato, on country bread that was so lightly toasted as to seem that it had not been.  The chicken slices were thick and meaty however, with a tangy homemade wholegrain mustard sauce that was sweet and appetizing. I would have preferred my bread with more ‘bite’ but that’s a personal preference.

The Pesto Chicken sandwich was similarly presented, and was a similarly robust serving of chicken, with a healthy dose of homemade basil pesto adding some zest. The wholemeal bread was more to my liking, although too lightly toasted again, and made for a satisfying lunch with a cup of hot peppermint tea. Both sandwiches were priced at Rm14.90 each, and they were honest, straightforward preparations with no-frills presentations.

A square of Carrot Walnut cake (Rm7) proved to be moist and nutty, with plenty of shredded carrot and none of that aftertaste from preservatives that you sometimes find in carrot walnut cakes. It was light and the topping was sweet but not excessively so, good for teatime accompanied by a chat with a friend.

Wheatz and Grainz provides wholesome, hearty no-frills food, with the bakery being its main strength.  The bread variety and quality and the serving portions all point to a healthy eating choice, the type of place you would bring your family to and hope the children will prefer over a fast-food burger joint.    

Pickle and Fig, another sandwich eatery located in another block of shops in TTDI, has a distinctly different buzz.  Its décor hearkens at industrial-warehouse sensibility, with bare cement floor and walls and flat-black painted ceiling, from which are suspended warehouse-style lights, either naked incandescent bulbs or wire-mesh enclosed glass.

A blackboard running along one side wall offers a small selection of hot paninis, cold sandwiches, salads, snacks, fruit juices and brews.  Complimentary bottles of water are provided for the tables, which are lined up along the sides, so there’s an airy, open feel to the place, in keeping with the warehouse style ethos.

Outside, in the smoking area, there’s wooden crate furniture beside a “Before I Die” wall, with chalk provided, where customers can chalk their darkest fears and desires “before they die”.  Some make worthwhile musing and you wonder if anyone’s actually serious.  The crowd tends to be young, hanging out with friends and tapping away on smartphones and laptops, courtesy of the free wifi.  

The counter occupies a third of the shop, with knick-knacks on the countertop, hand-scrawled signs and jars of biscotti for a charitable cause.  Orders are placed and paid for at the till, with delivery made at the tables. The sandwich choices are quite varied – from turkey to ham to chicken, and combined with the other menu items, offers quite a wide variety for different tastes.

 The Smoked Salmon with Orange Vinaigrette Salad (Rm18) was proffered in a metal tray with a rectangle of wax paper and the label “Pickle and Fig” occupying a corner of the paper. The presentation, although simple, has a hint of style. The salad was a toss of mixed lettuce leaves with zesty orange slices, a scattering of capers and twists of smoked salmon, making for a refreshing, but light meal.

The Hoisin Chicken and Grilled Zucchini Panini (RM18) had chicken breast slices with egg white, grilled zucchini and melted mozzarella cheese sandwiched between dark, crusty wholemeal bread with distinct grill marks.  A side of potato wedges and a couple of lettuce leaves with a tart dressing completed the dish.

It made for a satisfying combination, with the melted cheese being the binding element to the whole sandwich.  The potato wedges were lightly spiced and crispy.

The breads are sourced from an external supplier. The food is not a standout on its own, but combined with the lifestyle appeal, drinks and brews, and slightly edgy décor, it appeals to the younger crowd as a place to meet and hang out.

Wheatz and Grainz,

46, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14,

Taman Tun Dr Ismail,

60000 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-77327981

Open Tues-Sun, 8.30am-6.30pm.

Pickle & Fig,

26 Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 2,

Taman Tun Dr Ismail,

60000 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-28589960

Email: hello@pickleandfig.com

Copyright © 2014 Lee Yu Kit