The first thing to greet diners is a gorgeous open kitchen displaying fresh pasta of all sorts being hung out to rest (All photos: Staple Dough)
Singaporeans would deem the residential area of Taman Megah in Petaling Jaya as “heartland” for sure, but the opening of the new Megah Rise mall and one of its anchor F&B outlets Staple Dough, an Italian restaurant dedicated to the art of handmade pasta, is a definite sign that the polished sheen of gentrification has taken root in the area indeed. For a neighbourhood more renowned for its prawn noodles (Restoran Gembira is the place to head to) and chilli crabs (Taman Megah is where longstanding seafood restaurant Fatty Crab holds court), residents can now look forward to indulging in a creamy burrata, decadent lobster bisque or hearty pappardelle in rich pork ragu, all within a stone’s throw of each other.
Run by a team of enthusiastic young bucks, Staple Dough thoughtfully divides its menu into low carbs, handmade pastas (high carbs), sweets, snacks and starters. If you are avoiding flour and sugar, it is best not to step in at all as the first thing to greet diners is a gorgeous open kitchen displaying fresh pasta of all sorts being hung out to rest before it meets its destiny in the pot. But Staple Dough’s métier lies in its noodles so, even though there are a variety of things to preempt the palate with, it is best to save stomach space and calorie count for the former.
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As the late Anthony Bourdain once admonished, “Get the cream sauce”, you will find the pappardelle with truffle cream (RM52) and the pici carbonara (RM38) most pleasing indeed. The restaurant is non-halal but vegetarian options, like mushroom ravioli with ricotta or tagliatelle pesto (RM32), are available. There is also a small but adequate wine list and Italian meals somehow demand the accompaniment of a quality tipple. Old and New World wines listed range from Gorgeous Grenache No 1 — an organic, small batch South Australian wine from Thistledown — to a juicy Tempranillo from Artuke in Spain’s Rioja.
Oh, Megah Rise is a pet-friendly commercial space. So, should Rover be tagging along, do call ahead to preempt the service staff and find out where you will be seated. The mall’s al fresco concept — Megah Walk — is hugely popular on weekends, so once you are done eating, find a cute café to while away the rest of the day (or night), indulging in that other divine Italian art of dolce far niente.
Staple Dough, Megah Rise, Jalan SS24/9, Taman Megah, PJ. Daily, noon-3pm, 6-10pm.
This article first appeared on May 29, 2023 in The Edge Malaysia.
