A rare discovery in leafy Seksyen 7 Kota Damansara

On a grassy knoll was an oversized gazebo packed with neighbours of various age groups chatting about their daily grind and presumably politics too. Except that they were really patrons of Ayob’s Café, a well-run family-owned eatery situated on a converted corner lot double storey terraced house, just adjacent. A rugged Defender was seen parked nearby.

View from the side. You will not realize that
it's a restaurant (Apple iPhone 4s)

The facade is that of a kampung house (Apple iPhone 4s)

Stepping inside the café was like a step back in time. The owner has amassed a pretty vast collection of paraphernalia from generations ago and brilliantly displayed them in the room. Not all the items were in mint condition but that was precisely the appeal. It was as though they have been lying there from day one and left to deteriorate naturally. The feeling was so surreal that it's not far-fetched at all to suggest that the space has been preserved in a time capsule. 

The last time I saw a classic Olivetti add-listing machine was in the mid 80s at my mother’s workplace. Placed atop a period wooden cabinet, it instantly brought back fond memories because I used to punch the number keys on it with gusto. Sporting the same turquoise colour, unfortunately rusts have formed on some parts of the device.

This was the unit at the café (Apple iPhone 4s)

Everywhere you look, there would be pieces that remind you of the past. Right next to another wooden cabinet was a jumbo glass jar filled with bottle caps. While on their own the bottle caps have no real value, it’s what you do with them that could intrique iPad-totting kids. And so I taught my son how to play chepe, a simple game akin to carom but minus the board. When did you last play the game that made that distinctive ‘ching’ sound?

Matchboxes were arranged neatly in yet another antique wooden cabinet. My son barely glanced at the toy cars that were once upon a time my only hobby. Apart from the English-made Matchboxes, I also collected other brands such as Majorettes (fabrique en France) and occasionally Tomica from Japan. The last make had the smallest scale so their cars appeared 'slimmer' and did not feel 'proper.' Besides, they replicated mostly Japanese brands of which I wasn't a big fan of. I digress.

There were fizzes in the PEPSI crate when they still known as Fraser & Neave (Apple iPhone 4s)

An ubiquitous brown shopping paper bag with bold red Chinese letterings was hung on a gong holder, gently swayed from side to side by the gentle draft. My son's vocabulary was enhanced somewhat by the introduction of bubu (rattan fish trap), beduk (a solid wooden stump used to signal time for prayers or break fast), batu giling (grinding stone) and a few other items that were definitely not featured in his day-to-day conversation. If your young ones have not seen these specimens but have heard of them somewhere, it's not a bad idea to drop by the café.

Pak Ayob has purposely limited the items on the menu to not more than 12, with all of them served on sizzling hot plate. Of course, I only found this out when my fish and chips arrived in it, drenched with a kind of piquant sweet and sour sauce. It’s not how I would like the dish to be prepared but it was surprisingly pretty good. The fish was breaded, rather than dipped in batter and deep fried. The accompanying fries were crispy and chunky.

Fish and chips in gravy... Why not? (Apple iPhone 4s)

My other half ordered the black pepper steak, the meat tender and juicy. Her cousin left the fat that he had skillfully separated from his sirloin steak untouched on the plate, I had to refrain myself from nicking it. Everyone in the party felt that the portion of their meals was just nice for late dinner and I couldn’t agree more.

A manual lawn mower (Apple iPhone 4s)

The drinks were a tad disappointing. I would have preferred for them to be served in large, tall glasses to wash down the greasy, grilled meats. Those who asked for iced lemon tea or variations of it were definitely not getting the ideal temperature as the beverage was way too hot and melted the ice cubes in no time. 

Note the diamond brand wall clock at the back... (Apple iPhone 4s)

Seating arrangement in the café catered to both preferences of sitting on a chair and on the floor. Pak Ayob has built a split level ambin (wooden platform) for those who wish to go cross-legged while enjoying their meals. There is adequate seating area but do ring ahead if you are coming by the busload. Ambiance in the eatery was that of kampung (village) house, replete with furnitures and knick-knacks of old. If I could be completely honest, I couldn't tell who were the customers. The waitstaff and kitchen helpers intermingled so seamlessly. A TV (not of recent model) took centrestage and some eyes were glued to what's on. It really did feel and look like a living room. It felt familial. 

On the way out I managed to steal a look on the kopitiam-origin mirror. Yes, the one with embossed good luck wishes.

The late dinner is thanks to my other half's cousin but we can't express our gratitude enough to him and his wife for filling us in with this little known gem of a restaurant. 

Address: 52 Jalan Nuri 7/22, Sekysen 7 Kota Damansara 

Tel: 019-391 0024