Coffee Talk Premium

Special thanks to Coffee Talk Premium for extending this food review invitation.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Penang has been seeing an increasing number of food trucks in the recent years. Coffee Talk is one of these food vendors on wheels. Operating from a fleet of trucks, Coffee Talk serves espresso-based coffee at high-traffic locations in Seberang Jaya and Penang Island.

Building on its success, Coffee Talk has started several permanent locations where food is served. Coffee Talk Premium at D'Piazza is the second restaurant after the flagship store in Simpang Ampat. In addition to coffee drinks that Coffee Talk has been renowned for, Coffee Talk Premium also serves primarily Western food such as grilled meat and pasta. The food here is entirely pork-free.

The dining section of Coffee Talk Premium uses wood as the primary theme. Wooden tables and chairs are arranged with wide spaces in between, providing a comfortable sense of spaciousness. Customers may also choose to be seated on a raised platform. Meanwhile, a 20-seater room is also available for private events. On the room's wooden wall is a mural which serves as backdrop for group photos.

Starting with drinks, Talk Lah (RM7.50) is Coffee Talk's lingo for latte. The drink is prepared from two shots of espresso. Medium-dark roasting imparts interesting bitterness as the coffee seeps between my lips. Espresso and milk both pull their own weight to produce this satisfying cup of coffee.

Meanwhile, Talk Green (RM7.50) is Coffee Talk's green tea latte. This drink is also as milky as the previous one.

The next is Coffee Talk's signature drink, Coffee Talk (RM8.50). The iced version contains a heap of shaved ice on top. Although the choice of espresso is great, coffee flavor in this cold drink is not as prominent as compared to its hot counterpart.

As for something fruity, the Signature Yogurt (RM8.00) is a non-caffeinated choice. This slushy drink is blended from iced and with mango and passion fruit cordial. Overall, I think the level of sweetness should be reduced.

The next drink is Tasty Lemongrass Fruits Juice (RM15.00), which is served in a glass teapot and is kept warm by a burning candle below. The drink is boiled from actual lemongrass stalks, and then filtered to remove the pulp. Lemongrass juice is then mixed with fruit juice such as orange. The resulting drink is very aromatic and strikes a chord with my palate.

Hardcore coffee drinks may want to try a bottle of Mocha Premium (RM9.00). Prepared in chilled form, the coffee's concentration is very strong because this drink is meant to be consumed in small sips over an extended period of time. I find the rich coffee to be very satisfying. Besides Mocha Premium, other bottled drinks are Signature Premium (RM9.00) and Green Tea Latte Premium (RM9.00). 5 bottles of any flavor are offered at a discounted price of RM40.00.

As for food, today's meal begins with an appetizer: Japanese Takoyaki Ball (RM10.90). Takoyaki (たこ焼き) is a popular street food in Japan. Prepared in a molded pan, spherical balls of flour batter are filled with diced octopus and onions. Takoyaki is typically served with savory sauce and katsuobushi (鰹節). This appetizer is best enjoyed while it is warm.

The next dish is Grill Chicken Salad (RM13.90). Grilled chicken cutlet is dressed with balsamic vinegar and is served over a bed of lettuce leaves. Copious amount of almond flakes provides crispy texture and a sense of nutty flavor.

As for fish, Coffee Talk Grilled Salmon (RM29.90) is the choice today. A salmon fillet is dressed with teriyaki sauce, and then plated with other ingredients such as mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, broccoli, pea pods and carrots. The overall presentation is commendable. However, I feel that the salmon is slightly dry; I personally prefer my fish to be less done and juicier.

Moving back to poultry, BBQ Honey Chicken (RM21.90) is one of my favorite dishes this evening. The sweet-savory sauce scores early points by tantalizing my sense of smell with appetizing aroma. Similar to the previous dish, the chicken chop comes with assorted vegetables on the side.

Cheese lovers may prefer to go with the Aloha Chicken With Pasta (RM21.90). Crispy chicken cutlet is topped with tomato sauce and baked cheese. The crispy chicken is delectable on its own, but when coupled with tomato and cheese, the overall sensation is simply satisfying. To add on, this dish also includes pasta al pomodoro (pasta with tomato sauce) and vegetable salad.

Vegetarians will be glad that Coffee Talk Premium has several non-meat dishes to choose from. For instance, Mushi-Mushi Pasta (RM14.90) is essentially aglio-olio linguine with deep-fried shimeji mushrooms. The pasta's flavor is dominated by paprika, but with all things considered, this vegetarian dish is still milder in taste than previous dishes. It is important to note that while no meat is used to prepare Mushi-Mushi Pasta, the batter for shimeji mushrooms contains eggs.

Advancing to desserts, Classic Lava Cake (RM15.90) is one of the more popular choices. Upon being served, the chocolate cake pervades the immediate surrounding with irresistible cocoa aroma. Also as soon as the cake is punctured, molten chocolate sauce oozes out in a viscous manner.

The chocolate cake complements well with vanilla ice cream, which is rather dense and creamy in consistency. Also arranged on the side are several types of cut fruits such as strawberry, mango and kiwi.

In addition to the à la carte menu, Coffee Talk Premium offers set lunch (RM16.90) between 11:00am and 3:00pm every day. There are 10 main dishes to choose from, some of which have been introduced earlier. The meal also includes soup of the day, and a glass of fruit drink. For RM3.00 more, the tea can be upgraded to any coffee of the customer's choice.

Name: Coffee Talk Premium
Address: 70-1-60, D'Piazza Mall, Jalan Mahsuri, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 012-550-8419
Business hours: 10:00am-10:30pm (Monday-Thursday), 10:00am-11:30pm (Friday-Sunday)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Coffeetalk-Premium-1337327019611672
Coordinates: 5.32615 N, 100.28210 E
Directions: Coffee Talk Premium is located at D'Piazza in Bayan Baru. The restaurant is adjacent to House Of Kolomee and faces Olive Tree Hotel at a distance. Outdoor parking and basement parking are available at D'Piazza.