The Prep Room

Previously of Penang’s Coffee Elements, Akmal Zaki is now at The Prep Room. The menu – a labour of love, quirkily hand-illustrated – features a standard selection of burgers, pastas, salads, stews and soups, as well as, of course, coffee. It’s elevated with thoughtful touches: hash browns, sausages, pasta sauces and the like are made entirely from scratch, for instance. The fare is fairly straightforward, but far less common is the café’s charm and character – for that alone The Prep Room is the star of the Sri Hartamas show.