Olive Oasis

While visiting South Australia, Ken Phuah dropped by a cafe that, at the risk of sounding corny, changed his life. The cafe was located within an olive farm and it prepared everything with all things olive. That was five years ago. Today, Ken and his business partner Danny Tan have a cafe to call their own, inspired by that Australian escapade. Called The Olive Tree Cafe, the cafe uses a lot of olive oil and fruit in the preparation and presentation of their dishes.

The first thing you'll see walking into Olive Tree is a mural of, well, an olive tree—making their intentions clear and loud. Take another look around, and you'll slowly appreciate the cafe's clean, simple and bright ambiance. The thought put into the space's look makes Olive Tree stand out from the other restaurants in the Damansara Intan area.

Currently catering specifically to the working crowd (note it closes at 6pm), Ken says that it's Olive Tree's aim to serve quality food at unpretentious prices… and for the busy executive, service is pretty fast too! The menu is not extensive, offering favourites like salads, sandwiches, pastas and Asian fare like nasi lemak and roti jala. But what they lack in quantity is made up with quality: Their special nasi campur, for example, is served with two generous pieces of fried chicken that was perfectly juicy and sotong that was succulent, and not rubbery. Colour us impressed.

Ken has plans to add more items to the menu and hinted at plans of extending opening hours some time in June to include dinner. But for now, drop by for their set lunches that range from RM13.80 to RM18.80—affordable, just like everything else on the menu. The Olive Tree Cafe is located at Lot D-G-06, Casa Suites, 1 Jalan SS20/27, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya. Open: 8am–6pm (closed on Sundays).

Text Sarah Chan Photo Courtesy of The Olive Tree