Uncle Don's: Chill & Dine like a Don

Uncle Don's is a casual dining restaurant that has become quite popular with PJ folks. So much so, that they've opened up 4 branches quickly in the Klang Valley (SS2, Solaris, TTDI and Hartamas), with the 5th branch recently launched in Taipan, Subang Jaya. If you've passed by Uncle Don's, chances are you'd notice a group of people waiting outside patiently to get a table. The restaurant is usually very crowded, especially on weekends.

Since we were curious to find out what drew people in droves to eat at Uncle Don's, we decided to check it out.

What is Uncle Don's magic sauce, so to speak? In a sentence - above average food, very affordably priced, served in a comfortable setting. The food here will not break your bank; you can pick from a wide variety of western fare, from pasta to pizza to chicken chop to crispy pork knuckle. Their local favourites are also worth a try, in particular the Malaccan Portuguese dishes brought by 38 year experienced Chef Don Daniel Theseira. Most dishes here are priced between RM10.60 - RM21.20.

Ambience wise, it's quite cosy, with all the tables very closely placed next to each other. Since the place is always buzzing with a high volume of diners, having a quiet conversation can be a bit tricky here as you'd need to speak loudly over the constant din to be heard.

Let's get down to the food!

For starters, we ordered Nachos Chili Con Carne with Chicken (RM19.05). It's a big plate of crispy nachos drenched in homemade chili con carne, topped with melted cheese and jalapenos. It looks like one big mess, but trust us, it tastes good. The crispiness of the nachos matches well with the gooey, warm melted cheese and the saltiness of the jalapenos. It's a great appetiser to tease your taste buds with.

The next dish to arrive at our table was the Spaghetti Carbonara with Bacon (RM16.95). We like our carbonara sauce to be very thick and creamy, which it is, while the bacon is a perfect blend of lean and fatty meat. This savoury pasta fills up a hungry stomach in a satisfying way.

Then we had the Pork Burger (RM12.70). It's filled with a grilled homemade patty, topped with fried egg, pineapple, apple slaw and served with fries. This tasty burger hits all the right notes and is our definition of the ultimate comfort food!

Next came the Spicy Bacon Pizza (RM16.95). This thin-crust pizza with a tomato based sauce is topped with spicy pork bacon, capsicum and cheese. Its delicious blend of flavours tingled our taste buds, especially since we are avid bacon lovers! Also, we think the pizza is real value for money, considering its large size.

Aside from these popular western dishes, we also ordered a local favourite dish - the Portuguese Baked Fish (RM19.05). The stingray is served attractively on a large platter wrapped in an aluminium foil, topped with long beans and eggplants; to be eaten with keropok and white rice. This is probably our favorite dish. The baked fish has strong authentic flavours; its spiciness is balanced by the eggplants and raw onions. Squeeze some lime over the fish for that extra kick of sharp tanginess.

For drinks, we ordered a Ribena Lemon sling (RM7.30) and a Tropical Isle smoothie (RM8.30). The Ribena Lemon is a cool zesty drink with a sweet sour mix of lemon squeeze, topped with lemon lime soda. The Tropical Isle is a fruity blend of banana and pineapple, mixed with pina colada. Both are soothing drinks to cool off with, after eating the spicy portuguese baked fish.

All in all, after our visit, we think Uncle Don's offers the perfect melange of hearty and fulfilling dishes for the hungry diner, at really affordable prices. If you don't mind the crowd, then join in!