It’s been a while since I was here – my last post dated May 2010 – HERE so I didn’t know what to expect. It had remained an insanely popular place since it’s opening, and from general feedback, I was informed that the quality of breads has since deteriorated, service is bad, it’s packed to the rafters everyday, etc etc.
Hence I had avoided a re-visit; til just a few days back, when a bunch of us decided that we would like to brunch out on BREADS on the 2nd day of Raya.
Thanks Pop for the pic!
I thought it’s a good idea anyhow, to experience for myself how’s it is like now. So I told everyone to arrive at 1130am, “to beat the lunch crowd“; so to speak. Tough luck though, for it was packed even by then; cars were packed on both sides of the roads & the place was crowded with no empty tables available.
This is worse than Ipoh dim sum crowd on a weekend; I thought in despair.
One of the more popular breads – this pretty star shaped “bun”.
Anyhow, long story short, we resorted to “glaring” at the occupants of tables that were almost done with their meals, and I stood pointedly right beside their table with my arms folded. Ok, perhaps that was an exaggeration, but you get the drift. 
30 mins just to get a table, 15 mins of wait for me to get a miserable tray for my breads and another 30 mins queuing up at the cashier to pay for my purchases.
By the time I sat down with my food, I was faint from hunger & frustrated as hell.
My purchases: A durian cheesecake, a mentaiko bun, a curry chicken loaf & a tuna + fishcake bun (Ok, they have got nice fancy names but I lost the receipt! Hehe.. ).
I had the cakes here on my last visit & thought they were pretty decent. This visit I zoomed in on the durian cheese cake immediately, & I would rate it a fair 6.5/10.
It wasn’t too dense nor too cheesy and it had just enough pungency; just like how I like my durian desserts.
Curry chicken loaf.
Mentaiko Bun & Tuna + fishcake bun.
All of that cost me about +- RM24.00. The cake was around RM7.90 (I think) & the buns are averagely RM4.00 – RM6.00.
Luckily enough for me, food wasn’t too bad. Yes, some breads/buns were left out a bit too long & it has harden slightly. Still, the retail traffic is such that most popular breads are sold within an hour or less of hitting the shelves. So that probably only happens to the least popular buns.
My mentaiko bun was one. Perhaps it is weird to eat fish eggs & bread, but I loved it. Briny popping marinated fish eggs with chewy bread. Yums!
This funky named bun wasn’t something I would have bought if I knew what was inside. Tuna flakes stuffed within a fish cake roll & that stuffed into a normal white bun is not my kind of bread.
But this I love! My curry chicken loaf is wonderfully crispy on the outer crust, yet chewy & soft on the inside. Did you see the air pockets? Thumbs up for texture!
As a personal preference I’ll stick to the healthy & whole grains since I’m not fond of fluffy empty breads, but there are a few here that’s just too cute! Like this one!
This is a huge favourite ok, almost every table has one on their trays! It’s basically a white bun coated with chocolate flakes & filled with cream.
The pizzas here are decent too, and you have the choice to either choose from the ready baked ones, where they are displayed at the bread counters, or you can order your pizzas ala-carte.
Both pizzas are different of course, as you can see from the visuals below. Naturally prices differs as well; with the freshly baked ones at RM10+ and the ones by slices around RM5.00 each.
Look at the crust! Nice, thin & crispy!
These are the individually slices ones.
Mushroom & Cheese.
Sausage & cheese.
While the above are round with thinner crust, the ones below are triangular & thick crusted.
Seafood pizza & Ham Pizza.
For more substantial meals, go for the pasta & soups.
MORE PICTURES of what we had that day:
It was a bread outing!!
Some of the healthier, whole grains loaves.
So yes, it’s not hard to see why Levain Boulangerie is so popular. There are breads, sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, MACARONS (yes, another post on that one) packaged with a cosy; albeit bustling ambiance.
Conclusion:
Good variety of breads/buns. Decent food – pizzas & pastas. Limited selection of healthy or European breads. Popular mainly for its atmosphere & suitable for patrons who are not particularly seeking for artisan European breads.
So who’s been there before? What’s your opinion of the food/breads? Tell me!
LeVain Boulangerie Patisserie
No. 7 Jalan Delima, Off Jalan Imbi, (right beside CocoTei Japanese Restaurant)
55100 Kuala Lumpur
03 – 2142 6611
Open: 8am to 8pm – DAILY
All pictures are:
I want that chocolate thing with eyes! It looks so cute!
hahaha.. goes to show tht marketing based on “looks” works!!
hehe, maybe the key is to go there for breakfast, instead of brunch or lunch! but no wonder they’ve expanded their operating hours till year until dinnertime 😀
Yup, problm is I can get back early but none of my friends can! LOL
Ahh, the queue and crowd sounds like a nightmare but I love the idea of a meal based around just stuff from the bakery. I haven’t been to Levain but I spend a lot of time at their sister outlet Ficelle in the neighbourhood. I know they’ve been slammed through and through by many others but I don’t care, it’s still responsible for quite a significant uplift from the bakery scene where I live! 🙂
Yups! It’s not quite artisan, good quality breads but they are decent when you compare to sad chains like Bread Story, Bread Talk etc!
I have to hit those new bakery cafes that’s been sprouting ard town! So many!
My daughter likes that chocolate ball with eyes too.
it’s marketing i tell u! It;s not even “good” bread ! LOL.. I’m more for the healthy grains kind..
lil’ black monstaaaa with white eyes! ;D
Nom nom nomssss! Hehehe!
I would go for the curry chicken loaf….looks really good!
Yes tht one is good! Esp for the chewy crisp texture!
Hi rebeccasaw,
Kindly be informed that this post has been reprinted on JoinMe.com.my, thanks. ^^
P/S: We have put your name and link credit back to this article.
Been there a couple years ago. Then, it was not as crowded as it is now (luckily…). But judging by the mass crowd you mentioned, I doubt I’ll go back again unless I’ve got lots of patience to spare. Hehe. I heard they’ve another branch in Taman Desa. Have you been there before?
Oh that’s Ficelle Boulangerie! Nope never been there nor will I head there. Tmn Desa is alien to me!
Yea, you can head there real early… perhaps then it won’t be so crowded! 🙂
look sooo sedap! wanna try it!!
Go go go! 🙂
Pictures are wonderful and the food, as usual, looks delicious!
Regards from Barcelona.
xxx :good:
Alex
Alex!!! * big hugs *
TQ for leaving a comment, keep in reading & I’ll see u in barcelona soon! *fingers crossed*
I agree with your review. I went there too expecting a nice place with a nice atmosphere, instead I experienced crowds similar to Matta Fair. What dissapointed me the most is that they use the word ‘Boulangerie’ when there is almost no ‘real’ bread for sale at their shop. Of course those that like patisseries will have a better time at LeVain. I am not fond of all the sweet snacks, so LeVain was a 1 time visit only. I also did not like the service that much…and to be honest; I understand that waiting for a table it not fun, but once you have a table it is even more annoying that people come stand right next to you to watch you eat (and leave) :).
May I suggest a very nice bakery? Visit The Bread Shop at Bukit Damansara…wonderful and fresh bread. Another place with very nice bread is Ben’s Bangsar Village I. They needed some time to start (it’s their small shop next to their restaurant); but now they have a couple of amazing breads!! 🙂
Ilya
Wonderfulmalaysia.com
Awesome Ilya, u know your breads! I havea feeling both of of us will get along very well! LOL.
Yup, I been to The Bread Shop, and I have to tell you, Craft Bakers at Solaris Dutamas & even Hagen Bake & Brew at Mt Kiara does better breads!
Yes I’m a HUGE bread lover & I go ard munching thru bakeries 😛
I been to Ben General Food Store in BVI, at that time there wasn’t any breads for sale that time, well, time for a re-visit!
And I will be blogging abt Hagen, Craft Bakers & The Bread Shop soon! 🙂
Great!! Could really use some nice new places. To be honest; I liked Bread Shop as it had bread that was already much better than what was used to. Still it is not the same as bread back in The Netherlands; dark brown; thick crust, soft inside, healthy taste (instead of sweet). Found nice bread at some places in Singapore and even Indonesia, but not that often here in Malaysia. Will definitely check out Craft and Hagen B&B. Solaris Dutamas; is that where the rows of bars are? Or am I mistaken with the other solaris nearby? 🙂
Grateful for the new places to check out in my quest for ‘real’ bread hehe 🙂
I know what you mean! I’m such a bread fan & I have been actively seeking good breads in KL.
Craft Bakers’ location is a bitch to find. But Hagen’s much better – it’s just oppposite Plaza Mt Kiara, top la vacas, baskin robbins.
Hi Illya & Rebecca,
I get excited too on good breads! Been longing for exchange of bread exp like this esp. in the comments..
Wonder what do you guys think between The Loft and Levain, heard both are deteriorating.
Mind sharing my exp here? This is one of my fav:-
Utmost epicureans moment @ hotels’ bakery at http://gblog.gpros.net/?p=225
Hi GPro! Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. Yes, I love to exchange bread stories with fellow readers & friends too 🙂
I have another just reviewed :
https://www.rebeccasaw.com/craft-bakers-bakery-cafe-solaris-dutamas-get-your-european-breads-here/
And my fav now is Hagen Bake & Brew in Mt Kiara – next post on Mon!
I will check out your link too! Thks for sharing 🙂
Pingback: Tommy Le Baker @ Viva Residency, Jalan Ipoh - Best breads, artisan bakery | thenomadGourmand