Pasta at San Lou

Finally visited San Lou Pasta Bar one weekend and happy to report that it was a most enjoyable meal. Translated, it means 3rd floor, located in a residential condo in Kelana Jaya, PJ. The tiny but cozy resto has all of 7 tables and probably seats at most 20 pax at one time if it’s a full house. 

Owner and Chef Stephen who has worked in Basilico and Manhattan Bar in Singapore for the past 10 years, decided to return to his home base to try his hand at business here in 2023. Essentially pasta that’s been given a Chinese flair and Stephen has made the dishes all come together surprisingly well.

We started off with eggplant parmigiana which was a lot like arancini, except this was eggplant, no rice. Who’d knew Chinese-style Lamb stew, given a few tweaks, would go so well with rigatoni? Arrived brimming hot in a small claypot, decent portions of soft, tender lamb in flavourful chunks interspersed with rigatoni made this quite a delish affair.

His version of chili crab was nothing like the Singaporean crustacean dish as it had more of sambal overtones. Entirely his own concoction, the gravy/sauce was more like a rich mildly spicy sambal with strong shrimp (belacan?) coating each strand of fresh tagliatelle which he makes himself. The crispy soft shell crab added texture to the al dente pasta. It’s so rare to get pasta in Malaysia with the right doneness so this was sheer joy. 

My fav had to be the Tuscan pork jowl, a lovely mess that oozed layers of flavour, and meat so dreamily soft and tender. The tomato-based gravy on Bucatini tossed with pulled pork jowl and grated 24-month Grana Padana was good every single mouthful.

Dessert was tiramisu that came with a shot of vodka that you can opt to remove or top up, and there’s a small selection of craft beers and wines. 

Prices average around RM30 give or take, and reservations are recommended as it’s a small place and easily full. Only open for dinner for now. Sauces are all made from scratch and some of the pastas too. I believe my Italian friends would approve of Stephen’s take on their beloved pasta!

Add: No. 3-3, Menara Infiniti, Jalan SS 6/3a, Petaling Jaya. hp: 011-1092 0938