BY CK LAM

Soul Kitchen Trattoria tucked away on Muntri Street in a pre-war house is the place to visit if you are looking for great eats in a laid back ambiance. The restaurant has some of the culture of the past, and is decorated with cool seductive retro chairs and few tables. A corner is decorated with two old briefcases with one of them, a 50s Berlin briefcase filled with books. Alternate steps of the staircase have been punctuated with wooden crate filled with green plants.

Not only does Soul Kitchen serve coffee and desserts, they also serve a roster of dishes. There is no printed food menu in this trattoria. Instead the contemporary Italian-inspired selections are posted up in the chalkboard on the both sides of the wall leading to the kitchen which focuses mainly on very straightforward breakfast items, sandwiches and pastas with varieties of options.

The beverages menu placed on the table is hand-written on a single piece of paper, creative indeed! What I like about this place is the quality and prices of the food

The meal started off with Ice Latte and Papaya Orange Smoothie followed by the restaurant’s signature dish, Penne Chicken al Limone. This generous plate of pasta at RM19 was colorful and savory. The zesty lemon juice added a zing to this plate of al dente tubular penne with tender pieces of chicken, capsicum and carrot, flavored by oregano, basil and parsley. The combination of lemon and the herbs gave it a refreshing taste. Portion wise, was nice for sharing!

If you like lasagna, this is a must try as it comes with difference in taste. The owner does really well with this dish with minced pork RM19. The pasta sheets with tender texture were layered with tomato based pork mince sauce, carrot, tomato and with mozarella cheese topping sprinkled with parmesan cheese.

The tasty lasagna came with a side salad of greens which include onions and cut tomatoes in balsamic vinegar. This lasagna is pretty much a meal itself and is very satisfying.

Soul Kitchen also offers healthy breakfast, with Tramezzini (grilled sandwiches) and also Scrambled Eggs done with bacon RM8 or with mushroom RM6. The Tramezzini RM10 comes with choices of gammon ham, tuna, turkey ham, mushroom and salami as fillings, coupled with tomatoes, cheese and sauce choices of mustard, sweet onion or roasted balsamic garlic.

Tramezzini, is available for breakfast but for light diners, this sandwich sometimes replaces lunch altogether. I could not resist ordering the Tramezzini with tuna fillings.

Soul Kitchen serves pizza, with choices of Pork Salami RM9, Anchovies & Olive RM7 and Mushroom RM8. Our choice was the Pork Salami which was dressed with toppings of tomato sauce, slices of salami, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. The salami and the ingredients all combine for a sharp distinct taste on this pizza with a thin crust, slightly crunchy edges.

The owners pride themselves on making their own sauces using freshest ingredients available, including the sauce for the pizza.

The meal ended with the light and fluffy tiramisu cake RM10 and cafe latte RM6. The tiramisu which is a staple on the menu at Italian restaurant is very popular in Soul Kitchen.

For those who relish eating outdoors, there are two sidewalk tables with people and car-watching view. This cozy trattoria is tucked away in the quiet Muntri Street, with free wireless internet access.

Soul Kitchen Trattoria
No.102 Lebuh Muntri
10200 Georgetown
Penang

Tel: 04 2613118

Business Hour: 10am – 3pm & 6pm – 9pm

Closed on Tuesday

Written by CK Lam, food review writer and editor of http://www.what2seeonline.com ; featuring the Best of Penang Food. She constantly combs Penang for the best gastronomical delights and loves promoting Penang Cuisines, Culture and Heritage.