Jama KL, Solaris Mont Kiara

Brunch takes a welcome turn from the typical eggs Benedict and big breakfast platters.

House-smoked salmon rillettes form a thick, tasty and tender-textured topping for country sourdough toast, a layered tartine with eggs, fermented leeks and dill buttermilk creme fraiche, a worthwhile open sandwich for fans of morning bread (RM25). 

If creamy comfort is what you crave for your first meal of the day, order the fresh corn grits, a lightly sweet porridge served soft and warm with poached egg, pan-fried mushrooms and pickled shallots (RM22).

Casual day drinking isn't frowned on, with Prosecco, red, white and rose all available by the glass.

While Jama isn't a meat-free venue, vegetables are the kitchen's bright, shining stars.

Palate-reviving pleasures include firm but juicy momotaro tomatoes with pickled white onions, hot peppers, mustard breadcrumbs and Parmesan shavings in white wine vinaigrette (RM22). beautiful boiled beets with a natural bounty of braised wheat berries, caramelised fennel, sumac and tahini yogurt sauce (RM20), and a rich hummus of blended white beans with spiced shiitake-eggplant relish and extra virgin olive oil (RM17).

Jama prepares its own pasta, so order the carbonara that's distinctively different from any other carbonara in the city, with perfectly al dente pappardelle in robustly savoury cured duck egg yolk sauce, rounded out with smoked duck pancetta (RM32).