Cotta Dinner Menu – Verve Suites, Mont Kiara
Words: Chris Lentner
Photos: Han Sen Hau
A new era begins: KL’s Dairy King has just unveiled a bold new dinner menu packed with passion, purpose, and pride.
Since opening in 2021, Cotta has emerged as one of KL’s most Instagrammable “secret” cafés. Originally situated above a convenience store in Damansara Heights with just ten tables, no signage, and a minimalist menu, Cotta relied on delivery and takeout to survive the pandemic. Once things started to open back up, word quickly spread amongst foodie circles and the Mont Kiara community. Soon, customers were lining up for forty minutes just to try Ivan Chong’s cheesy creations.
Two years ago, Cotta was forced to relocate to Verve Shops in Mont Kiara, a move that proved to be a blessing in disguise. With expanded seating, adjustable lighting, and abundant greenery (curated by Ivan’s mother), the new space retained its laid-back “speakeasy café” charm while elevating the overall experience. The old mini market stairway was replaced by a glass elevator, serving as a symbol of Cotta’s literal and figurative rise. The relocation also marked the beginning of Cotta’s evolution into a full-fledged daytime dining destination, offering accessible dishes and limited specials beyond its original open-faced fare.
Now, with the launch of its new dinner menu, Cotta takes its next bold step. The menu reflects Ivan’s deep commitment to his staff, sustainability, and the local community – his community. We were invited to sample some of the new dinner items and chat with Ivan about his inspiration, motivation, and what lies ahead.
Drinks Menu
Cotta serves a variety of tasty beverages like kombucha, organic teas, and coffee drinks to quench your thirst. In the evening, bottles of Tiger, Heineken, and Guinness are also available, and for a limited time, Cotta is offering free corkage, so you can stop at Hank’s downstairs and pick up a bottle of your favourite (or, in my case, the cheapest) wine to enjoy with your meal.
The best move, however, is Cotta’s homebrewed Sorry “KJ” Lemonade (RM15). While it exists in fine print at the bottom of the menu, this delightful potion should not be overlooked. I’ve had a lot of lemonades in my day, and this is the very best version. Rather than squeezing a bunch of lemons, diluting the juice, and adding sugar, Cotta takes lemon peels leftover from the cheese-making process (Cotta’s ricotta is produced simply from milk and lemon juice) and covers them with sugar and, two weeks later, uses the aged syrup to create a lemon drink with velvet-like finish. Imagine the soft, mellow tartness of limoncello without the alcoholic bite. One sip of this will change your view of how lemonade should taste.
Cotta’s Dinner Menu – Starters
We began our dinner with two Ricotta Tartines, which were elegant evening reinterpretations of the open-faced sandwiches from the day menu. As Ivan wryly noted, “No one wants to eat a whole sandwich for dinner.” The Chuck Mooris (RM 35) was a lesson in balance and restraint. The fattiness of the smoky braised brisket was cut by the herbal freshness of homemade chimichurri, while a schmear of Ivan’s signature ricotta softened the sting of the fiery red chilli. The Tuscany (RM 33) was a satisfying vegetarian option featuring smoked mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and a balsamic reduction. The umami-laden mushrooms provided a savoury chew that made us forget about meat for a split second.
A charmingly rustic bowl of Baked Camembert (RM 28) was delivered like a holiday gift to our table. A dollop of blueberry compote and hunks of thick cut duck bacon provided a mouthwatering sweet-salty contrast. Oozy, savoury, sweet and tangy, this is a dish your mother will attempt to recreate for the next three Christmases.
As an Asian boy with Viet origins, I’m a sucker for a well-blended pâté. Silky smooth, a little funky… it’s everything I aspired to be in high school. Cotta’s Pate Spread (RM 23) is served with tortilla chips and a gooey fig honey that helps tame the gaminess of the chicken liver. Give me this over chips and salsa any day!
Last but not least, the Peruvian Chicken (RM 29) slathered chunks of luscious skinless chicken thighs in a sauce of homemade Greek yogurt, garlic, and jalapeños. The zesty meat morsels invigorated our tongues and made for an idyllic sharing dish.
Greens
Two vegetable dishes offered a brief but welcome pause from the steady stream of richness being pumped out of the Cotta kitchen. The Burnt Cabbage (RM 28) placed a wedge of flame-kissed cabbage atop a bright magenta purée of cabbage and beetroot. A syrupy drizzle of balsamic and a shower of sharp cheddar cheese completed the dish, which masterfully showcased the cabbage’s natural sweetness.
KL’s Harvest (RM 28), a lively salad composed of hydroponically grown greens, various seeds and nuts, green mango, pickles, long beans, winged beans, torch ginger and mint, was perhaps the most memorable dish of the night for me. Salads are usually something I order to help digest the giant mound of meat I just consumed, but this one actually made me yearn for more. Light, zingy, crunchy, and unique, this salad was a mosaic of textures and flavours that I won’t soon forget.
Pasta
Returning to the onslaught of decadence, the Smoked Duck Carbonara (RM 34) was an over-the-top version of the classic Italian staple, subbing salty chunks of duck bacon for the traditional lardons of guanciale, and throwing in a sous vide egg to gild the lily with its delightfully runny yolk. In stark contrast to the lumpy pile of carbs that many restaurants try to pass off as carbonara, Cotta’s version gracefully coats each strand of pasta in a luxurious emulsion, allowing for infinite twirlability.
The Mushroom Ricotta Pasta (RM 31) incorporated Ivan’s signature ricotta in a light cream sauce studded with woodsy bits of roasted mushrooms. The addition of peppery arugula and yet another sous vide egg made it the perfect dish for a spring evening with friends.
Cotta’s Dinner Menu – Mains
Two comforting mains arrived just as we began to slip into a food coma. Quivering chunks of slowly braised beef brisket rested on a pillow of truffle mashed potatoes for the Chuck Mooris 2.0 (RM 60), a dressed-up rendition of the popular daytime sandwich. Roasted broccoli and carrots completed the hearty dish, which could easily serve as a standalone meal.
The Seafood Stew (RM 70) was a revelation, with hunks of scallops, fresh clams, octopus, and charred prawns. The complex broth, composed of tomatoes, ginger, and concentrated shrimp essence coming from a 2-year-old mother stock, including the genius addition of gochujang, which took a typically one-dimensional dish to a whole new level. It was the type of dish that makes you say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Dessert Menu
A trio of simple, yet satisfying desserts concluded our meal. The Homemade Ricotta Ice Cream (RM 19) was a reinterpretation of the Original open-face that helped to build the Cotta brand. Retaining the DNA of the signature dish, homemade ricotta is blended into a tangy frozen treat and topped with walnuts, a drizzle of wild honey, and a sprinkle of smoked salt. The Chocolate Ice Cream (RM 23) was a deeply dark, intense ice cream for adults, while the satiny Blueberry Panna Cotta (RM 25) served as a smooth landing to our dinner flight.
Reasons to try Cotta’s new dinner menu: Born from hardship and forged in failure, Cotta is a story of resilience in the form of a dreamy tropical café. Behind each dish is a diverse crew—Icey, Munna, Anam, and Faisal—some with refugee roots, all bringing unwavering pride to their craft. There’s no chaos in the spotless kitchen, only deep respect for the work, the space, and the opportunity to build something meaningful, one plate at a time. Come for the comforting sharing dishes and mains, and don’t forget to add a refreshing salad and a lemonade to balance your meal. Conveniently situated on a floor that houses a Pilates studio, an acupuncturist, and a salon, Cotta is the natural final stop on your wellness circuit. Free corkage for now!
Cotta – New Dinner Menu
L6-1A Verve Shops, 8 Jalan Kiara 5, Mont Kiara
Kuala Lumpur 50480, Malaysia
Link to Cotta on Google Maps
www.cotta.com.my
@cottakl
Cotta Opening Hours
Daily: 8:00am – 10:00pm
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