One Half — Restaurant in Petaling Jaya

Competitive, quality-driven coffee shop with an emphasis on single origin coffees.

Let's start with the coffee: when we went in, they had 9 listed pour-over options and 3 more coffees being profiled. Coffees ranged from expensive micro-lot auctions (RM55 a cup) to moderately-priced wholesale coffees (closer to RM20), and moving forward they are going to expand the green-bean importing side of their business. We had 9 different filter coffees, ranging from natural to washed to carbonic maceration, and I must say, they roasted, prepared, and presented all their coffees so well. This shop is on par with some of the tastiest coffee in Amsterdam, Berlin, Portland, or Brooklyn. We did also have a couple flat whites and a cold brew with orange juice. Flat whites were perfect. The cold brew orange was actually one of the best beverages of any type I have ever had; I almost couldn't believe it. I don't usually even enjoy cold brew that much.

The food is a selection of a few rustic sandwiches and various sweet or savory pastries. We had a couple sandwiches and pastries; I think we tried the cookies, fruit danish, portobello pastry, almond croissant, tomato danish, and a veggie sandwich. The sandwich was built around great bread - and to go with it an excellent, flavorful, aromatic assortment of veggies, cheese, and spreads. Spicy mustard, sweet tomatoes, the whole thing worked great. The fruit, tomato, and mushroom pastries were very, very good. The light, French-style pastry dough was made very well, and I should give a particular shout out for how the mushroom appeared to be roasted and salted ahead of time so that it was more this savory, chewy addition to the pastry, and not wet or soggy at all, very well-done. The only thing I was on the fence about were the cookies. They were delicious, to be sure, but for me, the amount of butter overwhelmed the other flavors a bit.

Also in the shop is a handcrafted-goods market, with some clothing, cups, candles, balms, etc. We found a couple different items we really liked, and compared to what we'd pay at home, they were priced quite reasonably (average price we paid per item: RM 100). There was also a vending machine outside with various semi-disposable film cameras, and we grabbed a black and white camera to take on our trip to Penang.

Service was great. Not snotty at all, and the baristas talked with us quite a bit about their business and coffee and whatnot. I believe the barista we talked to the most was named Hau. Really friendly, knowledgeable guy....

On 21/12, 9pmish we went into the shop after meal, looking at the curated items, from Jellycat plushies, candles to toothpaste and toothbrush and etc….

While my child was curious at the end of the shop that lays a bed full of pastry uncovered sitting there OPENLY allowing the air, dust and all roam freely around the pastry or even landed on those pastries , I saw he was there looking at the pastry near (not even touching it), I went over and realised it was real pastries. Then the staff stood up accusing my child went near and touched the pastry…I asked my son and he say he did not(I trust him, knowing he wouldn’t do that). While the lady staff stood there wanting to bring out a thong and bag for me to takeaway ‘since’ my son ‘touched’ it. I told her that he did not touch it, and she told me that she saw it (from afar, wasn’t even standing behind the pastry bar!) then she started packing the pastry that she claimed being touched by my son.. saying I have to buy it.

Before I made payment, I mentioned that it’s better to have a signage saying that ‘ONCE TOUCHED CONSIDERED SOLD’ or whatever signage that will not allow people or kids to go near to it…mind you that the counter was at the height of an 8 year old, she just killed a curious cat.

After stating that she should have a signage there, she was holding the packed pastry saying it’s ok if you don’t want to pay. I was fuming in me, thinking why all the fuss and now you don’t need me to pay?? What do you want me to do now. And hello, with this conversation going on INBETWEEN with this bed of pastry laying around, how is it even HYGIENE.. she didn’t even use a glove, the thong wasn’t new (or maybe it’s new, no business, since it’s 9pm there are still easily 30++ pastry laying there since the shop opened? Like how many hours have the pastries been exposed out there with customer going in and out…

I paid RM12.70 tuition fee to know what this pastry shop is unhygienic in many ways, and a rude staff and marched out.

Now that I thought about, I shouldn’t even bought it. Requested for a CCTV footage. At least give a chance for my child to explain room for mistake (if it’s proven otherwise).

All in all, DO NOT BRING YOUR child there…you may end up buying every...

After much consideration, I will give 3 stars.

I came across One Half whilst looking for a quality coffee place. My trip was impromptu as I was in the area. First impression when I entered the shop, it has the feel of a proper award-winning barista bar.

I asked the cashier about their beans and she told us that their beans are light to medium roast. Although I was tempted to try the Panama Gesha, but I opted for cheaper option to see how their barista can accentuate these.

For their Rwanda latte, I find it very lovely and does have flavour. However, the Guatemala is...not up to our expectation. It's almost as if the beans were dark roasted as the boldness of the beans comes through. We were expecting more flavourful profile rather than a normal latte like other places.

For their pastries, berry Danish was quite hard but I guess the taste is ok. Orange cinnamon roll quite disappointing. I've had better rolls elsewhere.

Despite all these, I would probably come again just for the coffee. Perhaps need to try their hand brew coffee or another try of their whites. But only if I'm around the...