Family Friendly Cafe in Johor Bahru
We brought the kids to Flame & Fern Cafe for lunch. It’s a family-friendly cafe in Johor Bahru with a very industrial but comfortable vibe. Since we were with the kids, we chose the outdoor seating area because it’s brighter.
The kids spent a while playing in the mini garden before coming back inside.
One thing I found really interesting is that they have an open kitchen, so guests can watch the chefs prepare the food. I think this not only keeps the kids entertained, but it also becomes part of the dining experience for adults.
The kids even went to sit at the table facing the open kitchen just to watch the chefs cook.
Flame & Fern Cafe specialises in charcoal and open-fire grilling, so you might have to wait a little longer for your food, especially during peak hours.
Flame & Fern Cafe Food We Ordered
Woodfire Grilled Lamb Ribs (RM68)
I saw some reviews mentioning about the fat content is too much. But during my visit, I found the amount of fat was just right. For charcoal-grilled meat, I actually think it’s good to have some fat because as it cooks, the fat naturally keeps the meat moist. That’s what makes the lamb juicy and gives that delicious dark crust.
The grilled lamb ribs were very tender, smoky and flavourful. The marinade leaned more towards the sweet side, so I didn’t dip it into the sweet and spicy sauce they provided.
That long fried-looking thing is straw fried. Very crispy and addictive so all my kids like it.
Roasted Spring Chicken & Chips (RM38)
The chicken is quite small, but that is not surprising since it’s a spring chicken. The portion is still good enough for one person.
I like how they grilled the skin. It’s not super crispy, but it has a nice lightly charred texture with a slight chew to it, which I actually enjoyed. It gets even better when you squeeze some lime over it, as the citrus really brings out the smoky flavour.
Black Angus Ribeye 300g (RM218)
For the beef steak, we had Black Angus Ribeye and requested medium rare. It was well cooked and juicy. It comes with roasted garlic, kizami wasabi, homemade bearnaise and mixed salad. One thing I would prefer is if they roasted the garlic a little longer, so it would be softer and sweeter.
Wild Mixed Mushroom Alfredo (RM32)
This spaghetti was surprisingly good! From the top, it looks like a normal cream sauce pasta, but once you mix it, you will find onsen egg hidden underneath. When mix, the spaghetti gets coated with the creamy sauce and onsen egg, so it’s super creamy and flavourful without feeling too sinful.
Seafood Marinara Pizza (RM42)
It was my first time having pizza with a balsamic reduction, so I found it quite interesting. The dough is the thicker type rather than the thin and crispy type. Personally, I prefer a thin-crust pizza, but if you enjoy a thicker, chewier base, you will probably like this one.
Burnt Caramel Cheese Cake (RM18)
The cheesecake was actually pretty good! We waited a while before eating it, so the texture was just right, creamy, mousse light and melt inside our mouth. It’s not too sweet, and the torched top added a light burnt flavour to cheesecake. If you eat the cheesecake with the biscoff crumbs and salted caramel sauce made it even better!
Mango Buttercream (RM19) and Elderflower With White Peach (RM18)
We also got these two drinks for the kids. They are fizzy drink and the top part is a buttercream. They are a little too sweet for my liking, but the kids seemed to enjoy them.
Overall, we enjoyed our experience at Flame & Fern Cafe. There were a few dishes that stood out more than others, but I really liked the cosy atmosphere, the open kitchen concept, and how family-friendly the cafe is.
Flame and Fern Cafe
Address: 61, Jalan Chengai, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, 80250 Johor, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Thursday: 10am to 9pm
Friday to Sunday: 9am to 10pm
Closed on Monday