Zoe in Kuala Lumpur takes you on a global culinary voyage

The baby octopus and prawn bisque tagliatelle is fashioned out of perfectly cooked cephalopods and a quietly pleasant bisque. - YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

There is something immediately warm and welcoming about Zoe. The place has a homey charm, spun from an interior that is pretty but doesn’t have that modular textbook quality so common in modern eateries (who presumably hire the same interior designers).

Here, exposed wooden beams criss-cross the ceiling, tables are furnished with fresh flowers and an outdoor area is accentuated with the understated charm of potted plants. In fact, it’s hard to shake the feeling that this is a restaurant that has been fashioned out of that most elusive of qualities: tender, loving care.