Update: This business has ceased its operations.
Pinetree Café near the USM entrance opened for business several months ago. However due to dispute among business partners, Pinetree closed down as abruptly as it opened. After several months of unexplained hiatus, the café has been given a new lease of life when it reopened under a different name, Uni Cafe (理大Cafe).
Currently operated by one of Pinetree’s former owners, the interior design remains mostly unchanged. The walls still carry the same pine tree motifs.
The menu is also very similar. Most dishes are Western-style comfort food which university undergraduates love and can afford.
My choice for dinner tonight is the Grill Teriyaki Chicken Burger (RM8.90) which comes with a side of crinkle-cut fries. The portion is decently large; certainly has high value for money.
The burger buns are of the no-frills type; so economical that there are no sesame seeds. I do not feel that this is a big deal because the patty is where the burger makes or breaks.
Speaking of the patty, it is a piece of deboned chicken breast grilled with sweet teriyaki sauce. The chicken is grilled to near perfection, resulting in scrumptious flavor within each bite. It would have been nicer if cartilages were also removed from the burger patty.
The burger also includes vegetables such as tomato, cucumber, lettuce and onion. Mayonnaise is also used, but I feel that teriyaki sauce itself should suffice.
Drinks need to be ordered separately. Mine is a glass of Lemon Tea (RM2.00).
Overall, the food Uni Cafe is good and affordable enough to warrant regular visits.
Address: 559-D, Jalan Sungai Dua, 11700 Gelugor, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-656-2882
Business hours: 11:00am-3:00pm, 5:30pm-10:00pm, closed on Sundays
