KUALA LUMPUR: Many have different memories of the oldest colonial-themed steakhouse in the federal capital, the Coliseum Cafè & Grill Room which first opened its doors in 1921 along Batu Road, now Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
Its patrons in the past included British novelist and playwright W. Somerset Maugham who visited it in the 1920s as well as British planters, tin miners and military officers from the colonial era.
Local notables who favoured the restaurant include cartoonist Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid, better known as Lat, and former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
To housewife Mikia Liang, it is a special spot because the near century-old outlet was where she had her first date with her husband some 20 years ago.
The closure of the iconic cafè located in the heart of the city near Dataran Merdeka, another victim of the Covid-19 pandemic, had Liang recalling the fond memories of that afternoon where she fell for her husband Christopher Kwok, now 61.
Speaking to the New Straits Times, the 44-year-old housewife said she and her husband used to work at McCann Erickson in Menara Aik Hua not too far from the Coliseum Cafè
"It was my 23rd birthday and my husband took me there for our first date. We were colleagues then and that lunch started it all. Thanks to the lunch date, today, we are happily married with beautiful children," she said.
Liang said she was not surprised by the closure of the outlet, especially with the current economic situation where it is difficult for businesses to sustain themselves.
"Honestly, when I heard about it this morning, I was heartbroken and my mind started thinking about that afternoon 20 years ago.
"We went there a few years back for one of our anniversaries with the kids for lunch and showed them where mummy and daddy had our first date," she said with a smile.
Liang said she and Kwok will most certainly miss the afternoons spent there with cold afternoon beers and the simple bread and butter.
"I can still remember the classic white table cloths and simple soft slices of bread and loads of butter that we used to have. Simply love the place, its olden days ambience and service.
"Yes, they still have two of their new outlets for us to visit but it will never feel the same as the one on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman," she said.
The Coliseum Café is located on the ground floor of the heritage Coliseum building adjacent to the Coliseum Theater.
It is one of the best examples of the city's colonial heritage and is well known for its mouth-watering Hainanese western-style cooking, especially its sizzlers and grills.
The cafè decided to close its doors to patrons in March last year after a Movement Control Order (MCO) was announced.
A news portal quoted Coliseum Cafe's Marketing Manager, Azrain Azman as saying that the lease had ended and poor business during the Covid-19 pandemic had led to the cafe's loss of income.
It was reported that the MCO restrictions and work from home regulation has made them lose their regular customers and dine-in customers.
While feasting on the selection of the Hainanese western-style cooking at the iconic Coliseum in the heart of town may no longer be an option, three of their outlets at Plaza 33 and Midvalley Megamall and IOI City Mall in Putrajaya are still operational.
However, under the present total lockdown period, only the one at Plaza 33 is open for deliveries while the other two are closed temporarily.