Seeking Restaurants

West 57th Street Café

2009-12-31T00:31:00.000-08:00

Otherwise known as fashion designer Zang Toi's cafe, the original outlet still stands strong in Sungei Wang. This second outlet is located inside Parkson departmental store. It’s a perfect stop after a whole day of shopping. Its cozy ambience and pretty décor instantly relaxes the tired shopper. The most popular item on their menu is their Banana Chocolate Cake. At RM7, it is a good deal thanks to the sheer generosity of a slice. With warm chocolate syrup and fresh bananas, the cake is comfort food personified. You can also opt to have a scoop of ice-cream with the cake. It’s no wonder why we started out with dessert instead of the mains! With sandwiches, pastas, soups and Asian favourites on the menu, there’s enough variety here. However, the Nasi Lemak Combo (RM21) and Spicy Pasta (RM18) we ordered fell short of expectations. The Nasi Lemak Combo comes with chicken rendang, sambal prawns and greens on the side. Once again, the portion impressed us, however the chicken was extremely tough and dry making it an unsatisfactory meal. The Spicy Pasta was not appealing in presentation (looks like a messy glob of sauce) but will appeal to kids thanks to how cheesy it was. It felt like we had ordered lasagna instead.

Contact:
Lot 4.42, Parkson Pavilion,
55100 Jalan Bukit Bintang
Tel: 03-2145 7701
Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm
Cuisine:
Western

Chawan

2009-12-31T00:29:00.000-08:00

Situated where the old Devi's Corner in Bangsar was, is Chawan, a kopitiam smacked right along Telawi Street. Despite opening recently, the place is already regularly packed to the brim. What drew us to the place was word of mouth that the Nasi Lemak with Chicken Rendang (RM9.90) is good. The reality didn't turn out to be that appetizing. For what it's supposed to be, the rice tasted too plain. The chicken rendang didn't taste too bad, but its portion is so small that you end up devouring it ahead of the amount of rice. There wasn't much to say about the sambal either; it lacked a spicy kick. Try the asam laksa (RM9.90) instead. The sourish laksa broth is balanced in terms of the concentration of fish flavour, making the noodles tangy and worth every slurp. As the name Chawan implies, this cosy place is great to grab a cuppa, as you can get any locally-produced coffee on their menu. Alas, everything here is over priced and nothing offered is close to fancy.

Contact:
69-G Jalan Telawi,
3 Bangsar Baru,
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2287 5507

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 8am – 12am

Cuisine:
Local

River Caffe

2009-12-31T00:18:00.000-08:00

Cleverly named using a play of homonyms, Palate Palette adds a dash of fresh It's quite surprising to find good nosh at really affordable prices at Chulan Square. River Caffe is a kopitiam-esque restaurant that whips up local and western meals, any time of the day. The Bread & Curry Chicken is a nice choice to start off. Although the taste of the curry is quite mild, this mouth-watering dish will get your appetite going. One of their signature dish is the River Caffe's Special Nasi Lemak (RM7.90). What's so special? Serving your usual nuts, anchovies, egg and cucumber as condiments, they also throw in some papadam, chicken rendang and cuttlefish with sambal at your platter. It's delectable and it's filling too. The Nasi Goreng (RM7.90) also gets the thumbs up. The rice is fried to a crisp light brown, with generous amount of meat and shrimp throw in. The portions of the food is one reason why it's worth the visit here. It is big enough to be shared with another person. The waiters are friendly and attentive too. Although the place is really empty off meal-times, the quiet environment is ideal for those who want some privacy.

Contact:
Lot 3, Block B,
Chulan Square,
92 Jalan Raja Chulan,
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2141 6944

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 7am - 2am

Cuisine:
Local

Palate Palette

2009-12-31T00:16:00.000-08:00

Cleverly named using a play of homonyms, Palate Palette adds a dash of fresh air to the Valley’s dining scene. As is typical of the more upscale of Changkat Bukit Bintang establishments, Palate Pallette is splashed with lots of attitude and style. This is apparent from the first moment you step into it. Palm trees wrapped with a rainbow of colours and an ingenious astroturf-covered wall greet you. The outdoor entrance area makes an excellent place to chill out under the stars amid their colourful cushions and comfy chairs.

Within the restaurant’s interior, there’s a kaleidoscope of colours arising from a mish mash of newly upholstered chairs and bar stools, peppered with carefully chosen vintage details—antique wooden door and cast iron sewing machine, etc. A couple of chairs even looked as though they’d been rescued from someone’s opulent dining table set. The owners have obviously put a lot of thought into creating a funky atmosphere. On the practical side, however, it’s not easy for any orderly table arrangements with the different sizes of the chairs and tables.

The menu offers cuisine which is fresh with flavours and a slight Asian influence. Slurp down their ambrosial Mushroom Cappuccino (RM18) topped with white milk foam and made from a mix of oyster, baby Portobello mushrooms and their own home made stock. It’s utterly delicious that you will be downing it to the last drop. For something fresh, try the crunchy Shrimp Salad (RM18) served with a creamy avocado chutney and Japanese mayonnaise, accompanied with endive and butterhead leaves.

Comfort food is always an instant draw especially when it promises tummy gratification. The Curry Chicken Pot Pie (RM16) with its mild Japanese curry infused chicken cubes, peas and carrots offer ultimate satisfaction for the soul. Coupled with the crumbly puff pastry, it was a heavenly combination. Although the Oxtail Shepherd’s Pie (RM18) sounded equally gratifying, the braised oxtail combination with vegetables was disappointingly bland. Topped with gooey roasted garlic mash potatoes, it could’ve been much better with a more robust filling.

Choosing your dessert here is not an issue as they only offer a tiny selection. The Petit Green Tea Mille Feuille (RM13) is served with filo pastry stacks flecked with black sesame seeds, sandwiched with green tea pastry cream and raspberry coulis sounded promising but the green tea cream lacked flavour and the filo pastry wasn’t as crunchy as promised. For a richer taste, indulge in their Ginger Crème Brulee (RM12) served with thick almond biscotti. Although the ginger flavour is faint, the cooked cream is rich and smooth under the burnt sugar crust.

Even though parking can be hellish around this area with the new condo development opposite the road, the warm and playful environment of Palate Palette may entice you to reconsider. For the budget conscious, they also serve a set lunch for RM20++ with starters, entrees and drinks during the weekdays which feature a good selection of their signature dishes. For desserts, add an extra RM5++.

Contact:
21 Jalan Mesui,
off Jalan Nagasari,
50200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2142 2148

Website:
www.palatepalette.com

Operating Hours:
12pm - 12am (Sun -Thurs, closed on Mon)
12pm - 2am (Fri - Sat)

Cuisine:
Western

Nong & Jimmy

2009-12-31T00:12:00.000-08:00

When one mentions barbeque, it’s usually assumed that it would involve an inordinate amount of sweating in the heat as the food cooks over hot coals. For an easier solution, opt instead for Nong & Jimmy where they serve barbeque seafood Thai style. Just a sprawling shack with zinc metal sheets, this place is packed especially during the weekends. A must order as a starter is a plate of tiny Char Kuih (Fried Dough Fritters) served with bright green pandan kaya as a dip (RM3 per plate). Sadly, the char kuih is slightly chewy versus crispy making it just a tummy filler while you wait for the main act. Although the grilled squid is bland if eaten alone, it’s delicious when dipped in the sauce made with sweet chili sauce with a dash of calamansi lime juice. The grilled crab, on the other hand, was a huge disappointment with dry and tasteless meat. Appearances can be deceiving with their fried rice which looks plain but is fluffy with egg shreds and generous sized prawns. A big letdown was the tom yam, which tasted simply ordinary even though it was served with a generous portion of seafood. Even though the Thai style steamed fish was the last to arrive, it was worth the wait, its sweet flesh having fully absorbed the flavours from the chillies, garlic and lime juice.

Contact:
27363 Jalan Cahaya 1,
Taman Cahaya, Ampang,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 019-261 1345, 012-273 8069

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 6pm to 11pm (Closed on Monday)
Cuisine:
Southeast

Bonjuk

2009-12-31T00:11:00.000-08:00

Following the craze of Korean culture invading the rest of the world, KL has bore witness to Korean soaps, boybands, soccer stars, horror flicks, transsexual actresses and… barbeques. But if sizzling meat on hot coals that smoke out your clothes and hair ain’t your thing, you might like to consider Bonjuk.

If you don’t already know, Bonjuk is a Korean franchise that boasts an impressive 700 outlets in Korea, Japan and USA, recently opening its first outlet in KL. For the Koreans, eating porridge in the old days was a way to stretch whatever little grain they had when food was scarce. Nowadays, it’s touted as a health alternative. And Bonjuk promotes this very seriously, even offering discounts to members of Yoga Zone and True Fitness.

With 17 types of porridge on the menu, Bonjuk claims each can contribute to improving different aspects of one’s health. For instance, the Seafood Combination Porridge (RM22.95 for large, RM15.95 for medium) with oysters, shrimps, squids and clams is nutritious and has essential vitamin and minerals. We liked the tasty combination of Octopus and Kimchi Porridge (RM19.95 for large, RM12.95 for small). Slightly spicy because of the kimchi, it’s apparently good for preventing cholesterol and stomach cancer. Kimchi is also said to help with digestion.

If you can’t take spicy, try the Beef and Mushroom Porridge (RM17.95 for large, RM11.95 for medium). It’s cooked with minced beef and a special type of oak mushrooms known as Pyogo. A low calorie item, the mushroom is claimed to be good for preventing diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer—also for healthy skin and bones.

While Koreans prefer their porridge made with black sesame seeds, sweet pumpkin, red beans, pine nuts, mung beans and black beans, these types take some time to get used to for the Malaysian palate as they can be quite bland. Some can also be sweet like the sweet pumpkin porridge (RM15.95 for large, RM10.95 for medium) that tastes more like dessert.

Although some types of porridge tend to be on the bland side, you can pair it with the variety of kimchi made from beef, seafood and cabbage served on the side for flavour. The thick porridge also comes with a topping of toasted sesame seeds and seaweed that can be mixed in. A large bowl of porridge makes quite a substantial meal and if you wish to have a lighter meal, choose the medium portion.

Contact:
18 Ground Floor,
Jalan 25/70A,
Desa Sri Hartamas,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2300 2302

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
10am - 10pm (Close on second Mon of every month)

Cuisine:
Korean

Hayn’s Pizzeria

2009-12-31T00:08:00.001-08:00

Although there are pizzerias all over the town, Hayn’s Pizzeria definitely holds its own with its paper thin crust and innovative toppings. Started by Arne Hayn, a German of Italian descent, pizzas here are made the true Italian way, albeit with some interesting creations tossed in. Pizzas here come in three different sizes—eight inches, ten inches and twelve inches—and there are sixteen different types of toppings to choose from. Try the unusual but delicious banana pizza—a combination of turkey ham and sliced bananas drizzled with chocolate sauce tops a wafer thin crust spread with home made tomato sauce. If you prefer more fruit, they also serve a pineapple and mango combination drizzled with chocolate sauce. Aside from pizzas, Hayn’s has also concocted an unusual pasta dish—Butter Prawns Pasta (RM19.90). Reminiscent of the butter prawns dishes we usually get in Chinese tai chow places, the prawns are sautéed and served with a buttery sauce tinged with curry powder and curry leaves. Not too creamy with a slight hint of spiciness, you’ll slurp it down in a minute. Leave some room for dessert. The tiramisu (RM6.50) is a creamy concoction while the crème brulee (RM5.50) is just as decadent with a thin caramelised sugar crust. The pizzeria also serves a selection of gelatos from Lecka Lecka. If you live within the Hartamas area, they’ll deliver. Alternatively you can dine in the stark white café which comes equipped with Wi-Fi.

Contact:
LG 64 Jalan 27/70A,
Desa Sri Hartamas,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 1300-82 3000

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11am to 11pm
Cuisine:
N/A

Banquet

2009-12-30T22:44:00.002-08:00

Ever since the Banquet opened at Bangsar Village II, fans of Café Café, its sister café have been visiting it to see if they can experience the same magical feeling they’ve been getting at Café Café. Boasting an interior totally unlike the French cabaret-inspired Café Café, at the Banquet you get a classic garden atmosphere with rows of dark green Christmas trees, white furniture, chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling mirrors to create an illusion of space.

Although the owners are trying to create something different, they’ve kept their old favourites like the Duck Confit, Beef Bacon Salad with Red Wine Poached Egg, Hot Chocolate Cake and Tiramisu to keep Café Café fans happy. Aside from the Western selection, the Banquet also serves Asian dishes based on recipes from Penang where the owners hail from.

For starters, you can choose to satisfy your local tastebuds or go for something more exotic like foie gras. The Mango Salad (RM13) was quick to arrive on our table once we placed our order. Delicious slivers of green mangoes and onions were tossed in a mix of peanuts, crushed crunchy ikan bilis and chopped bird eye chili. Next was the Aromatic Chicken Wings (RM14 for 6 pieces) which was deep-fried until crispy. With a slight hint of shrimp sauce, the chicken wings were a good snack to indulge in while waiting for our main meal. Although the Crispy Brie (RM23) came in a small portion, it was delicious with the melting cheese centre that paired well with the tangy sauce served on the side.

The Wok Fried Special Noodles (RM18) looked and tasted similar to the mamak mee goreng found at roadside stalls. It smelled heavenly though especially when it arrived piping hot. Also aromatic was the Chicken Casserole with White Wine and Mixed Mushrooms (RM35) which was topped with beef bacon. Unfortunately the chicken was not fork tender. If you like fish, try the Oven Baked Butter Fish Served with Creamy Honey Mustard Sauce (RM25). You’ll need patience though as it takes 20 minutes to prepare. Although the fish was tender and flaked off easily with a fork, it felt slightly dried out on top. Dip the fish into the rich and creamy honey mustard sauce made with butter, minced garlic, honey and wholegrain mustard. Though it tends to get quite rich after a while. Perhaps it would’ve been better with a squeeze of lemon juice to cut through its richness.

A must have when you dine here is the heavenly Tiramisu (RM18). It’s just a small portion but perfectly done with just the right amount of brandy-soaked sponge fingers topped with creamy whipped mascarpone. Special mention should be given to the service as they were especially attentive and well versed on each item on the menu. Although this place is catered for casual dining, a meal here can be an expensive outing as items on the menu are on the costlier side for the portions served compared to other cafes.

Contact:
1f-28 Bangsar Village II,
2 Jalan Telawi Satu,
Bangsar Baru,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2282 3228

Website:
bbq-chicken.com.my

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 10.30am - 10.30pm

Cuisine:
Fusion

Ayam Bakar Wong Solo

2009-12-30T22:44:00.001-08:00

Walk into this place and you’ll see a bevy of home sick Indonesians hanging out waiting to taste a bit of home. Part of a franchise originating from Solo in Yogyakarta, it serves Ayam Bakar based on a secret recipe concocted by the founder, Puspo Wardoyo. The restaurant is famous in Indonesia, having won an Enterprise 50 award and was named one of Indonesia’s Superbrands. With two outlets in Malaysia located in Ampang and Kampung Baru, you don’t need to visit Indonesia to sample the food. The Ayam Bakar (RM5.50) is aromatic but slightly dry. Try the fried batter bits on top of the chicken which tastes extremely good with white rice. Their Empal Lembu (RM5.50) is fork tender as they use the best part of the cow. Dip it in the kicap manis or spicy sambal for additional kick. Also good is the crunchy Pecel Lele (RM5.50), deep fried catfish. It’s so crisp, you can even eat the crunchy bones together with the sweet fish flesh. The Tahu and Tempe Goreng (RM4) can be quite tasteless so add lots of kicap manis to give it flavour. Try the traditional Sayur Asam (RM5) to accompany the food. It’s a slightly sourish and pretty substantial soup of corn cobs, long beans and potato chunks.

Contact:
G18 & G19, Jalan Dagang B/3A,
Taman Dagang, Ampang,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-4270 1947

Website:
bbq-chicken.com.my

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11.45am - 11.30pm

Cuisine:
Southeast

Korea BBQ Chicken

2009-12-30T22:40:00.000-08:00

Touted as Korea’s number one chicken restaurant, this latest Korean import serves a variety of chicken dishes which will definitely make you proclaim it’s finger lickin’ good (if it weren’t for the fact that the expression is already copyrighted). Although the name seems to indicate the restaurant only serves barbequed chicken, the specialty is actually fried chicken marinated with 30 natural seasonings. Using a method developed at a research and development centre known as the “Chicken University”, it’s deep fried in a special type of oil with a higher smoking point which is directly imported from Korea. Although prices tend to be higher than your neighbourhood fast food joint, the portions are pretty substantial. Priced at RM12.50 for a two-piece Olive Luxury Chicken, it’s served with coleslaw and a choice of either mash potato or seafood fried rice. The extremely crispy chicken is juicy on the inside from the special methods they use. Try the Ginseng Power Crunch version for a Korean ginseng taste (RM14.50 for a two piece set). Also good is the Teri-Q wings (RM7.50 for 4 pieces) with a crispy batter made from glutinous rice flour. For those who love spicy fried chicken, try the Hot Hot Version which is coated in a hot sauce and marinated with hot pepper grain. The Charbroiled Chicken (RM14.50 for a two piece set) is also a good alternative if you don’t like fried items. Udon is also available and the soft drinks are bottomless.

Contact:
No. 24, Jalan 27/70A,
Desa Sri Hartamas,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2300 1019

Website:
bbq-chicken.com.my
Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm

Cuisine:
Western

Cambodian

2009-12-30T20:39:00.000-08:00

This latest eatery in Desa Sri Hartamas offers a variety of Vietnamese, Thai and Cambodian dishes. Their forte lies in Vietnamese food as the owners also run the Vietnam Passion Restaurant at Chulan Square, Kuala Lumpur. There are two dining areas – one within the restaurant’s air-conditioned area and an outside area equipped with a big screen television perfect to catch those English Premier League games. For starters, try the Prawn Spring Rolls (RM12). Wrapped in rice paper with a filling made with prawns and herbs, the tasty morsels will be finished in no time. Although their Thai Pandan Chicken (RM10) offers great value for money with six big pieces of chicken, the pieces were dissapointedly dry. Instead go for one of Exotic’s few Cambodian dishes on the menu – the Cambodian Fish Curry (RM16). Served in a young coconut, the curry was creamy and fragrant with kaffir lime leaves. It tastes even better when you scrape the coconut flesh and eat it with the curry. Another great thing about this place is the rice served here is fragrant and fluffy which makes a great companion for those curries. The menu also offers one dish meals and noodles, if you’re dining alone or just looking for a quick lunch.

Contact:
2, Jalan 24/70A
Desa Sri Hartamas,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03–2300 1196

Website:
www.westindining.com.my/restaurants/qba.asp

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm

Cuisine:
Asian

Qba

2009-12-30T20:35:00.000-08:00

Widely-known for its mojitos, caipirinhas, heaving bar and dance floor that packs Latin music and dance fans pretty much every evening of the week, Qba does have a relatively quieter and less hectic side. Upstairs, where the restaurant and cigar lounge are, has a grill that serves up inspiring and vibrant Latin American dishes. The menu of which recently just went through a refresh.

Now boasting a broader menu that spans tapas to seafood to steaks from around the world, the restaurant definitely holds its own with faithful interpretations that are strong on flavours and fresh ingredients imported from Latin America. No localised and diluted options to be found here.

Among the highlights on the menu are the selections of steaks on offer, which rivals any steakhouse in town. Apart from the Argentinean Las Lilias, other stand-outs include Australian Wagyu and Grain Fed Black Angus. And to emphasise the variety and quality of their steaks, the restaurant even offers a Tasting Steak Plate. Plus for those who need some additional flavours to go with their juicy steaks, there is a nice selection of Latin American-centric sauces.

Qba has always prided itself on providing a total Latin American experience, from its interior design to the live music to its rum collection to its food. Its time for the latter to step into the spotlight.

Contact:
The Westin Kuala Lumpur,
199 Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2773 8338

Website:
www.westindining.com.my/restaurants/qba.asp

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 5pm - last guest leaves

Cuisine:
South-American

Rumours

2009-12-30T20:32:00.001-08:00

If you’ve been getting wind about a new restaurant opening in Desa Sri Hartamas, well the news isn’t false. Rumours is the name of the new establishment and is the brainchild of its managing director, Bill Addington. The quirky name was taken from the early stages of the restaurant’s conceptualization, where speculations were circulating amongst Addington’s friends and associates about how his new place would look like.

Aiming to provide a dining experience that is “refined, attentive and unpretentious”, Rumours’s décor helps live up to that promise with its warm lighting and comfortable high-backed rattan chairs. The menu is varied, with influences from the Mediterranean, Asia and Europe. For starters, we were intrigued by the prawn, mango, tomato and cucumber tower, served with gratinated escargot, salad with Asian lemon dressing and garlic bread (RM25). The selection of mains has something for every taste bud. Want some Italian? Try the mushroom risotto. In the mood for seafood? How about the pan-fried confit salmon or oven-baked cod fillet? As for dessert, the most visually appealing has to be the marinated strawberries with balsamic, basil and brown sugar with vanilla ice cream (RM15)! The restaurant also has a decent selection of wines to choose from, so why not unwind over a glass after dinner?

Contact:
24, Jalan 28/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2300 6650

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
6pm till late (Mon - Sat)
12pm - 3pm (Sun)

Cuisine:
European

Yashi-No-Mi

2009-12-30T18:43:00.000-08:00

This little known Japanese café has actually been in operation for over nine years. Located under the shadow of the Pavilion across the road, it looks like this quaint place will most likely continue to slip under the radar of most diners, with so many brighter and more extravagant eateries around. The dark glass frontage, obscuring any view into the café, doesn’t help either.

But to a small and loyal following, Yashi-no-mi will continue to delight. It is popular amongst the expatriate Japanese crowd working in the area. They pop in for a quick bite or stay for a few drinks in the evening for there is a decent collection of whiskeys, sake and shochu on offer.

If you think Japanese food was all about sushi and tempura, then you will be happy to discover great, down to earth Japanese café cuisine here. Dishes such as omu rice – flavoured fried rice encased in a delicate omelette, spaghetti and Japanese curry may all sound like foreign dishes. However, they have all made their way into the contemporary Japanese diet, featured at Yashi-no-mi in a simple but homely menu.

Japanese curry, which is sweeter and milder than our Malaysian version, is a real favourite at Yashi-no-mi. The pork cutlet curry (RM20) contained a piece of pork loin, covered in Japanese breadcrumbs and fried, only to be immersed in a delicious curry sauce and served with rice.

Contact:
Lot G-01, Ground Floor,
Wisma Cosway,
No. 88, Jalan Raja Chulan
Tel: 03-2148 4254

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
12pm – 2.30pm,
6.30pm – 12am
(Sat dinner only, close on Sun)

Cuisine:
Japanese

Rak Thai

2009-12-30T18:41:00.000-08:00

Situated in the wing that connects Gardens to Mid Valley Megamall, Rak Thai is a pleasant corner that benefits from a lot of space. The décor is very natural and calming, with lots of wood and Thai paraphernalia. For those who love Thai instant noodles, you’ll be glad to know that they sell it at Rak Thai. The menu, though not extensive, covers a satisfying range and hits all the prerequisites from tom yam to the mango sticky rice dessert. The meal started disappointingly with the seafood glass noodle salad (RM8.90). Though it came in a big portion, we were overwhelmed by the abundance of lettuce and basil leaves. The glass noodles, peanuts and seafood disappeared under the greens. However, things improved significantly with the Green Curry Chicken with rice (RM9.90) and the Khao Ki Mau (RM8.90). The former was extremely savoury, albeit a little too sweet, and was loaded with chunky chicken bits. The Khao Ki Mau was very tasty as well, presenting a great mix of the herbs and chicken. Beware as it’s pretty spicy! But no problem, down it with the refreshing Cucumber Lychee Mint Smoothie (RM6.90) or Thai desserts like Tub Kim Krob (water chestnuts, jackfruit, red ruby with fresh coconut milk). Overall, Rak Thai scores well for their generosity in portions, affordable prices and authentic Thai cuisine.

Contact:
LG 232 A, Gardens,
Mid Valley City,
Lingkaran Syed Putra,
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2284 6918

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11am - 10pm

Cuisine:
Southeast

Departure Lounge

2009-12-30T18:37:00.000-08:00

Step inside this restaurant, first thing that you'll notice is the amount of travel books neatly arranged on the shelf. Lonely Planet, Let's Go or Rough Guides - more than enough to inspire your next holiday destination. There's even a photo mural whereby customers can share a picture or two of the places they've been. If you need a travel companion, you can even put up an ad at the Traveller's Classifieds, a small dedicated section for travellers.

Jet-setting aside, Departure Lounge is a nice place to grab a bite, and their sandwiches are recommended by many. Their BLT Toga Sandwich is a thin flat bread wrapped around bacon, lettuce and tomatoes with prevailing freshness and healthy feel to it. Besides some nachos and salsa sauce to boot, the portion is small. It'll be more fulfilling if there's more than just 2 tiny rolls.

The Chicken Pamigiana can best be described as spaghetti in a sandwich. It's sloppy as the tomato gravy drips down your hand. You can opt for the meatball variant too if you want. There's also an all-day Do-It-My-Way Breakfast Set specially tailored to your preferences. Despite how quiet the place is, Departure Lounge's cosy comforts and affordable pricing makes it a good chill-out spot for a game of Monopoly or reading up about Iceland. The only downer is that it closes too early!

Contact:
No. 10, Jalan Solaris 4,
Solaris Mont’ Kiara, 50480, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-6203 0362

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
8am – 7pm (Monday-Saturday)
10am-5pm (Sunday and public holidays).

Cuisine:
N/A

Four Season Chinese Restaurant

2009-12-30T18:33:00.000-08:00

Bayswater is the motherland of Chinese food in the UK’s capital with its variety of quality and authentic Chinese food with restaurants like Royal China and Four Seasons. However, even with all this reputed competition, the latter perpetually takes at least half of the street’s clientele. And it’s always been all in their roast duck.

A branch was very recently brought down to the newly opened Cap Square. Now, this was really good news. We checked it out to find it bore little resemblance to that in London. In fact, it looked more like a Kim’s Gary outlet than a Chinese restaurant. The duck, albeit tasty, did not quite meet the Queensway standard.

However, it was a good value for money at RM15 per plate of duck rice of that quality. Besides the duck, Four Seasons also offers the usual meat-rice combos including char siew rice and a variety of chicken rice; all around the same price range. Try it for yourself

Contact:
G16-17, CapSquare Centre,
Pesiaran CapSquare,
Capital Square
50100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: N/A

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11am - 12am

Cuisine:
Local

Nasi Lemak Kampung Baru

2009-12-30T18:03:00.000-08:00

C.T. Garden Nasi Lemak (aka Nasi Lemak Stadium Sulaiman)
Serving up one of the best and cheapest nasi lemak bungkus in town (RM0.60), C.T. Garden is packed from dinner time ‘til the wee hours. Each packet wrapped in banana leaf and newspaper consists of rice, a dollop of sambal full of ikan bilis and hardboiled egg portion. Though the rice is slightly wet, the sambal packs a punch. One packet is never enough so don’t be surprised to see customers scarfing a few packets in one go.

R.A. Nasi Lemak
Popular among inner city workers, the nasi lemak here is served buffet style. R.A.’s rice is steamed in the traditional wooden barrel, making each grain fluffy and separate. You can choose have your nasi lemak with the thick sambal and usual condiments of peanuts, ikan bilis, hard boiled egg (RM1.50) or add extras from a selection of accompanying dishes, including its famously crunchy deep fried paru (cow’s lungs).

Contact:
C.T. Garden Nasi Lemak
Jalan Dewan Sultan Sulaiman,
Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: N/A
R.A. Nasi Lemak
15 Jalan Raja Abdullah,
Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 012-244 4911.

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
C.T. Garden Nasi Lemak
Open 6pm to 5am.
R.A. Nasi Lemak
Open: 6am to 11am (Monday to Sunday), 4pm to 12am (Monday to Friday).

Cuisine:
Local

Lafite

2009-12-30T17:59:00.000-08:00

Kevin Cherkas no longer leads the kitchen; the position of Chef de Cuisine at the restaurant is currently held by one Damon Campbell. While KL-ites might still be unfamiliar with his name, Campbell is a star in his own right having won gold medals in competitions like the Culinary Olympics Food Competition in Germany. Previously, he was working at the three-star Michelin restaurant The French Laundry in California, under the renowned chef Thomas Keller. Damon’s personal philosophy when it comes to having a great meal is that the food only counts for 60% of the whole experience. You can’t rely on the sense of taste itself; the sense of sight, smell, touch and sound has to be heightened too. His cooking styles aptly reflects this belief, for example, Damon uses spherification when he cooks, and it is described as a “process by which liquids are trapped in thin spherical casings, which when crushed in the mouth, burst open and bathe the tongue with flavours.” All we can say is: woah, when can we try that? Well good news, Damon’s menu for Lafite is all ready with 22 specialties. Some signature dishes include the Inside Out Pizza (RM12++), Caviar Donut (RM68++), Vaporised Scallop (RM58++), ‘Long’ Chicken (RM72++) and the Melt In Your Mouth Beef (RM115++), which is apparently cooked for 48 hours before serving. If you want to taste a bit of everything, Lafite’s Explorer plates are recommended at RM295++ (six plates) and RM410++ (nine plates).

Contact:
Shangri-La Hotel,
11 Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2032 2388

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
Fusion

Yuzu

2009-12-30T17:56:00.000-08:00

Tucked away in a secluded corner at The Gardens, the unobtrusive entrance of Yuzu belies the huge space that this Japanese restaurant occupies. To draw a distant analogy, perhaps this restaurant is like its namesake, the yuzu fruit, which appears small in size but big in flavour. For the uninitiated, the yuzu is a tart-tasting citrus fruit that is rarely eaten on its own, but its fragrant rind and juice is used in Japanese cooking for flavouring and garnishing. Think of what a lemon is to western cooking and you get the idea. We loved the warm Zen-like ambience of the place, with its extensive use of wood and bamboo combined with interesting water features. Service was very attentive; empty plates were promptly whisked away and the free-flow o-cha regularly refilled without asking.

For starters, we had the Koebi Karage (RM8), after being enticed by the picture of flaming-orange baby shrimps on the menu. We were a tad disappointed when the deep-fried shrimps turned out to be much paler than portrayed and extremely salty. Thankfully, our next starter, the highly recommended Yuzu No. 1 (RM20) lived up to its name. An interesting mixture of chopped fish, scallop and vegetables is shaped into a ball and wrapped with what appeared to be bacon and baked with a cheesy cream sauce, making this dish Japanese fusion at its best. The only setback was the price, which seemed a little too steep for such a small snack.

Next, we tried the King Prawn roll (RM28), a beautifully presented dish featuring a huge prawn with its head and tail intact at the ends of the roll. We were not entirely blown away by this combination of prawn, salmon and avocado, but it tasted as good it should be and is worth ordering for those who can’t live without their sushi. The following dish, Wagyu Ishiyaki (RM55) or stone-grilled Japanese beef, came to the table amid much sizzling, sending forth a heavenly scent of soy-seasoned seared beef. Suprisingly, the wagyu slices did not really produce the melt-in-the-mouth experience that we were anticipating. Nevertheless, it tasted delicious especially when eaten with the thin slices of mushrooms underneath which have absorbed all the flavours of the beef. Maybe we’d have better luck with the Kobe on the next visit.

Contact:
T236, 3rd Floor,
The Gardens, Mid Valley,
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2284 7663/7763

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11.30am - 10pm

Cuisine:
Japanese

Mezze

2009-12-30T16:55:00.000-08:00

Mezze, located inside Tang’s departmental store, is definitely eye candy. With its African-influence décor and beautiful details on every piece of furnishing, it looks like a place you could bring a date to. But be warned though, Mezze is not recommended for a romantic dinner date for two. The food here is more appropriate for snacking, or a light lunch, as it comes in small portions. The Turkish yoghurt, leek and pumpkin soup (RM10) is topped with caramelized butter which when arrived, turned into a film of oil floating on the creamy soup. Thankfully, it tasted better than it looked – the mint and paprika balanced what could’ve been a nauseatingly creamy concoction. Their Hot Mezzes are the main meals of the restaurant, and the Spicy Saffron Chicken was a nice blend of herbs marinated into the meat. But at RM16 and at a portion so tiny, it is overpriced. Give their moist chocolate cake (RM8.50) a miss as it is the direct opposite – dry and crumbly, totally unsatisfactory. However, we would recommend this as a good place to unwind after a day of shopping as the coffees are pretty good.

Contact:
Inside Tang’s,
Lot 2.01.00 Level 2,
Pavilion KL, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2145 1886 ext 212

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm

Cuisine:
N/A

Mi Bandung Aziz Dolmat

2009-12-30T16:49:00.000-08:00

As far as local neighborhood institutions go, Aziz Dolmat is about as underrated as they get. A staple of any Pandanite’s dinner options for the past 30-odd years, this painfully understated noodle joint still gets no love. What you will love, however, is the lovingly prepared yet Spartan-looking mi bandung which reminds one of hearty home-cooked meals with an affectionate cherubic aunt slaving over the stove. Anyway. The sauce is nutty and airily spicy and the noodles springy, with enough beef and greens to keep your teeth occupied. There are of course other dishes to order, but if you’re on your first visit, do yourself a favour and stick to the house specialty, with maybe a side order of hot tauhu goreng if you can spare the space. On the downside, the noodle servings are a little skimpy, and the makcik taking your order is a little hard of hearing. Be gentle, yes, but let your voice be heard. Just be patient and tell yourself you’re about to partake of some of the good stuff.

Contact:
13, Medan Selera,
Jalan Thavers,
Jalan Kampung Pandan
Tel: N/A
Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 7pm - late

Cuisine:
Local

Japanese Sweets & Coffee

2009-12-30T16:48:00.001-08:00

Craving for dessert with a Japanese touch? The newly opened MOF: Japanese Sweets & Coffee might just be the pick-me-up you need. From Singapore, MOF actually stands for Ministry of Food and if that sounds very official and stiff to you, don’t worry, the dining experience at MOF is strictly casual.

Popular for their izakaya-style dining, MOF: Japanese Sweets & Coffee in KL will leave the snacks aside and focus on another MOF specialty – desserts. The spacious café boasts a very extensive menu ranging from coffee, frappés, soft serve ice-cream, gelato, shakes, and loads more. Flipping through the menu, you can be sure that you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Several items are worth highlighting though. Their soft-serve ice-cream is apparently a must-order as its consistency and texture is unlike any other – thick, creamy and flavourful even on its own (you can opt for a variety of toppings), the soft-serve owes it all to the fresh Hokkaido milk which it is made from. Another must-try are their imo (Japanese sweet potato) items. The potato is flown in from Japan as well, and is serve hot with orders of soft-serve ice-cream, red bean paste and more. If you have room left after all that, give their drinks a try as they have several unique flavours. To really sample what they have to offer, we recommend skipping dinner or lunch completely – it’d be worth it.

Contact:
Lot 1.02.00,
Pavilion KL
Tel: 03-2144 1489

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
N/A

Frames

2009-12-30T16:43:00.001-08:00

First impressions count and Frames certainly scored high in that aspect. Its chic and minimalist interior, chilled tunes, low lighting and an eclectic ambience derived from the frame-lined walls; each encasing an inspired moment or memory, roused great expectations. With headily excited taste buds, we were ready to “let (Frames’) masterpieces of taste paint a picture of bliss on my palette!” as promised by the menu. But truly, in this case, the pictures outshone reality.

A confused menu that didn’t quite cut the description of “fusion” left us stumped with what to order. Sambal Udang was followed by Chicken Tikka and a Cheeseburger - a bizarre succession that mirrored the rest of the menu which encompassed almost every continent. For starters, the mushroom soup, though not unpleasant to the palette, sat uncomfortably somewhere between creamy and chunky and when left untouched for a couple of minutes the mushroom pieces separated themselves from the liquid. The calamari is a better option as it came in a very generous portion. Full marks for portion size and this was the case throughout the meal.

The pasta selection was probably the most credible choice on the menu and we opted for the lasagne, a classic and a true test of good grub. An image of delicious pasta, minced beef, béchamel sauce and cheese entered our heads - the reality however was what appeared to be an entire tin of chopped tomatoes upon a bed of mince and pasta. The garnish consisted of lettuce leaves naked and pretty unexciting. The steak on the other hand was excellent. Despite no enquiry as to how we would like it done, it was served medium rare which was luckily, spot on. The ‘signature gratin’ on which it sat was delicious - cheesy and creamy, it was perfect comfort food.

The shared dessert was the highlight, a dark chocolate cake mousse to die for. The only complaint in this instance was a lack of dessert menu or options, but when you have a taste of heaven like this - perhaps you don’t need it.

Contact:
B-1-3 TTDI Plaza,
Jalan Wan Kadir 3,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-77225784

Website:
N/A
Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 12PM – 11PM
Cuisine:
Western

Chiaroscuro

2009-12-30T16:38:00.000-08:00

Chiaroscuro provides ample dining space on a lovely, shady terrace – perfect for a short afternoon coffee or a long romantic drink in the evening. Inside the restaurant, things have been kept simple and uncluttered. Starched white linen and sturdy wooden chairs are set around large tables that give guests ample space. It creates an ambience that is inviting and comfortable yet refined. The same theme is also evident in their simple yet elegant menus, detailing a decent-sized selection of Italian classic as well as more inventive interpretations of Mediterranean cuisine.

The rocket salad with cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar dressing (RM24) seemed an ideal choice for such a setting, proving to be light and refreshing. The Pasta Fresca (RM28), topped with pancetta, mozzarella, rocket and parmesan cheese also showed they had adequate mastery of their oven and a good understanding of the basics of Italian cooking. However, the porcini mushroom gnocchi with bacon bits and truffle oil (RM28) could have done better. The mushroom had been incorporated into the gnocchi, meaning a few grey blobs of starch were sparsely arranged on a plate and slavered with a cheese sauce. It tasted better than it looked but the presentation really needs reconsidering. They redeemed themselves with the homemade pork sausage (RM32), grilled “Luganega” and served on sautéed spicy kai lan broccolini style. Sounds alien, but tasted fantastic. The succulent sausage was meaty and juicy, going particularly well with the irony bite of the kai lan with just enough spice to lift the flavours and leave you wanting more. The tiramisu (RM16) was excellent too. It was a towering specimen of mascarpone and chocolate encased in a thin, crispy pastry: an ingenious presentation for the most well known of Italian desserts. The downside is the soggy, luscious, espresso-soaked biscuits were missing in their version.

Contact:
Ground Floor, 38 Bidara,
30 Jalan Bidara,
Off Jalan Nagasari,
Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2144 8006

Website:
www.chiaroscurokl.com
Operating Hours:
12pm – 3pm, 6:30pm – 12am (Mon – Fri)
6:30pm – 12am (Sat)
12pm – 11pm (Sun)

Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Nature's Vegetarian Restaurant

2009-12-30T16:37:00.001-08:00

You would hardly know from peeking that this place serves only vegetarian food if not for the sign above the entrance. The décor is traditional Chinese: Three enormous porcelain figures Fook, Luk and Sau smiling benevolently at diners, the 18 Immortals cozy above the door and a ceramic Guan Yin by the kitchen. It seems you’re guaranteed a good meal.

Before we had a chance to settle ourselves on our stools, generous portions of seaweed strips fried in batter and rojak made with turnip, cucumber and pineapple are presented along with shots of refreshing calamansi juice.

The menu is extensive, everything meat-related here is made from soya beans, gluten and tofu. As this is a Chinese restaurant, we went straight for the main dishes, designed for sharing. We ordered the small Fried Black Pepper Chicken (RM15); the grassy taste of cilantro complemented the rich brown stock and there was a pleasant hint of sweetness to the tender faux-chicken. The small Golden Fried Beancurd (RM12) was creamy, light and topped with thickly sliced gourd, which had a slight sweet and bitter flavor to balance the gentle saltiness infused into the fried beancurd skin. We also ordered the Braised Bamboo Shoots and Beancurd Sheets (RM15); beancurd simmered in a clear brown sauce alongside soft bamboo pith, carrot slices, snow peas and dried Shiitake mushrooms. It tasted similar to the Golden Fried Beancurd, so just go for one of these beancurd dishes.

The pièce de résistance had to be the Crispy Fried Goose (RM10) with strips of thinly layered beancurd, light and flaky. They were on the oily side and deliciously addictive, tasting like ba kua with a hint of sweetness and smoky charcoal-grilled flavour. For dessert we had Almond Cream. It was lighter and foamier than usual, as though it had been put through a cappuccino machine. It wasn’t too sweet and would have been nice in a mug on a rainy day.

Contact:
24, Jalan Telawi 3,
Bangsar Baru,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2283 5523

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 9pm - 10pm (daily)
Cuisine:
Asian

Carlos Mexican Canteena

2009-12-30T16:35:00.001-08:00

A shisha bar and Mexican restaurant rolled into one, Carlos Mexican Canteena has intrigued (and perhaps, confused) passers-by. This puzzling combination was worth exploring, so in we went, immediately noticing the “ruggedness” of the place, to put it nicely.

Many of the benches were torn and the wear and tear of the place in general was little concealed by the still cosy atmosphere and dim lighting. We were relieved when Santana and Gipsy Kings, which seemed more in line with the ambience we expected, replaced the loud, cheesy, pop music.

The food was the primary concern though, hungry as we were, and it arrived within minutes of ordering—a three-course feast for a reasonable spend was happily enjoyed. It was just a shame that there was little distinction between the courses with both of our starters and mains arriving at the same time, leaving us anxious to eat it all up before it went cold.

The dishes were satisfying with huge portions, served with generous lashings of guacamole and sour cream. I liked the Seafood Quesadilla the most, creamy and filling, but it isn’t massively different from the Mixed Tacos or Chicken Burritos. The Chili lacked, well, chili in a way that suggested the restaurant was afraid of being a true Mexican ambassador of cuisine. For an unusual experience, try the Mexican Special—a dessert like no other. We were baffled by the deep-fried pastry wraps filled with ice-cream and cheddar cheese. Ole indeed!

Contact:
Lot C3-03, Pavilion KL,
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2145 3996 / 03-2145 5996

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 10am - 3am (daily)

Cuisine:
South-American

City Golf

2009-12-30T16:26:00.000-08:00

City Golf, barely six months old, is Malaysia’s first indoor golf venue. It is ideal for corporate events and lazy golfers who prefer not to go without a beer for too long. They can now negotiate one of the 50 courses available at any of Golf City’s four simulator bays while staying within touching distance of a well-stocked bar and restaurant.

Although it is bright and garish, much as you would expect of any sports bar, there are plenty of comfortable cushions, smart tables and even a balcony with a scenic view of the Bangsar surroundings. The main projector screen and TVs dotted around help ensure that you are kept up to date with the latest sporting news.

The highlight though, for someone who is not the biggest fan of the ancient game, is the excellent café food that they serve. There are no fancy steaks or dainty sushi rolls here, just old-fashioned burgers, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and finger food – all done to a very high standard. This is supposed to be fuel for hungry golfers after all.

As unlikely as it sounds, the pizzas here are excellent. The rocket, feta and walnut pizza (RM26) is amongst the best in the neighbourhood and possibly the city. The thin crust, cheesy-creamy topping and tasty yeasty dough make it as good a pizza as can be experienced.

You wouldn’t be disappointed either with the chef’s burger (RM23). Your preferred temperature is actually jotted down, always a good sign that the kitchen takes their burgers seriously. The patty was juicy and delicious while the bun was moist, not dry and stale, which is a problem too often encountered. The fries need a bit of work but overall it was a very good burger.

The spaghetti meatball (RM22) had pasta cooked perfectly al dente and was topped with five rather generously sized meatballs. They were a tad tough to the bite but it was comforting to know that they were not riddled with fat, which explains their rather firm texture.

There is also a decent selection of drinks with reasonably priced bottles of wine and jugs of beer. Overall, for a more unusual night out, City Golf certainly fits the bill. Thankfully, for non-golf fans, the food is also very good.

Contact:
Level 4, Bangsar Shopping Centre,
285 Jalan Maarof,
59000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2282 0011

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 12pm - 12am (daily)

Cuisine:
N/A

Pepper Lunch

2009-12-30T02:32:00.000-08:00

Originating from Japan, Pepper Lunch lets you cook your own meal. What, you may ask, is the point of a restaurant if the food doesn’t arrive ready to eat at your table? There’s a good reason behind this novelty. Choose from any of their meals, consisting of meats like Australian beef, Danish salmon or chicken.

The ingredients arrive at your table in a high-powered electromagnetic cooker (in layman’s terms, a skillet), sizzling, ready to be prepared just the way you like it. There are instructions around the skillet and on a TV screen in the restaurant for us n00bs to follow. With outlets in Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines, it seems like you can’t go wrong with this DIY steak concept. Some of Pepper Lunch’s most popular items include the Hamburger Steak with Fried Egg, Curry Beef Pepper Rice with Cheese and the Rib Eye Steak. Prices average RM20 to RM35 per meal. We were told that their Shake! Shake! Salad is a popular order. Think McShaker fries, but healthier.

Contact:
Lot 1.54, Level 1, Pavilion KL,
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2141 0228

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm (daily)

Cuisine:
Japanese

The Malay Tea House

2009-12-30T02:28:00.000-08:00

The Malay Tea House is nestled between a fruit bar and a dry foods store. Walking in is like going back in time and landing in an old kampung house kitchen, complete with wooden benches, tiled table tops, oil lamps and keroncong music. Malay Tea House even offers pegaga, hempedu and other teas with healing properties. I would stay away from hempedu if I were you. Tea, healing properties or not, comes either in a pot or with ice and sweetened with jungle honey. All tea costs about RM6. A must-try is the Pink Guava Leaf iced tea that can kick iced lemon tea butt any day.

Another nostalgic element of the Malay Tea House is its menu—serving the regular Malay fare with a more traditional twist. The dishes here have names like Nasi Goreng Bonda and Nasi Ayam Herba. Appetizer selection is unfortunately limited to otak-otak, but it was pretty good. The laksa on the other hand, is no jaguh kampong. Possibly the best laksa you’ll get that’s not homemade; it was spicy and tangy with generous condiments. The fish broth will have you scraping your bowl dry.

Not everything on the menu was available, so I didn’t get to check out their Sago with Gula Melaka for dessert. I wasn’t interested in their selection of Malay cakes because there wasn’t much variety. The fried egg in the Nasi Lemak Rendang Tok came out cold and dry. But the side order of rendang it comes with was another story—dark, savory and tender. Prices range from RM1 for otak-otak to RM6 for a bowl of laksa. You might catch yourself reminiscing about your childhood, having a meal here is like being in a P.Ramlee movie.

Contact:
Shop 29, Ground Floor,
Central Market,
No. 10 Jalan Hang Kasturi,
50050 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-6280 3503

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 10am - 8pm (daily)

Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Olive & Pegaga

2009-12-30T01:46:00.001-08:00

Sometimes you just have to admit defeat. All of us must remember the time when we realized we weren’t smart enough to be the next Einstein, pretty enough to be the new Kate Moss or good enough to ever play for Manchester United. Most of us have a good understanding of where we stand and how good we are at something. We take those defeats and move on.

After a visit to Olive & Pegaga, the over-whelming thought is that it seems to be run by people who have very little experience of the food service industry. From the over-pretentious menu to the inadequate service, my advice to the people funding this venture is to cut your losses or hire some better staff.

The risotto al funghi (RM39) was the pick of the bunch. It was creamy and full of mushrooms with the right rice texture and drizzled with lots of olive oil. But again, the portion size (or the lack of it) made it difficult to enjoy.

The baked spring chicken (RM39), though substantial, failed to impress. The halved chicken was stuffed with overcooked pasta, adorned with undercooked roast potatoes and covered with tomatoes that tasted like they came straight out of the tin. Adding a few more flavours seemed beyond the chef. Using tinned vegetables is completely fine with me, if the person knows how to coax the best out of it. But here we had laziness or a lack of imagination. Either way, it is an unforgivable crime in the kitchen.

Contact:
9, Solaris Mont Kiara,
Jalan Solaris 4,
Off Jalan Duta Kiara,
Mont Kiara
Tel: 03- 6203 6764

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (daily, closed on Sun)

Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Yin Futt Kuok Vegetarian

2009-12-30T01:41:00.000-08:00

Vegetarian restaurant Yin Futt Kuok has been on Jalan Hang Lekiu for over a decade. Inconspicuous at first, you are forgiven for missing it as you head towards Jalan Gereja. To its regulars, it is hard to miss.

The menu here is typically Chinese and everything—and I do mean everything—is vegetarian. An individual bowl of your favorite noodle dish costs between RM5 and RM6. But if you’d rather have specific dishes eaten with rice, there’s a wide selection of faux meat and traditional Chinese vegetable options to choose from with prices between RM10 to RM30 per dish, depending on the size.

Food-wise, this is a down to earth place. For appetizer you can choose between peanuts and pickled slices of papaya. That’s it. Dessert depends on what’s available from their take-away pastry selection, which you can have at any point during your meal.

The Lotus Biscuit is pretty good. Not overpoweringly sweet, it has crumbly outer layers shaped like a lotus and melt-in-your-mouth pastry. You can choose from a variety of Chinese style noodle dishes; the Cantonese Style Yee Mee substituted with Mee Hoon is full of flavour even though it’s made with vegan ingredients. The Goose in Plum Sauce was not served with plum sauce. Instead, it came with ketchup. The 3 Kinds of Fried Mushroom was plump, juicy and fresh: delicately fried in a garlic and soy sauce and served on a generous, green bed of chunky broccoli slices. While the Fried Asparagus was buttery and only slightly spicy with a light coating of chili-based sauce, similar to belacan but lacking its pungent-ness.

Overall, two things will impress you about Yin Futt Kuok—the atmosphere, which is clean, quiet and unpretentious, and the freshness of the ingredients. The portions are large, so this is a place to bring friends to. But be punctual, this restaurant operates on aunty time, not Malaysian time.

Contact:
52, Jalan Hang Lekiu,
50100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2070 7468/ 03-2071 5352

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 1pm – 9pm (last order at 8.30pm)

Cuisine:
Local

Hatyai Street Food

2009-12-30T01:39:00.000-08:00

A very popular dish of street food in Thailand is the braised pig trotters. It is especially well-known in Hatyai, the city that the restaurant is named after, where there is a strong Chinese influence. The braised pork with rice set (RM13) for one person was substantial, with subtle flavours of soy sauce and aniseed. There was plenty of wonderful gelatinous skin and the meat broke apart as soon as a fork came near it.

Equally impressive were the fish laksa (RM13) and Massaman lamb curry (RM22). The laksa was a cross between our assam laksa and curry mee, with wonderfully fresh coconut milk flavours that didn’t make it too rich. Massaman, a curry from the southern parts of Thailand, is also not often encountered on menus in Malaysia. The sweet, nutty gravy smothered the tender lamb and chunky potatoes for a filling and irresistible curry.

The two-meat combo of roast pork and Thai sausage (RM20) takes a bit more getting used to. Thai sausage is similar to our local Chinese sausage but sweeter, milder and with a lower fat content. The roast pork was made up of slices or pork belly with excellent crackling but the meat could have been juicier.

All the savoury dishes were very well-prepared but save room for the water chestnut dessert (RM5). Otherwise known as Red Ruby, pieces of water chestnut are covered with a striking red starchy coating for an addictive crunchy-chewy texture. Top it off with fresh coconut milk, crushed ice and slices of jackfruit and it was the perfect way to end a Thai meal.

You could easily hop on a plane and get to the streets of Thailand for the same food. But you really don’t need to go beyond the convenience and comfort of Bangsar for an introduction to authentic Thai street cuisine.

Contact:
63, Jalan Ara, One Bangsar,
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2283 3116

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (closed on Mon)

Cuisine:
Southeast

International Fresh Gourmet

2009-12-30T01:36:00.000-08:00

International Fresh Gourmet claims to be a restaurant, cafe, bakery, chocolatier and even a tea salon. It certainly makes you wonder how they handle all of that at once, though they certainly have the space for it. Occupying two ground floor shop lots in Solaris Mont Kiara; one is a massive restaurant that looks like it could accommodate 80 easily while the other is an attached deli with even more seating. However, it seems the deli counter hasn’t been used for much more than storing canned drinks.

The place looks spanking new having been around for only a matter of months. But it may also be a sign that not many have ventured in. There doesn’t seem to be much glaringly wrong with the décor, but it does come dangerously close to being tacky. It isn’t scary but nothing about the ambience persuades you either.

A glance at the menu suggests that it is quite simply a Moroccan restaurant. They may have a few Mediterranean and Lebanese dishes as they claim, but they may well do better to just focus on marketing themselves as authentic Moroccan. It’s not as if Kuala Lumpur is flooded with Moroccan cuisine.

Contact:
8 & 10, Jalan Solaris 3,
Solaris Mont' Kiara,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-6203 7594

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 8am – 11pm

Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Yellow Cab pizzas

2009-12-30T01:04:00.001-08:00

Yellow Cab pizzas are different. The pizzas come in three sizes: 12”, 14”—which is the size of a large pizza at other Kuala Lumpur pizzerias—and a generous 18”. Accordingly, they’re slightly more expensive than Dominoes. Crucially, the dough appears to be of a better quality, resulting in a thin crust that’s chewy and soft.

Yellow Cab doesn’t skimp when it comes to toppings either. The NY Classic Beef Pepperoni has an extra layer of its namesake ingredient under the cheese for a meatier flavour; Anchovy Lovers is heavy on cheese, olives and oregano so you get a decent blend of flavors without the saltiness of the anchovies taking centre stage; and the Roasted Garlic and Shrimp is dotted with rosebuds of plump shrimp nestled amongst herbs, garlic and gooey mozzarella cheese. There are two vegetarian options: Garden Special or Gourmet Garden. If you’re a vegan, they can even hold the cheese at no extra charge. Side dishes have a distinctive New York feel to them, with names like Charlie Chan’s Chicken Pasta, and Ham and Cheese Calzone. There is a second outlet in the Ampang Point area and delivery is for the KL area only. But if you’re hungry, why not drop by personally for some truly great pizza?

Contact:
50, Jalan Raja Abdullah,
Corner of Jalan Yap Ah Shak,
50300 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2694 2003

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 10am – 12am (daily, last order at 11pm)

Cuisine:
Western

Koryo-Won

2009-12-30T00:57:00.000-08:00

Since we were familiar with the spacious outlet in Starhill Gallery, we were keen to try the Koryo-Won that opened in KLCC last year. It’s too bad the atmosphere here is cramped. Sandwiched between Imperial Chakri Palace and Al-Marjan, Koryo-Won looked forlorn on a busy Sunday afternoon.

Right after we ordered, we were served free appetizers called banchan and we got free refills of our ikan bilis and green chilis. When eating Korean food, we usually order plain white rice, as it can be quite salty. I think that anything else would clash with all the different flavours of the banchan. Another wonderful complement to white rice is the Jing-O Bokum (pan-fried cuttlefish and vegetables with chili sauce, RM39). It was oilier than what we recall at the Koryo-Won in Starhill, but the Gaibashi Kui (smoked charbroiled scallops with spicy BBQ Sauce, RM70) was tender and fresh.

Famous for their at-your-table smoked barbeque preparation, any of their hearty beef dishes are a must, particularly the spicy and sweet Special Jumuluck (smoked charbroiled rib-eye and sirloin lightly marinated with Koryo-Won’s special BBQ recipe, RM65). However, for an ambiance on par with price, Koryo-Won at Starhill still prevails.

Contact:
Unit 418/419, 4th Floor,
Suria KLCC, Jalan Ampang,
50088, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2171 2189 / 03-2166 6189
Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11.30am - 10pm (daily)

Cuisine:
Korean

Marco’s Pizza

2009-12-30T00:47:00.000-08:00

It’s hard to miss Marco’s Pizza. Located opposite the supermarket, the bright red walls and white furniture make the restaurant’s décor look tacky at first glance. However, Marco’s Pizza makes up for it by dishing out good Italian food without burning a hole in your pocket.

Start a hearty meal at this casual eatery with a bowl of their Creamy Wild Mushroom Soup (RM6.80). For pasta fans, the Penne Alla Royale (RM16.80) is highly recommended as the generous servings of fresh mushroom and chicken bring out the taste of the pesto sauce. Don’t forget to try their pizzas, prepared in front of you and baked in a brick oven. With comfort food at affordable prices, Marco’s Pizza scores high

Contact:
G18, Ground Floor,
Bangsar Village 1,
1 Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar Baru,
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2287 2933

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm (daily)

Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Papa John's

2009-12-29T23:47:00.000-08:00

Papa John's, the third biggest pizza company in the world, has made its way to our shores by way of the Berjaya Pizza Company. Founded by John Schnatter in the '80s, Papa John's currently has over 2500 stores in North America alone, with outlets in China, Korea and India.

The first Papa John's in Malaysia is located at Berjaya Times Square and if everything goes well, this will be the first of 100 outlets planned for Malaysia over the next 10 years. It seems that the driving force behind Papa John's success lies in its tagline: "Better Ingredients. Better Pizza." What this mean is that there is a huge emphasis on fresh ingredients. In fact, you'll see that the word appears quite often in the brochures, menus and on the website.

Papa John's promises that their pizza dough is also fresh and never frozen and that their sauce is made from fresh tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and oregano amongst others. They also use premium mozzarella cheese. While that sounds like just talk, the good news is that it actually translates into the final product. Available in four sizes, the pizzas fall in either Classic (the Super Papa's is definitely recommended) or Specialty categories and are served on a wooden pan. They also come with pepperoncini peppers on the side, and a serving of their special garlic dipping sauce for you to dunk the delectable crust in.

Besides pizza, Papa John's also has items like pasta, baked pasta, baked rice, salads, calzones and more on their menu. They also deliver, but that is currently limited to the areas surrounding Berjaya Times Square.

Contact:
Lot 08-09, Ground Floor,
Berjaya Times Square,
No.1, Jalan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2141 7272

Website:
www.papajohns.com.my

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 10am - 11pm (daily)

Cuisine:
Western

Paradise Palace

2009-12-29T23:26:00.000-08:00

The restaurant itself is unspectacular, looking like it was thrown together with a few cheap Southeast Asian souvenirs and tablecloths that need a wash. A cheap menu with bad photography did not help their cause. But of course, it is not always the swankiest places that serve the best food and doubts were quickly cast aside when the food began to arrive.

We were coaxed into trying the chicken padamyar (RM12), the Burmese version of the chicken curry but made with lots of onions and tomatoes in the sauce to give it a sweet and tart flavour. It was only medium spicy but packed full of flavour. The chunky pieces of chicken were succulent, like a good ayam masak merah. This was easily the best dish ordered on the day.

The unusual roselle soup (RM7) is also worth mentioning. The roselle leaf is a close cousin of the assam leaf, giving the soup a distinctive sourness that is balanced wonderfully with prawn and meat flavours. It begs comparison with our own nyonya soup made with salted, preserved mustard greens. But roselle soup is milder and less pungent, making it good to the last drop.

The stewed beef (RM15) resembled rendang without the spiciness but the meat had the same tenderness, brought about by hours of cooking. The generous use of spices imparted plenty of flavour to each chunky piece of beef, going excellently with the rice served.

Even the kangkung with mushrooms (RM10) was of an unexpectedly high standard. Fresh kangkung stems still firm to the bite were topped with oyster mushrooms and the addition of a little stock to the sauce made for a very tasty vegetable dish.

Paradise Palace surprised us with the quality of cooking. It warrants a second visit, if for anything else, to educate oneself on Burmese cuisine.

Contact:
6.1, 6th floor,
Sogo Shopping Complex,
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman,
50100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2694 2175/ 03-2694 2040

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
10am – 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs)
10am – 10pm (Fri – Sat)

Cuisine:
Southeast

Oh Malaya Cafe

2009-12-29T23:15:00.001-08:00

The next time you’ve got time to kill before or after an event at Central Market Annexe, you can head on down to Oh Malaya Cafe. Oh Malaya, or OM as they call themselves, takes over the spot where Bau-Bau Cafe and Liquid used to be, occupying a pretty large space. Aesthetically a cross between Chawan and Delicious, OM marries a contemporary look with a love for old school paraphernalia, harking back to the days when Malaysia was Malaya.

Vintage advertisements adorn the walls and there’s a dedicated cabinet storing old soda bottles, cups, trays and more. Look underneath the glass bar top (a pretty sizable island, we might add) and you’ll find a collection of old cigarette packs, all individually wrapped in their own protective plastic covers. If for nothing else, it’ll make an ice-breaker when you find yourself seated next to a stranger.

At OM, happy hours are from 3pm until closing time at 10pm. In between these hours, a jug of Carlsberg will set you back only RM35. But besides beer, you can choose from OM’s list of cocktails and wines too. House wines by glass, for example, fall in the price range of RM16 to RM18, which makes OM quite affordable. The food menu is a good variety with lighter meals like sandwiches, pastas and for some reason, quite a fair amount of different omelettes—mushroom, turkey ham, cheese and Spanish. Heavier mains include items like grilled fresh salmon (a pricier dish at RM27), sizzling steaks, and “Malaya Delights” like kampung fried rice and Hainanese fried mee. Those who intend to come specifically for their happy hours, check their “Drinker’s Delights” menu which features all things greasy and perfect with alcohol like fried chicken wings and calamari rings.

Contact:
Lot 2.07, Central Market Annexe,
Jalan Hang Kasturi,
50050 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2072 7700

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 11am - 10pm

Cuisine:
Local

Pyongyang Restaurant

2009-12-29T22:51:00.001-08:00

South Korean food is a regular occurrence in the city but rarely do we get to hear about North Korean restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. The Pyongyang Restaurant is, according to its manager Mr. Pak, the only North Korean restaurant in the city amidst about 120 South Korean joints.

The restaurant has been open for business since 15 April of last year, coinciding with Eternal President Kim Il-Sung’s birthday. Mr. Pak comments that the restaurant was opened to introduce North Korean culture to Malaysians interested in the Korean situation. In that respect, culture here is highlighted in two ways—through their food, and through performances.

The restaurant itself is similar to types found in North Korea—not so much a dining space but more like a banquet hall. Spacious and slightly intimidating upon arrival, any awkwardness is put to rest when the waitresses greet you. Dressed in hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, the staff is accommodating and eager to serve despite a slight language barrier. These multi-talented ladies not only wait on tables. From 8.30pm to 9.30pm daily, they put on cultural shows at the restaurant’s modest stage, singing Korean folk songs and performing traditional dances. They even karaoke-d to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”!

A glance at the menu and you’ll find out that North Korean food isn’t that different from South Korea’s. There’s your kimchi and barbecued meats. But if we’re talking specialities, Mr. Pak recommends the Pyongyang noodles and Korean staple, bibimbap. Their kitchen is run by Koreans, so the food is authentic. With a highly eclectic clientele comprising of locals and expats, drop by Pyongyang Restaurant to sample a taste of North Korea. You won’t find it anywhere else.

Contact:
290A, Lorong Palas,
Off Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-4257 9986

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
11.30am – 10.30pm (daily)

Cuisine:
Korean

Sage Restaurant

2009-12-29T22:10:00.001-08:00

Barely open six months, Sage is already known as one of the best destinations for fine dining in the city. Much of that is due to the leadership of Chef Takashi Kimura with his unique blend of Japanese-influenced French cuisine. Sage was perhaps the most anticipated opening in fine dining and expectations are high with any visit.

The entrance through the lobby of The Gardens Hotel & Residences may be a little unusual, but such a location afforded the restaurant with excellent, unobstructed views and a spacious dining room. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed but still classy, aided by the simple and uncluttered decorations. The open kitchen breaks up the quiet sophistication.

The menu seems to reflect this theme, with quite simple and traditional French preparations punctuated with Japanese produce and sauces. A classic starter is the Vichyssoise of Artichokes, a cold and creamy soup with slices of raw scallop and tsubugai clams. While the Pané of Foie Gras with Chapon was less intriguing, it’s execution was excellent. The luxurious foie gras was sautéed till crunchy on one side while the slow-roasted chapon was moist and tender.

Main courses carried the same distinction: the Angus Beef A La Plancha, served with soft daikon simmered in dashi was full of wonderful, aged flavour; the Etuveé of Star Garoupa with King Prawn, Tapenade and Rouille was a champion of fresh ingredients and assured cooking. The slow-braised garoupa ensured a moist texture against the succulent bite of the king prawn.

Even desserts were given the utmost attention with the Peach Granité using Japanese peaches with that unique blend of sweetness and sour notes and a Chocolate and Banana Soufflé that was so moist and endearingly light that it had to be consumed in a matter of seconds. The Earl Grey Ice Cream that came with the soufflé provided a creamy and slightly tart flavour that went with it. The only drawback was the lack of choice of wines by the glass. Sage had a healthy wine cellar with a spacious cigar room to boot. But neither the Etienne Guigal (RM26) nor the Maison Trimbach Merlot (RM28) was the best of house wines. A crisp and refreshing Perrin Fils Reisling (RM22) salvaged the situation and the Yalumba Y Series (RM23), a medium-bodied red, matched the Angus’ subtle flavours.

Still, RM140 for a three-course meal reflects good value for such high standards of cooking. For those who don’t mind eating under the scrutiny of the chef, choose a seat at the chef’s table, a counter right beside the open kitchen and be enthralled by Kimura’s creations for a mere RM240.

But the best thing of all is the service at Sage. We often disregard the level of service in our pursuit of the best food, but Sage shows that a good meal can become an excellent experience with top-class service. They were so well-trained that even the junior waiters were able to guide you through the intricacies of the wine list and the myriad of French words found all over the menu. Sage must certainly be one of the best places in Malaysia to enjoy the finest cooking and the most creative cuisine.

Contact:
The Gardens Hotel & Residences,
Level 6, Mid Valley City,
Lingkaran Syed Putra,
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2268 1328

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 10.30pm (closed on Sunday)

Cuisine:
Fusion

Elegant Inn

2009-12-29T20:11:00.000-08:00

Elegant Inn has the luxury of double-layered white tablecloths and intricate wood panelling decorations on the wall. Together with the soft, low lighting and spotlights placed strategically over each table, it creates an air of sophistication.

They may have flirted with the boudoir theme too much: ornate chandeliers and a red, moiré curtain draped across one side of the main dining room. But the ambience puts you in the mood for a refined Chinese meal. For a heightened experience, one of their private rooms has an adjoined balcony space with a panoramic view of KLCC.

But we all know that a Chinese restaurant’s culinary excellence, more than others, is judged not just upon her good looks. She also has to deliver personality, conviction and above all else, flavour.

Elegant Inn scores big in this respect with the Braised Estuary Garoupa (RM63) and Golden Fried Spare Rib (RM52). The meaty fish is prepared with Chinese mushrooms, bamboo shoots and roast pork to create a hotpot packed full with powerful, punchy aromas. If it sounds too robust a manner to treat fish, then this dish will surprise and delight.

The monstrous spare rib is ordered by the piece. The meat is juicy and tender while the outside has a crispy and caramelised coating. Each piece is a complete course in itself.

As expectations begin to rise, the Roast Chicken Osmanthus (RM45) tempered any grand illusions. The chicken is first marinated with Osmanthus flowers and other flavourings before roasting but that seems to have robbed the chicken of some crunch and crispiness, even though it may not have compromised on taste.

The Handmade Beancurd With Shrimp & Pork (RM22) quickly restored refinement to the order of the day. The bean curd disintegrates on the tongue with the rich flavour of the sauce interrupting the tactile experience.

The Fried Rice (RM22), a dish they were proud to recommend, is excellent. Their claim that you can taste flavour in every single rice grain cannot be denied, but arguably many other skilled wok chefs can achieve the same lofty standards at half the price.

The idea to combine Bitter Gourd With Salted Vegetable (RM18) is sound; the briny, preserved vegetables takes away the gourdy bitterness. But in this case, the proportions need to be tweaked and the bitter gourd should have been softer texture.

But Elegant Inn saved the best for last. Forget the Red Bean Soup (RM4), which is far too watery. Not even the refreshing Mango Yoghurt (RM6) with a generous inclusion of diced mangoes should be what you come for. It was the humble Steamed Custard Cake (RM2) or malakao that truly made the grade up to true refinement. Three of the softest, most moist layers of steamed custard, barely solid enough to hold its shape was held together by sweet icing that promoted the dessert to divine. Elegance has a habit of appearing in the most unexpected of places.

Contact:
2.01, 2nd Floor,
Podium Block, Menara Hap Seng,
Jalan P. Ramlee,
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2070 9399

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: Weekday lunch (12pm–2.30pm)
weekend and public holiday lunch (10.30am–10.30pm)
dinner (6pm - 10.30pm)
dim sum served only at lunchtime

Cuisine:
Asian

Kak Rose 911

2009-12-29T20:06:00.000-08:00

Restaurant Kak Rose 911 is rather popular among food bloggers; an online search will render an outstanding number of hits. The restaurant is a large stall, there is an air-conditioned section off to one side, but most patrons prefer to sit in the open-air area, which is breezy and well ventilated thanks to its high, barn-like roof. Kak Rose opens only for lunch, so with its sleepy, kampung kitchen feel, it is a great place for a lazy luncheon with friends or colleagues. It holds possibility as a night spot should the owners someday plan to expand the operating hours.

The cuisine has a Minangkabau theme to it. The daging salai is supposedly worth checking out. The small beef slices were tender and juicy, soaking in a yellow and salty, coconut milk soup. The tempoyak masak daun kayu is better, even if you are not a fan of durian-infused recipes or even of daun kayu. It has a spicy bite, fragrant but not pungent and the soft leaves are saturated with coconut milk seasoned with herbs. The ikan bakar is fresh, flaky with delicate white and pink flesh, but lacks both a strong flavour and a crispy skin—which is how I generally prefer ikan bakar.

But still, Kak Rose elevates the humble ikan kembung to a specimen of finely-timed, grilled perfection. Of note is their sambal belacan, served with a side of tempoyak, which added another element of flavour to the food. And the rice is well cooked, washed properly, fluffy, unsticky and served piping hot. I didn’t find exceptional Padang cuisine, which was what I was expecting after so much blogging. I did find simple, well-cooked, wholesome food, a great atmosphere and a slice of small-town goodness right in the middle of the big city.

Contact:
25, Jalan Satu,
Kampung Pandan,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-9281 2996

Website:
www.freewebs.com/rose911/

Operating Hours:
11am – 4pm (Mon – Sat)

Cuisine:
Local

Tatto

2009-12-29T19:29:00.001-08:00

Craving a perfect night out at a classy restaurant? Make a beeline to Jalan Damai where the city's latest Italian establishment has just opened up. Just over two months old, Tatto, meaning “a sense of touch” in Italian, is the labour of love from founders Tabetha, Yenti and Tom. The trio has had decades in the F&B business and are particularly knowledgeable when it comes to Italian restaurants, having spent most (if not all) of their careers working for various Italian establishments around town. Tatto represents the trio's next step forward in their long careers – being their own boss.

Tabetha says that she envisions her restaurant to be a place where guests feel at home; they can stay as long as they want with no pressure from the staff to leave. Well they've definitely got the ambiance right for a long linger over post-dinner coffee! Bathed in tones of red, black and deep browns, Tatto is simple but sophisticated, boasting ample space, warm lighting and friendly service from its crew. The cuisine, as the owners would describe it, is Italian but with a personal touch, harking back to the origins of the restaurant's name. The trio explain that everything in the menu can be customised and fine-tuned exactly to the customer's preference. “If you want cili padi, we'll give you cili padi. If you want your dish to have an Asian influence, we will do it. If you want carbonara (which is not available in the menu), we will make it. As long as if we have the ingredients in the kitchen, we will do what we can do,” Yenti promises.

There are also plans to turn the upstairs of Tatto into a wine lounge, with the possibility of hosting jazz performances and film screenings as well. In a location where they're hard pressed to satisfy many tastes, Tatto wants to be a one-stop wine, dine and lifestyle space where you can alight first for a drink at their bar, followed by a hearty meal and ending the night on a high with some entertainment upstairs. But right now, the focus is on the food as the trio is still working on getting that tuned to perfection. So what should you get if you drop by Tatto? The owners might decline to name their specialty, insisting that each customer is unique and prefers different dishes, we have it on good authority that their crab risotto and grilled Angus tenderloin is fab.

Contact:
19, Jalan Damai,
off Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2166 5212

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
12pm – 3pm, 6pm – late (last kitchen order at 11.45pm)
closed on Mondays

Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Serai Satay Bar

2009-12-29T19:23:00.000-08:00

Qistina Taff’s family has 19 solid years in the food business. Their restaurant in Shah Alam, Serai Thai, has held its ground for all these years. In 2008, readers of The Star raved that it has one of the best butter prawns in the country. The latest addition to the Serai family is very different from what you may expect from them—the Serai Satay Bar.

But satay’s not the only thing Qistina and team are playing with; they’re dabbling with a rather novel concept for the bar. The whole idea behind the bar is to offer satay on the go. Gone are the typical notions of only having satay at a roadside stall or in a family restaurant—Serai Satay Bar has invested time and effort in designing packaging that will allow you to have your satay while trawling through the malls, watching a movie or window-shopping.

The satay sticks come with the usual condiments (ketupat, cucumbers and onions) in a popcorn-esque cup with little sections to store the sticks and another for the all-important peanut sauce. Ask anyone and chances are they will say the peanut sauce makes the satay. It carries just the right consistency that is neither too diluted or too thick and clumpy. Their chunky peanuts are wok-fried before they are added to the gravy. The satay here comes in variations of chicken, beef, lamb, and the more unusual venison, tripe and prawn.

The menu also carries more Malay snacks like cucur udang, keropok lekor and keropok ikan—all of which are pretty mobile too, fitting in great with their concept. But even other items like soto ayam and pisang goreng (with vanilla dip or the Johorean way with sambal kicap) all have specially designed packaging to ensure convenience. Serai (AKA lemongrass) is obviously an important element in the satay bar’s being—it’s in their name, in their history and it’s also an important ingredient in the satay marinade. Taking it one step further is their drink, the Serai Blended which is highly recommended to go with your satay thanks to its icy, refreshing properties.

Contact:
Lot P1.08.00,
Level 1, Pavilion KL,
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2143 7070

Website:
www.sataybar.com.my

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm

Cuisine:
Local

Xenri D’Garden Terrace

2009-12-29T19:08:00.000-08:00

MALAYSIANS can now get a taste of true Japanese winter cuisine as Xenri D’Garden Terrace introduces the monkfish kaiseki in a sumptuous nine-course meal where the monkfish is prepared in eight different cooking styles.

Unlike western cuisine which only focuses on using monkfish fillet and liver, Xenri’s award-winning chefs use the traditional cutting method called the tsurushigiri to prepare seven parts of the monkfish (more commonly known as the anglerfish) so that diners can thoroughly appreciate the different tastes and textures of the fish in its entirety.

To start off, there is the monkfish skin with citrus vinegar sauce. Here the skin is slightly boiled to further improve its chewy texture and then served with a special citrus vinegar sauce that teases the tongue.

A benefit of this starter is that the gelatine from the monkfish skin contains a lot of collagen, helping to make your skin more beautiful.

The double-boiled monkfish eggs soup is also a rare delight. The eggs, topping the soup, literally melt in your mouth and they are wonderfully complemented by the broth that is prepared by parboiling the eggs in leek and mushroom soup before steaming it to retain its flavour.

The monkfish sashimi is a dish that successfuly utilises the pungent flavours of two separate ingredients – thinly-sliced sashimi wrapped around a small bundle of daikon sprouts (also known as Japanese radish sprouts), that allows diners to experience the soft texture and natural sweetness of monkfish quickly followed by the crunchy texture and explosion of citrusy bitterness derived from the sprouts.

The monkfish liver houshoyaki is a must-try. In Xenri, the liver, also known as the foie gras of the sea, is prepared by seasoning it with salt and pepper before slightly searing it and pairing it off with shimeji mushroom while wrapped in Japanese paper and grilled to retain its heady aroma.
Its rich taste and soft creamy texture is bound to send haute cuisine lovers into raptures. Unlike normal foie gras, monkfish liver is rich in health benefits as it contains less fat and is abundant in IPA, DHA and vitamins A, D and E.

The monkfish stomach salad which comes next is a break from all the rich tastes derived from the earlier dishes. A simple salad comprising poached monkfish stomach dipped in ice-cold water, lettuces, tomatoes, baby sardines and paired with yuzu dressing to reduce the fishy smell, it holds a sweet and refreshing taste overall.

The deep-fried monkfish cheek meat is the only fried food among the eight monkfish dishes. Marinated and deep-fried, it offers diners a contrasting texture of tender meat within a crispy exterior.

The monkfish kami nabe is a concoction of seven parts of the monkfish – liver, stomach, tail meat, skin, fin, eggs and cheek meat – in a simple paper hot pot for a mildly sweet yet exquisite broth.

From the same broth comes the last dish – the monkfish porridge. Cooked in the broth from the kami nabe, it really is the embodiment of the monkfish, only in porridge form. It fully captures the natural sweetness of the monkfish and is a pleasantly delicious and filling dish.

To end the meal is the homemade warabi mochi dessert, which is the only dish not to contain any part of the monkfish. Despite that, the traditional Japanese dessert served alongside a scoop of black sesame ice cream is still delectable. A perfect end to a satisfying meal.

Contact:
Lot 2.05, Level 2,
Menara Hap Seng,
Jalan P. Ramlee,
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2078 6688

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
12pm–3pm (lunch)
6pm–11pm (dinner)

Cuisine:
Japanese

Nero Fico

2009-12-29T18:12:00.000-08:00

Try venturing into NeroVivo or NeroTeca in Bukit Bintang without a reservation on a weekend evening and you are likely to be disappointed. The closest you get is standing outside, looking at all the smiling faces tucking in to gorgeous food. Put aside your envy for a moment and you will notice the comfortable and lively atmosphere, which has become a hallmark of the Nero Group. People go there for pizzas cooked in a large outdoor oven or the carefully-preserved hams and meats hanging from the walls; it is the ambience that ensures their restaurants are always packed.

The Nero Group’s newest restaurant Nero Fico on Jalan Dungun, doesn't seek to duplicate it. Nero Fico is something else altogether. Nero Fico is bright and spacious, with dramatic flower arrangements and lots of natural light. The deli adds to the dining area and together with the large terrace, makes it perfect as a Sunday Brunch venue. You can feel quite comfortable to laugh heartily yet refined enough not to be smirked at when discussing the virtues of the Barolo in your hand.

The menu tries to reflect the tone of the restaurant with fresh, summery items. We picked out the Insalata Asparagi (RM24) straight away along with the Pizza Napoli (RM24) for a hearty starter. But we were suckered into it by the surroundings; asparagus seems to always be a disappointment, it is hard to get hold of the best kinds in the tropics. The rather unusual presentation that bordered on phallic was also rather disconcerting. The pizza had wonderful flavours and the base was fantastic. It was thin, crispy and yeasty. They could have rinsed the anchovies more; they were exceptionally briny and had you finishing two glasses of water before half the pizza was done.

The idyllic lunch went south with the Gnocchi Sorentina (RM28), which was a special. Now, gnocchi is not easy but I would expect much better because Nero Teca does an excellent gnocchi. Nero Fico’s version has too much potato, a closer cousin to mash with none of the bite that gnocchi should have. The tomato-based sauce was excellent, but the dish was let down by poor texture. Things didn’t really improve with the Chicken Stuffed with Pumpkin and Almond (RM48), another special that shouldn’t be on the main menu. The blueberry sauce was as unusual as it was unnecessary and the pumpkin stuffing did not retain much natural pumpkin flavour.

Thankfully, desserts were heavenly. The Pannacotta (RM20) was silky smooth with a clever addition of dragon fruit purée. The Lemon Tart (RM22) was a thick, luscious custard on a crumbly shortcrust pastry with crispy meringue on top. The sweet vanilla gelato dressed it up quite appropriately. A few glaring points to take note of but it also provided some good memories, not least those desserts. Again, comparison is not justified and Nero Fico should be allowed to grow into its own—one whose progress shall be observed with interest.

Contact:
Lot G-01, Ground Floor,
Wisma Perintis,
47, Jalan Dungun,
Damansara Heights,
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2089 5312

Website:
www.nerofico.com

Operating Hours:
10am–12am (Daily)
6pm–12am (Saturday)

Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Top Hat

2009-12-29T18:08:00.000-08:00

Top Hat built a reputation as one of the city's best restaurants. But a few months ago, the restaurant had to close. Without missing a beat, they re-opened just a few doors away.

The new Top Hat is smaller but retains that rustic, colonial charm. Owner Maria Danker's touch is evident—the antique Nyonya cabinets, the colourful silk drapes and the charming landscaped garden (perfect for wedding functions, by the way). Danker has divided the bungalow into six rooms named after Malaysian textiles like the Songket and the Kebaya.

The menu is East meets West; items change every three months but staples like their top hat (pai tee) and Nyonya Laksa will not go anywhere. In for a snack? The quiche comes highly recommended.

Contact:
No 3, Jalan Stonor,
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2142 8611

Website:
www.top-hat-restaurants.com

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 12pm - 12am

Cuisine:
Local

The Bread Shop

2009-12-29T17:46:00.000-08:00

The Bread Shop is a bakery. But one look and you'll cotton that this isn't your typical neighbourhood bakery. An open kitchen of stainless steel appliances sits behind the display counter of baked goods. The whole look is minimalist cool.

When you push open the glass doors, instantly, you know you're in dough haven. The Bread Shop sells buns, soft and warm, and pastries like the cinnamon swirl and chocolate danish, so good it's impossible not to devour them immediately. The bakery also sells hard-to-find loaves like cranberry walnut (RM8.80), organic dark seed (RM7.80) and wholemeal walnut (RM6.80). Their German breads and baguettes come in varieties like sourdough, walnut sunflower and French garlic. Don't forget to complement your bread with a cup of coffee from the menu!

Contact:
11, Jalan Setiakasih 5,
Damansara Heights,
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2093 8734

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
8am - 7.30pm (Mon - Fri)
8pm - 5pm (Sat)

Cuisine:
N/A

Delucca

2009-12-29T17:31:00.000-08:00

Delucca benefits from an excellent space in One Residency. The open kitchen, set on a platform is a stage for the chefs to perform. The central bar and high ceiling are reminiscent of a swanky European bar. However, the stage it looks like it was built in half a day and covered in leftover felt.

It is the same with their dishes. The Vitello Tonnato (RM39) appetiser is served with slices of wonderful, succulent veal ham unceremoniously slathered with tuna mayonnaise. The Scallopina Bianco (RM48) is so thin you wonder where it is.

But the Souffle di Scampi (RM30) is excellent. The soft, savoury soufflé is a perfect vehicle for the wonderful seafood flavours. The Gnocchi Gorgonzola (RM34) has a good creamy sauce but the gnocchi itself could have been softer. A little extra potato could have elevated it from merely good.

Desserts were beyond reproach. The Tiramisu (RM17) is light and ethereal while the enormous Tartufo (RM17), a chocolate ice cream bombe, is decadent and almost impossible to finish.

The bottle of Placido Chianti (RM140) came strongly recommended. The fruity, easy red was an ideal choice for Delucca’s rustic and inventive dishes.

Opening an Italian restaurant is a brave move, especially with so many high-quality restaurants of the same already established in the neighbourhood. Though courage is no guarantee of success, it is a place to imagine yourself spending a long Sunday afternoon.

Contact:
Unit C-G-2,
Ground Floor,
Office Tower,
One Residency,
Jalan Mesui, off Jalan Nagasari,
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2144 6545

Website:
www.delucca.com.my

Operating Hours:
12pm–3pm (lunch),
6pm–12am (dinner),
closed on Mondays for lunch

Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Hakka Republic

2009-12-29T17:24:00.000-08:00

There isn’t a single lei cha or salt-baked chicken in sight. The chef even honed his skills in a western kitchen in Japan. The only thing remotely Hakka about Hakka Republic is the large calligraphic scrolls that adorn the restaurant.

The Chinese-themed bar fits with the bold colours of the restaurant and concrete flooring—the space feels funky, edgy. There are plenty of stools at the bar and comfortable sofas in the lounge.

We were greeted with a huge bamboo steamer at our dining table. It revealed the Steamed Grade 9 Wagyu with Ponzu Sauce (RM120), a real treat for the senses. The unmatchable Wagyu aroma left us no choice but to attack the dish immediately.

The Slow Braised Beef Cheek with Creamy Polenta (RM52) trumps the Crispy Duck Confit with Fig Compote and Potato Galette (RM44). The generous beef cheeks are cooked to the extremes of tenderness. The duck confit is crispy but is too briny for our taste.

Hakka Republic has wine pairing suggestions for each dish. They have about 20 champagnes and wines available by the glass—more restaurants should definitely do this.

The only disappointment was dessert. The Special Rich Fruit Cake with Brandy Sauce (RM18) has a very good flavour and texture but it is heavy. The Chocolate Fondant with Vanilla Ice Cream (RM22) didn’t fair as well either. The cake is too dry and crumbly.

But Hakka Republic warrants a return. If not for the Japanese-influenced western food, then definitely for a few after-hours drinks.

Contact:
Lot 2.05, Level 2,
Menara Hap Seng,
Jalan P. Ramlee,
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2078 9908

Website:
www.hakkarepublic.com

Operating Hours:
12pm–3pm (weekday lunch),
11:30am–3pm (Sunday brunch buffet)

Cuisine:
Western

The Chang Cafe

2009-12-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

Caffeinees is one of those cafes residents keep hidden from the “rest of the world”. The charming neighbourhood establishment is owned by the Chang family. Past customers include Dato' Jimmy Choo and singer, Fish Leong. “I think they come here because we give them their own privacy. No one will come up to you and ask for a photo,” says co-owner June Chang.

Inspired by the cafe culture in Australia, Caffeinees checks all requirements that make for a lovely hang-out spot: comfort, cool ambiance, great grub and drinks. Caffeinees offers a long list of caffeinated elixirs, also offering coffee workshops where latte art is taught. New dishes are added to their menu every quarter, while perennial favourites include Thai Fried Rice, Seafood Olio Spaghetti, Baked Rice and the Summer Bondi Burger. Mark Caffeinees down for the next time you need some precious time with a cuppa … they have alcohol too!

Contact:
2-G, Jalan Excella 2,
Taman Ampang Hilir,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-4270 9236

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
Fusion

True Brew

2009-12-29T14:23:00.001-08:00

With its sleek lines and designer interior, True Brew inspires ‘ooh’s and ‘aah’s at first look. But, it's not difficult being gorgeous when you're located in a furniture gallery. True Brew shares space with Studio 99. The gallery features upscale furniture brands like Arflex and Paola Lenti.

Cafe owners, P.G. Teh and Vincent Tan, wanted a unique way to display its products. All the chairs at the cafe are from Paola Lenti, and the lamps from Oluce. The menu is not extensive but certainly eclectic. Black in colour, the visually distinctive Charcoal Bread Sandwich is popular, as well as its sambal prawns, of which they're very proud. Another signature dish is the fried rice with scallops and XO sauce that is made according to a family recipe.

True Brew also serves the premium Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and desserts imported from Japan. For a feast on the eyes and the palate, head here.

Contact:
Studio 99,
Jalan Yap Kwan Seng,
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2168 8299

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 12pm - 10pm

Cuisine:
Fusion

Il Padrino

2009-12-29T14:18:00.001-08:00

Meaning ‘the Godfather’ in Italian, Il Padrino offers excellent service and tasty food. For example, affogato (RM35) was not on the menu but they managed to put an outstanding one together without fuss.

Il Padrino’s Gnocchi ai Quattro Formaggio (RM28) was top notch. The texture was spot-on with a cheese sauce that was complex and tasty. Starters of Prosciutto Crudo e Melon (RM35), Frittura di Calamari (RM24) and Bruschetta al Salmone (RM18) were very well done. The dishes were flavourful, and they could give others a lesson in producing wonderfully crispy calamari.

The Risotto Pancetta Saffron (RM36) also could have been a little more al dente but the profusion of bacon and saffron more than made up for it. The Pizza Il Padrino (RM32) had a soft and yeasty base, with generous toppings of more prosciutto, rocket and mozzarella buffalo.

Main course, Grigliata Mista di Mare (RM52) with parsley sauce was a mix of grilled fresh seafood. The grilled US scallops were the stand-outs, while the seabass tasted a little muddy. The Ossobucco Milanese (RM52) featured a huge portion of veal shank filled with marrow that was just heavenly.

Desserts of Panna Cotta (RM18) and Sfogliatine di Millefoglie (RM18) proved to be irresistible. The Panna Cotta‘s texture was near perfect while the millefoglie had plenty of excellent custard and crispy pastry.

The Torresella Merlot (RM19) should be avoided. Go instead for the Australian De Bortoli Cabernet Merlot (RM20) or Semillon Chardonnay (RM20), both outstanding values for house pours.

Contact:
50-G-1, Ground Floor,
Wisma UOA,
Damansara Heights,
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2093 8596

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 12pm – 12am daily

Cuisine:
Mediterranean

Pinchos

2009-12-29T14:13:00.000-08:00

Pinchos, a Catalan-influenced tapas bar, has a lively and homely atmosphere, amidst Iberian charm. The Paella Mixta (RM48) carries rich and robust flavours of pork, chicken and seafood. It is perhaps a little heavier and oilier than a truly authentic version, but locals will not complain about the generous amounts of seafood and meat together with a strong perfume of saffron.

For the tapas, amongst the best dishes were the Chicken and Pork Skewers (RM12) and Eggplant Tomato (RM9). Chicken and pork were brought together for a perfect marriage of succulence and flavour with an excellent smokiness from the grill. The eggplant came with a wonderful sauce full of garlic, perfect for mopping up with the crusty bread provided.

The Spanish Ham on Toast (RM19) is also a must-order for any tapas bar and you can always choose slices from the genuine leg of Jamon Iberico perched on the bar counter. The Chorizo Sausage Stew (RM14) and Albondigas (RM15) were solid items without being spectacular, while the Croquetas (RM14) were nice and crispy on the outside but slightly too runny in the middle.

Pinchos also provide an excellent choice of drinks. Sangria (RM18) was very decent – fruity and not too frugal with the wine. The Mojito (RM29) was very refreshing, coming in a tall glass for a change, something not many bars in the city seem to understand – that a mojito should be a long drink. The stock table wine, a medium-spice Caceres Rioja (RM22) was also a great all-rounder to go with their food.

Contact:
Pinchos,
18 Jalan Chankat Bukit Bintang,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 – 2145 8482

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
N/A

Asian Terrace

2009-12-29T14:05:00.001-08:00

In spite of an empty restaurant and an uninspired menu, Asian Terrace was a pleasant surprise. First up were the Crystal Rolls (RM12), which are made fresh to order, with a crisp stuffing of finely julienned vegetables. The chef’s mastery really came to the fore with the Catfish Mango Salad (RM17) and the show-stopping Tom Ka Chicken (RM14). In both cases, the skilful use of fish sauce resulted in an excellent balance of flavours. In terms of main course, the Grilled Beef with Homemade Sauce (RM29) and the Peanut Curry Chicken (RM19) come highly recommended. Disappointingly, Asian Terrace does not serve the Thai dessert staple of water chestnut. But few will complain about the Banana Ice Cream (RM10) with a superb grilled banana, albeit a little sweet, and the lush Honeydew Sago Ice Cream (RM9) that was particularly refreshing.

Contact:
1, Ground Floor,
Jalan Solaris 2,
Solaris Mont’Kiara,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 – 6204 9100

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
12pm – 12am daily (closed on Mondays)

Cuisine:
Southeast

Neo

2009-12-29T13:58:00.001-08:00

The conventional idea of a cocktail night out is an evening at a loungy place with chill-out music and a favourite cocktail over a chat with friends. When it comes to Neo, you can partially throw that away, because the entire concept of this bar is out of this world.

Firstly, Neo offers regular drinks mixed behind the bar, but also have ‘liquid desserts’. Meant to complement your meal, the drinks use reduced vinegars to give them a very different savoury taste. The flavours on your palate come together beautifully. The bar itself is set up with a relaxing and home-like feel, where you can come in and drink without feeling restricted. The amazing lighting and use of water makes you feel like you’re in a premium spa. The music is controlled by the DJ, who plays vibes that resonate with the atmosphere. Did I mention that they do tapas and food as well?

Contact:
19, Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2148 3700

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
N/A

Chef Diary

2009-12-29T13:29:00.000-08:00

One thing Malaysians really don’t mind doing is travelling far and wide for our food. Especially for some noodles a friend of a friend said was really good. It’s this food culture that we indulge in that has sparked this evolution of Malaysian food.

However, we aren’t the only ones that have allowed food to be our guiding light. Chef Diary in Bukit Damansara offers Modern European, Spanish and Italian cuisine. What’s more interesting is that the restaurant is it is based on the concept of a continuously changing cuisine and décor to suit its current theme. These serve as a record and journal of these changes, hence Chef Diary.

This makes each visit a new experience. You can expect to indulge in gourmet food whilst being on the healthy side of things as healthy eating is one of the restaurants primary concepts. Chef Diary prides itself in being a casual environment, while serving dishes of the highest quality at an affordable price. The place also serves an array of wines, as they understand the synergy of good food and good wine. The innovative menu is splashed with the colours of the Spanish and the passion of the Italians. Everything from the starters to desserts is made with premium ingredients. As it should be.

Contact:
26-G, Medan Setia 2,
Plaza Damansara,
Bukit Damansara,
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2095 0305

Website:
www.mychefdiary.com

Operating Hours:
12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm (Mon - Fri),
6pm - 12am (Sat)

Cuisine:
Fusion

High Tide

2009-12-29T13:27:00.000-08:00

The newest venture by the Nero group of restaurants is a far cry from Nero Teca, Nero Fico or Nero Vivo. Named High Tide, it is a restaurant that specializes in fish and seafood.

Managed by Carole Pinel, with kitchen affairs in the hands of Head Chef, Evert Onderbeke, High Tide aims to be a restaurant with emphasis on fresh seafood done in fine European style. Their deliveries arrive every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from countries as varied as Japan, Australia, USA and France.

Chef Evert – who trained under 2 Michelin Star Chef, Roger Souvereyns – recommends their tuna platter to start and a seafood platter (oysters, lobster, mussels, langoustine, prawns, clams) to share between two diners or more. They have an impressive cellar as well, so do pair your meal with a glass! Prices are on the steep side, but for special occasions or an oceanic treat, High Tide brings something fresh to the local dining scene.

Contact:
Menara Taipan,
Off Jalan P.Ramlee,
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2072 4452

Website:
hightidekl.com

Operating Hours:
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 11pm

Cuisine:
European

Meatworks

2009-12-29T13:10:00.000-08:00

Working closely with the National Feedlot Corporation, Meatworks aims to bring local sustainable beef to all Malaysians. It is a meat lover’s paradise, housed on two floors, with a ground floor restaurant and a meat deli serving the best 30-day aged beef.

The chef treated the monstrous Rib Eye (RM46) with the utmost care, cooking it perfectly. The meat itself lacked the wonderful flavour of a Kobe or even an Angus, but is quite commendable with a tender texture, all for a very reasonable price.

The starters of Mushroom Soup (RM15) and Mushroom Risotto (RM30) were also top class. The highlight was it was achieved with the minimum of cream and butter, making dishes that were light but full of flavour. There were so many different types of grilled mushroom mixed in with risotto rice that was al dente yet creamy.

For non-beef lovers, the Scallops Salad (RM28) was a good starter with grilled fresh spring scallops on top of a corn and tomato relish. The Silver Cod (RM42) was a beautifully grilled loin that went very well with the tart, zesty sauce. The Chicken Cutlet (RM45) was probably the weakest dish, but it is difficult to keep a thin chicken breast moist.

Don’t miss the desserts, small chilled options, such as the Chocolate Mouse (RM12) and Panna Cotta (RM11) are available, both winners in terms of balance and a soft, luscious texture. However, many items on the menu were unavailable and no was alcohol served.

Contact:
2G 3A, Jalan Solaris 5, Block H
Solaris Mont Kiara
50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 6203 0871

Website:
meatworks.com.my

Operating Hours:
Open Daily: 10am - 11.30pm

Cuisine:
Western

Stuff Your Face Café

2009-12-29T13:06:00.000-08:00

Stuff Your Face Café is cozy and unpretentious. Situated in the newly renovated Bangsar Shopping Centre, the café is child-friendly with an extensive kids’ menu. But everyone should feel welcome, especially with its outdoor space to enjoy an afternoon sipping cool drinks.

The Lime & Lemon Grass Spritzer (RM8) was sweet and refreshing with the right amount of bubbles. It was much better than the Pink Lemonade (RM8), which was normal lemonade with pureed strawberries. It just didn’t work.

Another hit was the Fettucine Mushroom Stroganoff (RM16). It was a fusion dish with pasta and an Asian sauce flavoured with lime, coriander and mushroom, thickened with finely crushed peanuts. There wasn’t a drop of cream in sight, making it friendly to the waistline and to vegans.

The Mini Burgers (RM16) was also commendable, with a nice bit of juicy patty in the middle and a bun that was properly toasted and buttered. The Turmeric Fried Chicken (RM18) was a huge serving of gigantic drumsticks while the Wedges (RM8) were a little disappointing, being far too soggy.

As for dessert, the Chocolate Chip Sandwich (RM6) with vanilla ice cream between rich, crumbly chocolate chips was delicious and satisfying.

Stuff Your Face Café is a great place to bring the kids or spend an afternoon lounging around. The food is not exceptional, but there are some great ideas and the friendly service and chilled atmosphere alone make it worthwhile.

Contact:
4-09. 4th Floor Bangsar Shopping Centre,
Jalan Maarof, Bukit Bandaraya,
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2287 3070

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
10am – 7pm (daily)

Cuisine:
Western

18-20th Centuries

2009-12-29T12:22:00.000-08:00

The ambiance forces one to step into another time and place. The owners have filled the establishment with tasteful antiques and artifacts which they have collected with a passion over the years. These artifacts are actually on sale so guests can dine and shop at the same time. Quirky retro paraphernalia are displayed in glass showcases from the 70s, subdued glow from aged chandeliers and lamps permeate the room, mismatched chairs accompany dining tables worn out at the edges and the ceiling is painted a yellowed white.

The menu features a contemporary take on East/West fusion. There is plenty to choose from the selection of starters, soups, salads, mains of poultry and meat, seafood, pastas and desserts.

Contact:
18-20th Century
52A, Jalan Datuk Sulaiman,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
60000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603 7725 5875

Website:
Unknown

Operating Hours:
Monday - Friday
11am - 3pm
6pm - 10pm
Sat & Sun
11am-11pm

Cuisine / Type / Serving:
French, Restaurant

100 Degree Restaurant

2009-12-29T11:42:00.000-08:00

No matter when, people like to gather and enjoy Steamboat & Barbecue meal. At Kuchai Dynasty Centre (Kuala Lumpur), you can find a special restaurant which gathers all Steamboat, Teppanyaki & Barbecue meal, that’s 100ºC Steamboat, Teppanyaki & BBQ Restaurant.

100ºC Restaurant is a unique restaurant which offers dinners more than 10 different types of steamboat soup to choose and more than 20 different varieties of sauces to dip. All this make it special especially when you have your own individual pot of steamboat by yourself, thus making it more convenient and hygienic. All their steamboat ingredients are freshly prepared daily making it irresistible just by looking it. Can’t get enough? Try our Barbecue”Do-It-Yourself” Concept/ Barbecue your way with friends and fimaly in the outdoor BBQ area or let the chef do it for you while you sit back and enjoy the food. Uniqueness and great variety makes us a must-try!

Of course, we provide you the first and ever steamboat & BBQ online delivery service. You just need to pick up the steamboat or Barbecue meal through our website, then you can simply enjoy your meal in your house or office. Besides that, we also provide the Steamboat or Barbecue Tool/Cooker to rent/buy in our website. Enjoy our service.

Contact:
3 & 5, Ground Floor, Dinasti Sentral, Jalan Kuchai Maju 18, Off Jalan Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 1800 88 7222

Website:
www.100c.com.my

Operating Hours:
Unknown

Cuisine / Type / Serving:
Japanese, Local, Restaurant, BBQ / Deli / Steak / Grill

Angus Steak House

2009-11-17T23:10:00.001-08:00

The first thing that grabs you about Prime is its elegant modern décor, oversized tables and its wide open kitchen with an uninterrupted view of chefs hard at work. Attention to detail is a key element at ‘Prime’ evident by the house made bread and butter selection served to you the moment you plonk yourself down. Beef is a serious subject matter here with a selection of steaks from Australia, Japan, Argentina and US and what impressed me the most was the fact that you can order your steak based on cut, weight and number of days it’s been aged. For non-bovine eaters there’s also an extensive selection of appetizers, soups and salads with poultry and seafood dishes.

Opting for a mix of traditional steak restaurant fare, my partner and I ordered the apple wood smoked Norwegian salmon (RM45) and the truffle ravioli, mushroom fricassee (RM50). Of the two, the salmon dish stood out with the freshly smoked slices infused just right. The ravioli was a decent enough with pasta parcels packed with truffles and served with a creamy sauce. And then came the steaks.

Feeling slightly stuffed it was a wise move to order the 8oz selection of ribeye (RM95) and centre cut filet mignon (RM165). Both steaks were 200-day grain fed Black Angus and came with caramelised balsamic-shallot jus and cracked peppercorn sauces. The ribeye, which under the strict advice of the maître d’ was served medium rare was tender and grilled almost to perfection. The filet mignon was tender and full of flavour and juicy enough even though it was ordered medium well . Both steaks came with side orders of Truffle mashed potato, Wild green asparagus and Idaho steak fries (RM15 each) which complimented the meal quite well.

We left ‘Prime’ stuffed and satisfied and with total agreement that it was clearly head and shoulders above some of the other steak restaurants in the city. We do however have to stress that quality does come at a price and ‘Prime’ is clearly a place only fit for special occasions or if you have deep pockets. A full meal at ‘Prime’ for two can set you back up to RM400 which is high but certainly worth it, especially when it comes to quality steaks.

Contact:
Angus Steak House,
Lot 6.44 & 6.45, Level 6,
Pavilion KL,
Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL.
Tel: 03 2145 6015

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
11.30am-4.30pm & 5pm-10pm daily.

Cuisine:
Japanese

Kampachi

2009-11-17T23:10:00.000-08:00

The signature restaurant of the Equatorial Hotel chain appears in five destinations in Malaysia, three of which fall into the catchment zone for these awards (KL, Bangi-Putrajaya and Pavilion KL). While voters didn’t make clear which they had voted for, the consistency of each outlet is such that it could have been any of them. Renowned as one of the very best Japanese outlets in the city, Kampachi flies in their sashimi from the famous Tsukiji market in Tokyo. Proof of the lengths they are willing to go to in the name of top class Japanese fare.

There really aren’t that many great (although plenty of decent/good) Japanese restaurants in KL, however, in the semi-recently opened ‘Kampachi’ in Pavilion KL can honestly claim to rival the likes of ‘Zipangu’ and ‘Iketeru.’

The restaurant shares a name, brand, menu and owners with the outlet in the Equatorial KL, however, to my taste buds, the one in Pavilion is superior. The staff are just as friendly but the food seems fresher — although I can’t see how that could be. Possibly the newness of the outlet played tricks on my mind.

We began with California rolls, which – hand on heart — are the best in KL. The filling of soft crabstick, carrot, cucumber, and roe were immaculately presented and once soy sauce was drizzled over the roll it was as fresh and flavoursome as you could ask for.

Moving on, and the soba and udon noodles were the undoubted highlight of the main course. They hand make them in the window of the restaurant allowing diners nearby and passing shoppers to see in as the dough-artists create their noodly work in their little heated room.

Art is without question a fair analogy for their creations once you allow them to pass your lips. The noodles really are excellent. And the soup they come in is rich and tasty, although could have been hotter. The rest of the meal was good without being great, the salad fresh if plain, as was the fruit.
Having tried some more traditional Japanese fare, I took a gamble with the curry cutlet meal. It was much better than it’s equivalents elsewhere in the city, with breaded chicken (It always strikes as strange that this is on so many Japanese menus as it hardly seems authentic) that contained genuine fillet meat rather than skin and a pleasingly thick curry sauce that contained hefty chunks of vegetables.

We left dessert and even deliberately spared ourselves the sake we would usually finish a Japanese meal with. Not because we didn’t have room. We just wanted an excuse to go back.

Contact:
Kampachi, Lot 6.09.00,
Level 6, Pavilion KL,
Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL.
Tel: 03 2148 9608

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11.30am-9.30pm.
Fri-Sat: 11.30am-10pm.

Cuisine:
Japanese

Hard Rock Cafe Restaurant

2009-11-17T23:09:00.001-08:00

My initial reaction was ‘Woah! How much? For a burger?’ but of course there’s more to Hard Rock than your average grill.

First credit comes for the portion sizes. Whether it was the tortilla chip nacho or the potato skins crammed with cheese and bacon starters or the strip steak or 10oz signature burger, our plates were fairly stacked. And, while hardly gourmet, the food was moorish enough that we cleared everything in next to no time. Which surprised us a little as we didn’t expect to enjoy a chain restaurant so much.

I really rated my burger (as did our reviewers who placed it amongst KL’s top 10 last month) and the steak was also cooked very well; moist and juicy. In the ‘cons’ column I would put the loud music but that would somewhat miss the point and also make me sound old, so we’ll forget that.

A sea of smiling faces stretched from wall to wall. It was strange to see a restaurant so full of people really, really enjoying themselves. And there were plenty of them. We went on a Friday night and we weren’t the only ones. We had to wait a short while for a table to become free but that turned into a blessing as we were able to enjoy a beer at the bar. Although we were less grateful when we read the bill and saw what they were charging for the draught lager. Really, RM30 is too much for two halves of beer.

The thing about Hard Rock Café is , although the prices seem do steep, you feel like you’re paying for the atmosphere — which if you’re into that sort of thing, you have to admit is great — but actually, the pleasing thing about the place is that when you tuck into your meal, you realise that what you’re actually paying for is very decent food.

Contact:
Hard Rock Café,
Ground Floor, Wisma Concorde,
Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL.
Tel: 03 2715 5555

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
11.30am-2.30am daily.

Cuisine:
Western

Baan 26

2009-11-17T23:09:00.000-08:00

With plants and wrought iron furniture at the front veranda, ‘Baan 26’ looks good from the outside. The interior however doesn’t seem too appealing. Yes, it does look humble, like a typical Thai home, and truth is, I have seen neighbourhood restaurants like this in Bangkok and even Chiang Mai. So I guess there’s some authenticity there considering the fact that Baan 26 is after all a Thai restaurant.

There’s quite a variety in the menu — from salads and soups to fried rice, noodles and main dishes that cover chicken, beef and even duck. They even serve mieng kam, a DIY appetiser that you don’t usually find in other Thai restaurants in KL.

To start, I had the Thai fish cakes (even though the Thai mango salad with crispy catfish sounded delicious). I always believe that one of the ways to judge a Thai restaurant is through its tom yam. And so I ordered the clear tom yam chicken noodle, which was tasty. The soup is a good mixture of sour, limey, spicy and salty with a hint of sweetness. I chose glass noodle to go with the soup and the combination came out well. It was both light and appetising. The Thai green curry chicken tasted authentic as well with the right balance of spicy creaminess.

The good thing about Baan 26 is that there’s nothing pretentious about the restaurant. The menu may not be inventive but it features all the Thai dishes that we are familiar with, like lime and chilli steam fish, Thai basil leaf spicy minced chicken and crispy duck in plum sauce, just to name a few.
The ambience is casual. In fact, it is one of the very few on Changkat Bukit Bintang that doesn’t bother with decking itself up to look chic, modern and funky. And perhaps this makes ‘Baan 26’ feel like a neighbourhood restaurant that you can go to anytime of the week and not just during special occasions.

Contact:
Baan26, 26 Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL.
Tel: 03 2142 8878

Website:
www.baan26.com

Operating Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12noon-3pm, 6pm-12.30am;
Sun & Public Holidays: 3pm-12.30am.

Cuisine:
Thai

Bar SaVanh and Cochine

2009-11-17T23:08:00.001-08:00

The IndoChine tradition continues in Kuala Lumpur with the opening of CoChine Lounge and Restaurant & Bar SaVanh. Eight Cambodian sandstone sculptures mark the entrance to the latest addition to the IndoChine family. Upon entering, guests tread over a fish pond on their way to the main bar, so watch out if you've already had a few.

An atrium ceiling allows light to seep through onto the banyan tree that grows in the middle of the bar. A tranquil water feature engulfs the five senses with peace and serenity. The CoChine Lounge & Bar SaVanh adds layers of ambience with candles and incense, lit every evening as a prelude to an exciting and different night at Bar SaVanh.

Contact:
Asian Heritage Row,
Jalan Doraisamy,
50300 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 2697 1180

Website:
www.asianheritagerow.com

Operating Hours:
CoChine Café Mon-Fri: 12pm - 10pm, Sat 5pm - 10pm;
Restaurant Mon-Sat: 6:30pm - 11pm Bar 5pm till late Happy Hours 5pm - 9pm (30% off House Pours & draught beers)

Cuisine:
Thai

The Magnificent Fish & Chip Shop

2009-11-17T23:08:00.000-08:00

For the past two years, the Magnificent Fish & Chip Shop has stood proudly (and busily) as one of the main attractions on Changkat Bukit Bintang. But, for anyone who is still yet to check out the city’s only dedicated authentic (they wrap them in newspaper and everything) fish and chips, what are you missing?

Well, first off: high prices. While elsewhere in the world, fish and chips are often seen as a cheap and cheerful meal, here you have to pay between 20 and 45 ringgit for a single piece of battered fish. However, that only tells part of the story. In fact, the fish is of very high quality. And it is cooked well. The prices genuinely reflect this and there can be no argument that you don’t get what you pay for.

Furthermore, the shop doesn’t try to be ‘cheap and cheerful.’ Actually, it is a cool, stylish and mid-to-high end establishment, turning into something of a happening nightspot after the typical dinner crowd have turned in. The warm wooden furniture and strong ambience are part of what (along with the amiable staff) keeps the punters coming back time and again; I know more than a few people who come more than once a week.

Or possibly it is down to the magnificent (sorry) tartare sauce, as good as you’ll taste and a brilliant accompaniment to the delicious fish, such as dory, parrot fish, barramundi, grouper, or salmon, listed on huge blackboards than adorn the walls.

These menus/boards offers much more than ‘just’ fish. There are pies, sausages, fish cakes, curry sauce, mushy peas, and a huge ‘chippy’ breakfast on a Sunday morning. And lest we forget the ‘Guinness and Oysters’ special.

Whether they’re in KL, California, Cairns or Cardiff, the secret to good fish and chips is being close enough to the sea to get the freshest, best fish. For that reason, Magnificent will never be able to compete with some of the world’s best. But for KL it’s fantastic and we’re lucky to have it.

Contact:
28 Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 2142 7021

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Mon-Fri, 8.00am-1am.
Sat & Sun 10am-late.

Cuisine:
Western

Asam Laksa Stall

2009-11-17T23:07:00.000-08:00

Madras Lane, the dark, dank walkway that cuts through the middle of Chinatown’s wet market, boasts two stalls selling asam laksa. I eat there regularly but have yet to sample the version dished up by the middle stall. Why? Because I can never nudge myself past the divine hot, sour, and fishy fugue rising from a furiously boiling pot at the end stall. Not for me, grass-is-always-greener promiscuity. I’ve found a good salve for my asam laksa cravings and I’m sticking to it.

Now, I know just what you’re wondering. No, this asam laksa isn’t as good as what you’ll find in Penang. But we’re not in Penang, are we? Let’s face it, every time we eat a KL version of a Penang hawker dish we know we’re settling for second- (or third- or fourth-) best. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do just to get through.

Arrive at this when they open at 8:30am and your request for an order will be met with a sharp rebuke: ‘Not ready!’ The second generation running this forty-plus-year-old business takes his asam soup seriously. Better to wait till late morning anyway; by then the fire-red potage has had time to reduce and thicken, its heat and tartness mellowing and melding in the process. A serving includes the usual garnishes (fresh mint leaves, shredded cucumber and pineapple, sliced shallot) as well as two meaty canned sardine fillets, added right before broth is poured over.

Blasphemy! some may cry, but the oily, profoundly piscine sardine marries wonderfully with the soup’s forceful spicy sourness. Adding sambal belacan and kalamansi (which, if you don’t look Malaysian, you’ll have to ask for) to this already heady brew may be gilding the lily, but I’ve never been one to run away from moreish more.

On Madras Lane seating is notoriously territorial, so don’t sit down at one of this stall’s tables unless at least one in your party orders from its menu. The stall also serves curry laksa and pork ball noodle soup. Both dishes look awfully tempting but, like I said, I just can’t get past that asam laksa.

Contact:
Asam Laksa stall, last stall on Madras Lane (inside Petaling Street Wet Market), Chinatown.
Tel: N/A

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
8.30am-3pm. Closed Mon

Cuisine:
Asian

The Canteen Room

2009-11-17T23:02:00.000-08:00

In terms of value for money you can’t ask for more than you receive at this café-cum-restaurant. The portions are generous, the service is great and the price remains low. No wonder The Canteen Room is always packed.

There may be better eateries with more glamourous dishes around the town but I struggle to think of many with such consistency and reliability. And when it comes to lunchtime, especially, I think most people are like me: we’d rather not take a risk in what we order. If we know something is going to taste good, be served quickly and there’s plenty of it, we’ll go for that over an unknown quantity every time.

The best of The Canteen Room is evidenced in their huge, spicy Penang char kway teow, packed with tasty treats. Or, depending on who you listen to, their speciality, the asam laksa nyonya. Other dishes worth ‘honourable mentions’ include the prawn mee and chicken curry. While the latter doesn’t use the best quality chicken, the divine gravy more than makes up for it, and what do you expect for less than ten ringgit?

The Canteen Room earns its three stars as much for its value as its quality. Oh, and the attentive, fast and helpful staff who are almost worth a star on their own.

Contact:
A-0-2, Wisma HB, Megan Phileo Avenue 2, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, KL.
Tel: 03 2166 2160

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
Asian

Sassorosso

2009-11-17T23:01:00.000-08:00

If Sassorosso isn’t the best Italian restaurant in KL, it isn’t far off. Tucked away a bit, the steady stream of lunchtime and evening diners would testify that the food on offer ranks as some of the best anywhere in the city.

The a la carte menu is simple, with more than enough choices to suit, and if you’re looking for value, then there is also a buffet on offer during the day from 12noon until 3pm.

The décor is also uncomplicated and stylish, with clean white walls in the quiet indoor area and a more vibrant, happening outdoors, complete with wood-fired kiln oven for their excellent pizzas.

I have a feeling they recently tinkered with some of their recipes as it was while chewing on their Quattro stagioni on my last visit that I thought that it was even cheesier and tastier than usual. The blanched peppers, tender artichokes, turkey ham, and delicious tomato sauce finishing off this fine pie. While this is my favourite, to be fair all the pizzas are excellent. And enormous.

As a good Italian place, Sassorosso also offers separate appetisers (the buffalo mozzarella is great, mushroom soup excellent, the scallops very good and the beef bresaola defies superlatives), pasta, meat and seafood dishes. And don’t shout about it, but Sassorosso also boast an extensive wine menu with no end of charming, complimentary European wines.

Those that are must-tries would have included the lamb shank but that was dry and fatty on my last visit, so unless they’ve re-sourced their lamb, I’d go for the gnocchi, risotto, rib-eye steak, braised veal, seared tuna, oh, I could go on, but haven’t the words, so I’ll let you discover the dishes for yourself. Buon appetito.

Contact:
9 Lorong Yap Kwan Seng, KL.
Tel: 03 2166 6428

Website:
www.sassorosso.com.my

Operating Hours:
12noon-11.45pm. Daily.

Cuisine:
Italian

Wasabi Bistro

2009-11-17T22:59:00.000-08:00

The Wasabi Bistro has never had the most elegant of entrances. On exiting the elevator one often thinks one has stumbled wrongly into the Mandarin car park but beckoning staff are more often than not there to put you right. The decor is a sombre and uninspired affair made no better by no natural light. Nowadays with so many well designed modern Japanese restaurants based on starkness with style Wasabi excels with the former but comes unstuck with the latter.

However, I have been here many times so there must be a reason for my loyalty other than the fact it’s only yards from my workplace. Looking over the menu I notice there are a few new additions of a more modern take. Wasabi in the past for me was a straightforward, no nonsense, run-of-the-mill Japanese. Never excelling but always dependable.

I opt for tuna carpaccio in a yuzu lime pepper dressing which is pretty good, reminding me of Nobu’s famous yellowtail with jalapeno. Delicate and tasty but with a sting in the tail. I’m impressed. I finished my homage to health, guilt-free seaweed salad, which was as good as lettuce and seaweed can get I guess, but let’s face it, is never going to match the delights of a combination of bubbling boiling oil and chicken, is it?

The tori-tatsuta-age (marinated deep fried chicken) was piping hot, crisp and succulent. Feeling a little more daring with the pepper still lingering on my tongue from the tuna carpaccio dressing I chanced upon the dynamite roll. To be honest I forget the contents because they didn’t matter. The important thing was the dynamite or indeed the spice.

Cagily I had opted for heat level 10 in the 1 to 19 scale of mouth furnace options. Going by the wonderful fieriness of the six cut pieces I had narrowly missed out on a lobotomy by spice by not venturing into the teens but will soldier on to 11 or 12 on my next visit.

Being a degenerate curry eater and loving the mildness and flavoursome Japanese variety I ordered the vegetable Japanese Curry. Alas! It was no longer on the menu. However, no sooner had I drowned my sorrows in more hot sake the chef had whipped one up off menu and within minutes. It was excellent. All in all the food is very good at Wasabi probably nearly on par with Iketeru at the Hilton or Zipangu at the Shangri-La but the decor lets the overall experience down. However with a chef that clearly has ambitions, excellent service and maybe a face lift in the near future Wasabi is still a commendable establishment.

Contact:
Mandarin Oriental,
Kuala Lumpur City Centre, KL.
Tel: 03 2163 0968

Website:
www.mandarinoriental.com

Operating Hours:
Lunch 12noon-2.30pm,
Dinner 6pm-10.30pm. Daily

Cuisine:
Japanese

Iketeru

2009-11-17T22:57:00.000-08:00

Iketeru’s signature style combines traditional elements of Japanese cuisine with the latest Tokyo nouveau, so don't be surprised to taste hints of red wine or balsamico in the well-prepared dishes.

Japanese restaurant Iketeru may be a regular on the prestigious TOKL Food 40 list but when they announced that they were organising a Weekend Champagne Brunch promotion, we just had to venture on for another look. Located in the Hilton KL, Iketeru is renowned for its Japanese fare but with by putting in a ChampagneBrunch spin on it now, Iketeru has just found an added hook to reel in diners to its establishment. Just like other hotel restaurant outlets in the city that offer this bubbly affair during weekends, Iketeru also boasts a never ending supply of Gosset Champagne ever readily topped up and served at your table.

The menu however priced at RM198 ++ (RM98++ for food only without champagne) may seem steep but it’s a small price to pay considering the array of Japanese fare on offer together with a never ending supply of Gosset. Also unlike other establishments in the city that offer ‘Bubbly Brunch’, the Japanese restaurant allows you to enjoy your tipple and the ambience in a relaxing atmosphere by offering over 100 items available via ala carte.

The tailor made menu consists of contemporary and traditional Japanese fare with an array of sushi, sashimi, teppanyaki, tempura as well as desserts which can be ordered as much to your heart, or should we say stomachs’ content, up to five items at one time per table of course. Iketeru’s Master chef Ricky-san’s menu emphasises a lot on freshness and its none more evident by the delectable salmon, white tuna sashimi, sushi rolls and soft shell crab which we chose to start our meal with.

Subsequent dishes made up of prawn teppanyaki and tempura bared similar hallmarks of Iketeru’s signature style of combining traditional elements of Japanese cuisine with the latest Tokyo nouveau. And having a serving of that with corpus amounts of champers is just too good to be true, especially on a weekend.

Contact:
Jalan Stesen Sentral,
Kuala Lumpur Sentral, KL.
Tel: 03 2264 2264

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
11.30am-11pm daily.
Cuisine:
Japanese

Prego @ The Westin

2009-11-17T22:36:00.000-08:00

Fun is at the heart of everything Prego does. There’s a buzz as you enter and are greeted by the team who rank among KL’s friendliest and most eager to please. The open kitchen is stunning and the food of excellent calibre, with the showcase experience being Prego’s high-spirited ‘Bubbly Brunch’ on a Sunday where the amount of entertaining gimmicks is only outnumbered by the vast array of outstanding dishes on offer, including handmade pasta, wood-oven baked pizzas, succulent meat and decadent desserts.

Prego is a must if you like quality Italian food. You might find superior pizzas in KL - although not many - but the pasta is without equal. Especially the risotto. The restaurant itself, on the ground floor of the centrally-located Westin hotel, has an open kitchen and screams modern style.

Contact:
199, Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL
Tel: 03 2731 8333

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
12.00noon - 1.00am daily.

Cuisine:
N/A

The Yogitree

2009-11-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

Brilliant health-conscious and nourishing food find in The Gardens at Mid Valley. We’ve already worked our way through half the massive menu (some local, some western) and everything has been completely and utterly brilliant, with extra-special mention to the spaghetti carbonara, organic pumpkin soup and cooked breakfast.

We can’t wait to work our way through the other half. Also, great for kids and for you. And even more impressive, all the food, even the pasta, is freshly made on site.

Contact:
Lot F-237B, 1st Floor,
Gardens Mid Valley
Tel: 03 2282 6163

Website:
www.yogitree.com

Operating Hours:
10am-10pm daily.

Cuisine:
Western

Enak, KL

2009-11-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

Beginning to establish itself as the high-end Malay restaurant par excellence in the city, Enak sits unpretentiously in the lower ground floor of Starhill Gallery.

But despite this snazzy location, the food is fairly priced and more importantly, rich, tasty and authentic.

From the subtle to the intense, to spicy, sweet or savoury, every Enak KL dish dish is unique. This may not be to everybody's palate though. The seafood is unquestionably the best way to begin exploring the menu but it’s worth a few visits before settling on your favourites.

Contact:
LG2, Feast Floor,
Starhill Gallery,
188 Jalan Bukit Bintang,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 2141 8973

Website:
www.enakkl.com

Operating Hours:
12noon-1am daily

Cuisine:
Malay

Ghazal

2009-11-17T21:59:00.000-08:00

Not that Ghazal isn’t good. It just doesn’t compare to the quality of the bvgm Moghul House.

Some dishes do inspire. The hyderbadi chicken briyani is exceptional. The rice cooked beautifully and the vegetables and meat through it make it a filling, fragrant and fantastically satisfying dish. You’ll want a vegetable gravy
to go with that, of course. Eschew the creamy and incongruent mix offered by the Kashmiri navaratan korma in favour of the dhal mahkani; a simple yet dreamy butter gravy, less oily than most of their others. Otherwise, if you
want something a little spicier and more authentically prepared, take the masala dhal.

Other dishes that warrant inspection include the murgh lajawab (tandoori chicken in their signature mahkani gravy) and the prawn shaslik (marinated king prawns grilled with tomato and onion). However, don’t go overboard
ordering naan; the bread is thin, chewy and not nearly light enough. They also seem to just not ‘get’ certain classic dishes; their interpretations of butter chicken, vindaloo and tikka masala just not hitting the right spot.

I’m perhaps being harsh on Ghazal. It still offers a very high standard of North Indian cuisine. If I hadn’t known (and loved. Dear me, how I loved it) New Moghul House perhaps I would be kinder.

I admit that Ghazal do better than many of their peers. And several among their staff are great. I even grudgingly admit that I actually prefer the quaint atmosphere and decoration. But, the poor naan and way they can’t quite get the old favourites right means they don’t deserve any more than three stars. With trial and error you’ll be richly rewarded at Ghazal.

Contact:
34, Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL.
Tel: 03 2144 7778

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
5pm till late. Daily.

Cuisine:
Indian

Prime

2009-11-15T22:15:00.000-08:00

The first thing that grabs you about Prime is its elegant modern décor, oversized tables and its wide open kitchen with an uninterrupted view of chefs hard at work. Attention to detail is a key element at ‘Prime’ evident by the house made bread and butter selection served to you the moment you plonk yourself down. Beef is a serious subject matter here with a selection of steaks from Australia, Japan, Argentina and US and what impressed me the most was the fact that you can order your steak based on cut, weight and number of days it’s been aged. For non-bovine eaters there’s also an extensive selection of appetizers, soups and salads with poultry and seafood dishes.

Opting for a mix of traditional steak restaurant fare, my partner and I ordered the apple wood smoked Norwegian salmon (RM45) and the truffle ravioli, mushroom fricassee (RM50). Of the two, the salmon dish stood out with the freshly smoked slices infused just right. The ravioli was a decent enough with pasta parcels packed with truffles and served with a creamy sauce. And then came the steaks.

Feeling slightly stuffed it was a wise move to order the 8oz selection of ribeye (RM95) and centre cut filet mignon (RM165). Both steaks were 200-day grain fed Black Angus and came with caramelised balsamic-shallot jus and cracked peppercorn sauces. The ribeye, which under the strict advice of the maître d’ was served medium rare was tender and grilled almost to perfection. The filet mignon was tender and full of flavour and juicy enough even though it was ordered medium well . Both steaks came with side orders of Truffle mashed potato, Wild green asparagus and Idaho steak fries (RM15 each) which complimented the meal quite well.

We left ‘Prime’ stuffed and satisfied and with total agreement that it was clearly head and shoulders above some of the other steak restaurants in the city. We do however have to stress that quality does come at a price and ‘Prime’ is clearly a place only fit for special occasions or if you have deep pockets. A full meal at ‘Prime’ for two can set you back up to RM400 which is high but certainly worth it, especially when it comes to quality steaks.

Contact:
Prime, Level 5,
Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur,
2 Jalan Stesen Sentral, KL.
Tel: 03 2263 7555

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
12.30pm-2.30pm;
6.30pm-11pm daily.

Cuisine:
Western

Fatimah Selera Kampung

2009-11-15T22:13:00.000-08:00

They say Malaysia’s best Malay food is found in private kitchens. Consider Fatimah Selera Kampung your entrée to ‘mom-style’ Malay cuisine. Every dish on offer comes out of a home kitchen; the very casual, open-air restaurant is, after all, built onto the side of a private Kampung Baru home. Pakcik Nordin, Fatimah’s amiable proprietor, is happy to explain what’s on offer, but a point-and-shoot approach at the buffet-like display works well too.

It’s all good, but the fish dishes are Fatimah Selera’s brightest stars. Ikan kembung, a smallish fish with oily flesh that takes wonderfully to the grill, might on one day be served plain and crispy-skinned, with a dipping sauce of kecap Nikkomanis and chopped chilies on the side, or stuffed with a fragrant combination of grated coconut, turmeric, chilies, and lemongrass the next. For assam fish meaty chunks of a firm, white-fleshed variety stew in a sweet-and-sour, not too spicy chili gravy. Ikan bilis show up in a wonderful house ‘relish’ that changes daily; on our last visit it consisted of a mixture of fresh mild chilies, caramelised onions, and chopped fresh and pickled mustard greens.

The restaurant’s homey chicken curry sells out quickly for a reason, and the classic beef rendang is extravagantly spiced and wonderfully savoury, if a bit tough. Pecel jawa (blanched leafy greens, long beans, bean sprouts, cabbage, and nubs of deep-fried tofu topped with a peanut sauce made spicy or not, to order) makes for an excellent light lunch or a fine addition to a gluttonous repast, and mashed spuds fans won’t want to miss out on the pergedel, fat potato cakes dipped in egg and deep-fried.

Sweets lovers will want to save room for Fatimah Selera’s air jagung, a tower of shaved ice topped with corn and doused with condensed milk that forever changed my perception of that lowly vegetable as a never-for-dessert food.

Contact:
Fatimah Selera Kampung,
5, Jalan Haji Yahya Sheikh Ahmad,
Kampung Baru, KL.
Tel: 03 2692 1073

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Times vary.

Cuisine:
Malay

The Pink Sage Diner and Pantry

2009-11-15T22:11:00.000-08:00

My initial thought that the restaurant was going to be one of those over the top places with posh décor only to be let down with rubbish food. But I was in for a pleasant surprise. By the corner of Jalan Dang Wangi, first timers may have a little difficulty finding the restaurant as it’s somewhat hidden by the corner. Décor of the place is intriguing, with the vibrant match of white leather couch fitted with brown table tops fitted with a small bar and two huge mirrors along the right wall with written messages from patrons who have swung by. It reminded me of those 50s and 60s diners in films.

The Pink Sage specialty is they offer breakfast all day for food lovers during the weekend which is great for those who like to have breakfast at their own leisure. Breakfast menu is rather straightforward, buttermilk pancakes (RM12.50), mushroom omelet (RM8.50), and bagel breakfast roll (RM11.50). There are several other choices which makes variety a good thing but you’ll be spoilt for choice (easy on the tummy, not so on the mind). For those big hitters there is the stacked breakfast (RM14.50) which includes two eggs (scrambled or sunny side up), a choice of beef/chicken sausage accompanied with mushrooms, potatoes, beans and beef bacon. I came in the morning feeling rather famished; I decided to have a go. It is presented well, with combination of perfect seasoning and cooked perfectly gave an all round satisfaction.

The lunch menu which is served until 7pm offers some variations of food that I may find in other restaurants and new delights that I find interesting to try out. For you burger junkies, there is the classic Cheeseburger (RM18), Veggie Burger (RM17) and other choices which are accompanied with chips and coleslaw. The other choices on the menu whether you like it grilled or have a craving sensation for some pasta. The choices given are tough to make with temptations such as Sausage Fettuccini Carbonara (RM18), and Grilled Ribeye with asparagus (RM32.50) to name a few. With such variety, I went old fashion and ordered myself a good old’ cheeseburger. As it was time to dig in, presented with a burger half wrap (easy to munch without getting too dirty) with chips and coleslaw on the side. The burger was cooked brilliantly with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cheese melts. The succulent juices from every bite just left a satisfying feeling to my palate.

With a pleasant setting and reasonable prices, I would recommend it whether you’re working in the city and looking for a quick bite or you have a few hours to spare to laze around during the weekends.

Contact:
Ground Floor, Wisma RA,
12, Jalan Dang Wangi, KL.
Tel: 03 2693 5002

Website:
www.thepinksage.com

Operating Hours:
Tue-Sun: 8am-7pm.
Mon closed.

Cuisine:
Fusion

Shanghai Delight

2009-11-15T22:10:00.000-08:00

I’ve decided that the best way to judge Shanghai Delight is to see it in the context of the takeaways you find on high streets in the UK, US or Australia. The food is not a patch on the best hawker fare found just around the corner on Jalan Alor or the higher-end restaurants all over the city, but then (and I hope I’m not being naïve here) that isn’t their target market.

The location on Changkat Bukit Bintang certainly implies that they are hoping to entice the resident expatriates who, it must be said, largely feel more comfortable with familiar cuisine and flavours. And, having sampled more than my fair share of ‘English’ Chinese takeaways, I can tell you that Shanghai Delights at least ranks favourably against those abominations.

The rice may be a bit gluggy and the chicken more rubbery than is ideal but the portions are very generous and overall it tastes pretty good. The spring rolls were too oily and the stir-fried vegetables a little bland but an expatriate audience unprepared to brave the experience of roadside dining and used to a Chinese restaurant in the West is unlikely to be disappointed. Although, with this in mind, it is slightly baffling that they have chosen to be halal.

They deliver the food in those fold-up cartons that they use in Manhattan-based movies/tv programs, allowing the imaginative diner to pretend they are an extra on ‘Friends’ or something. A cute touch that means you can save leftovers for the following day when, strangely, the food seemed to taste better.

In many respects, the genius of trying to compete against outlets some 7,000 miles away is to be applauded. It remains to be seen if the cool boxes and convenience of getting your chicken and black bean sauce or beef chow mein delivered to your door is going to hold its own in a city like KL, however, the food has been progressively better the two subsequent times (I’m a sucker for a cute box) I have ordered from Shanghai Delight.

Contact:
Shanghai Delight,
18-1 Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL.
Tel: 03 2142 1245

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Mon-Thur, 12noon-10.30pm;
Fri-Sat, 12noon-2pm;
Sun closed.

Cuisine:
Chinese

Sentidos Tapas

2009-11-15T22:06:00.000-08:00

Before the food arrived this was down as a ‘2 star’ review. But that soon changed.

The décor is ‘authentically Spanish’. As long as by ‘authentically Spanish’ you mean ‘walls are painted orange and a handful of bull-fighting posters are dotted aimlessly around’. The furniture barely fits the theme, likewise the white tablecloths (asking for trouble in a tapas bar where food is meant to be shared and spilt). However, that soon slips from your mind when the dishes start turning up.

A word of caution: if you’re not into garlic, choose carefully. Most dishes would make even a Frenchman reach for the breath fresheners. But, as long as you aren’t dining with someone whose mouth you intend kissing then all should be fine. Fortunately, I was with my wife.

Sticking with the (not-very) ‘authentic’ Tapas feel, the food all arrives together, brought by a hugely friendly waitress and waiter, who continually outdid each other on the helpful and friendliness stakes. And what they brought was excellent. The bread rapidly mopped up with a divine crushed olive oil, then the mushrooms (a delicious mix of at least three varieties) gobbled, the shrimps sucked clean, the meatballs devoured and, most outstanding of all, the tiny pieces of lamb in mint sauce were polished off, too. We also shared some Sangria, which although was reasonable, it lacked a little of the head-smacking power of other Sangrias I’ve tasted.
The only disappointing part of the meal was the ‘tortilla’.

Perhaps, having travelled through Spain and virtually lived off this magnificent culinary invention for several weeks, I’ve been somewhat spoiled when it comes to mixing eggs and potatoes. The one at Sentidos was no more than a poor man’s omelette. Still, to be fair, the plate it came on was still cleared.

Tapas doesn’t have to be about a dark, busy bar, where you count up the number of toothpicks on your plate before passing grubby banknotes to an obese barman with a ropey moustache. I don’t think, however, it works as a fine dining concept, which makes Sentidos’s location in Starhill a little incongruous. However, it doesn’t really matter where it is. What matters is the food. And on that score, Sentidos fully deserves its four stars.

Contact:
Sentidos Tapas,
Starhill Gallery,
Jalan Bukit Bintang, KL.
Tel: 03 2145 3385

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Mon-Sun, 12noon-1am.

Cuisine:
Spanish

Bijan

2009-11-15T22:04:00.000-08:00

Bijan used to be my favourite restaurant, so it was one of the first on my list to review for Time Out KL. However, it pains me to report that since their renovation late last year the quality of the food has really dropped. It is still unquestionably one of KL’s top high-end Malay restaurants and some of the dishes are excellent. However, others have suddenly become either annoyingly inconsistent or just downright mediocre.

I went with visiting friends and it proved one of the most frustrating places to review, as some in the group were raving about their fantastic meals while others could hardly get more than a few mouthfuls in. On the plus side, the fish was all excellent. The best meal of the night, by some way, was the Ikan Siakap Masak Asam Pedas (sea bass simmered in a tangy chilli and tamarind gravy, served with okra and aubergines), although the chicken in spicy curry was also very good. Onto the negatives and the biggest let-down was the Daging Rendang.

A dish perfected long ago and served up in countless eateries in KL, but since last year, the beef rendang at Bijan has been over-cooked, dry and tough. This put two of our group off the whole evening so that no matter how enthusiastic our friends were about their chicken and fish, the night had to be considered a disappointment. And that was before the Durian Cheesecake. This dessert was even more divisive than the main course. Durian, the ultimate acquired taste, has been taken by the Bijanistas and put into this unique cake. Fluffy, light, with a beautiful biscuit base, these positive features fade into insignificance due to the overpowering stench and taste of the ‘King of fruits’.

In my opinion this was just too much and ruined another delightful dessert. However, before I could even cover my mouth with a napkin to stop the odour burning a greater hole in my nostrils, no less than three of the party said ‘Aren’t you having yours?’ and looked at the pudding with hopeful eyes. The menu at Bijan often changes, so I hope that before long, the restaurant gets rid of the poorer dishes and replaces them with food to match the best that they produce.

If they do that, they will reclaim the heights they managed when winning various tourism and culinary awards a few short years ago. And if they manage that, I’ll even forgive them the Durian Cheesecake.

Contact:
Bijan, 3 Jalan Ceylon, KL.
Tel: 03 2031 3575

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Mon-Sat, 11am-2.30pm; 6pm-11pm;
Sun 3pm-11pm.

Cuisine:
Malay

Kohinoor

2009-11-15T22:02:00.000-08:00

The entire review of Kohinoor’s could be summed up in a single word: good. Each dish is good, the service is good, the atmosphere also good. However, nothing seems to really exceed this level. Just as nothing is ‘average’ or ‘below par’, so nothing could be fairly called ‘very good’ and certainly not ‘excellent’.

The décor and faded exterior are probably the ropiest part but then it is a North Indian restaurant, an institution hardly renowned for their decorating prowess. However, otherwise, everything is, well, good. And that’s really nothing to be ashamed of. The majority of restaurants have at least one area that lets them down and Kohinoor’s all-round reliability is to be commended.

We ate a variety of dishes and the quality was very consistent in each. The mutton biryani boasted light, fragrant rice and reasonable meat. The tikka masala was a rich red and coated the tender chicken well. Our side dishes of palak paneer and sag aloo were also very tasty and by the time we had eaten the fresh garlic naan and spicy poppadums, the meal had totally filled us up.

The meal was served by several members of their very smiley and helpful team. The location on sweaty, dusty Jalan Yap Kwan Seng is hardly the most atmospheric in the city, however, it, like everything was still perfectly acceptable for a good, honest, North Indian meal.

Contact:
Lot- F31, F32 & F33, First Floor,
CapSquare Centre,
No.7, Persiaran CapSquare,
Capital Square,
50100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 2691 2036

Website:
www.kohinoor.com.my

Operating Hours:
Mon-Sun
11.30am-2.30pm;
6.30pm-10.30pm.

Cuisine:
Indian

Pakistani Stall

2009-11-15T22:00:00.000-08:00

Fifteen Pakistanis can’t be wrong, or so I thought to myself as my dining companion and I snagged the only empty seats among the three tables fronting a less-than-nondescript stall at the end of Lorong Bunus Dua, off Jalan Masjid Jamek. And indeed, they weren’t.

Lahore native Osman and his brother Efan, who opened their simple kitchen in 2006, turn out KL’s fluffiest hot-from-the-tandoor naan and supple, wheaty chapatis, to eat with a variety of dishes, many of which change by the day. In Lahore, Osman trained as a cook and here, in his rustic back-alley kitchen, he excels at, well, just about everything, including keema, a ‘dry’ minced meat ‘curry’ dotted with peas; okra (slime-free and pleasantly toothsome) stewed with onions and a complex mix of spices; and fiery curried mutton tender enough to render chewing practically unnecessary.

Daily specials are the mark of a cook too dedicated to use short-cuts with laborious, time-consuming dishes. Here they include nihari, beef stewed with fragrant cardamom garnished with fresh ginger matchsticks (Sundays), haleem, a porridge made with beef, rice, and three types of pulses that Osman cooks for three hours (Wednesdays), and zarda, milky rice porridge (Fridays). Early risers can breakfast on the brothers’ living obscenely (
but delightfully) ghee-laden paratha accompanied by an omelette and a cup of hot Pakistani tea.

This certainly isn’t the place to take a first date, unless your date’s more interested in food than in you; the surroundings are basic at best and, on a hot day, the waves of heat rising from the tandoor bring the temperature up to something approaching that of Hades. That said, the service here is friendly, the welcome genuinely warm, and Osman, a shy but affable man, obviously derives great pleasure from seeing patrons enjoy their victuals. With Pakistani fare of this calibre, obliging him isn’t a problem.

Contact:
Pakistani stall,
Lorong Bunus Dua,
Off Jalan Masjid Jamek.
(look for the tandoor oven and the hanging pink hand-written menu).
Tel: N/A

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
7.30am-7pm daily.

Cuisine:
Asian

Chakri Palace

2009-11-15T21:58:00.000-08:00

There’s no excuse for not being able to find Chakri Palace. It’s right where the escalators drop you off on the top floor of KLCC. With such a world of choice on that level, you could be forgiven if you haven’t made it into Chakri Palace yet. But I urge you to put that right.

The chirrups of ‘Sawadee-kup’ from the helpful staff as you enter the restaurant immediately put a smile on your face. And you know you’ll never have to wait long for service as the restaurant has a buzzer on your table encouraging you to press a button for service, or make a specific request for water or the bill.

Chakri Palace has to compete against several Thai places in the two KLCC food courts, as well as dozens of other restaurants in the mall, so they have done the right thing by making portion sizes large and kept prices relatively low. Our meal for two, plus drinks, came to RM60.

The green curry had a lovely kick to it. The spices especially crammed into the vegetables, which had clearly been marinated for some time to produce such a fabulous flavour. The sauce was a little too runny for me though, which is an unusual thing to say as normally I like to have something to mop up.

To accompany the curry I went for the pineapple rice. Served in a hollowed out half-pineapple, it contained various vegetables, juicy pineapple chunks and four small, tasteless prawns. The disappointing seafood aside, the rice was terrific and I loved the combination of the sweet pineapple and spicy curry when I mixed them.

My partner’s dish was also perfectly cooked and very tasty. She had glass noodles with chicken, which also had mushrooms cooked through it. A simple meal but even though it was an enormous portion, it was so moorish that it was quickly devoured.

The rest of the menu was extensive and there will certainly be something for everyone. Although, perhaps someone should tell them that chicken is not actually a vegetarian option.

Overall, the meal was very good and I would recommend Chakri Palace to any visitor to KLCC who appreciates good Thai food and wants a step-up from the food court.

Contact:
417B, (Level 4), Suria KLCC,
50088, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 2382 7788

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
10am - 10pm

Cuisine:
Thai

New Moghul House

2009-11-15T21:56:00.000-08:00

New Moghul House (as the sign calls it, although their website is www.mogulhouse.com, the missing ‘h’ causing a few headaches when I’ve subsequently tried to research my takeaway order) serves very good food and the staff are lovely, but they never seem overly busy.

The staff hover outside beckoning you as they do at several other eateries on Changkat Bukit Bintang, and perhaps having another North Indian (Ghazal) next door doesn’t help, but anyone who has eaten at Mogul/Moghul House will be surprised that such a decent restaurant doesn’t have more regular business.

When I went recently, I was guided to try out a couple of the house specialities; a sheesh kebab starter and a side of palak paneer. To be honest, I wouldn’t agree that they were necessarily the dishes to be most proud of. I’m not the biggest spinach fan anyway but while I did wolf it all down, I have had better.

However, my friend thought they were very good, and I shared his enthusiasm for the other dishes we ordered. My chicken jalfrezi was outstanding, with a sharp, rich sauce and appropriate amount of spices and chillies that coated the meat and vegetables ideally. His mutton dopiaza was also perfectly prepared and cooked, while my wife was very complimentary about her butter chicken (slightly spicier than she expected but it worked). My friend’s wife was the least satisfied of the group, her chicken pasanda appearing to contain a less high quality meat than the other chicken dishes, although the gravy tasted fine.

To accompany those we sampled a few different types of rice, the biryani being their best, and shared some naan. The aforementioned palak paneer topped off a very filling meal that had started with gorgeous roasted spicy poppadums served with two powerful, delicious chutneys, one a minty green and the other a deeper red sauce. With such rich flavours and spices so early on, we were soon ordering plenty of Tiger beer to keep our mouths cool. However, even after a few lagers, the food was good enough to stick in the memory.

Contact:
No. 32, Changkat Bukit Bintang,
50200 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 2141 5211

Website:
www.mogulhouse.com

Operating Hours:
11.30am - 2.30pm;
5.30pm - 11.30pm daily.

Cuisine:
Indian

Rain Nudle House

2009-11-15T21:53:00.000-08:00

Ever left a restaurant and found that for the rest of the day your throat was dry and you needed to drink gallon after gallon of water? Well, that’s what happened to us after eating at Rain.

We phoned them to ask if they use MSG and they confirmed “just a little”.

While not actually harmful, the salt is sprinkled into your food and, as with us, makes you very thirsty. Most modern restaurants have stopped using MSG but not Rain.

Which is a real shame as the food really was worth writing home about. We loved the green curry, which stood up against any in town. Even those at high-end Thai restaurants. We also shared a couple of noodle dishes which were packed with flavour and impeccably cooked.

Credit must also go to them, because my wife can’t eat seafood and so not only did they remove any trace of seafood from the noodles she ordered but they even gave us a complimentary serving of chicken and vegetables to compensate for the lack of prawns in her noodles.

They’ve done very well with the décor and ambience, too. You can easily forget that you are sat right next to the bustling mania of the Pavilion food court, so while some of the piped music choices are a little strange (Spice Girls? In a Thai restaurant? Really?), it works.

The price is also exceptionally reasonable (4 main courses, drinks and side orders of fish cakes for less than RM65). I’d go so far as to say that Rain Nudle House is the best value Thai food in KL. So, lose the MSG, guys. You owe it to yourselves.

Contact:
Lot 1.188, Level 1, Pavilion KL,
Jalan Raja Chulan,
50200, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 2141 8708

Website:
www.seacuisine.com.my

Operating Hours:
10am - 10pm

Cuisine:
Thai

Little Penang Kafe

2009-11-15T21:52:00.000-08:00

The lack of empty tables at the Little Penang Kafe tells its own story. This is a popular eaterie. Although you wouldn’t know that from the number of diners remarking that the food in Penang is so much better.

And you know what? The food in Penang is so much better. But we’re not in Penang and it is fair to say that this is the next best thing. Little Penang Kafe’s meals are good, served quickly, and reasonably priced at RM9.80 (set lunches are a little more). At those prices, it is hard to find fault with it.

My friend failed to finish his Hokkien Mee, although that was mainly to do with the huge portion size. My Penang-style beef curry set lunch was nice—very spicy and full of flavour. Although the accompanying lor bak (made with chicken—LPK is fully halal) was a little oily for my taste. The Char Kway Teow was particularly good. My eating companion remarked that it is the best she has had outside of Penang. Which is no light recommendation.

The atmosphere is light and the quick turnaround in service makes this a good spot for lunch, whether you’re at The Curve, Mid Valley or KLCC. Nyonya food may be better in Penang, but that’s a mighty long drive when you’re out shopping in KL.

Contact:
Lot 409-411, 4th Floor,
Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre,
50088 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 2163 0215

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
11.30am - 9.30pm

Cuisine:
Chinese

Karl's Beisl

2009-11-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

Celebrated for its delectable roasted pork knuckles, roasted suckling pig, homemade sausages and apple strudels, Austrian restaurant Karl’s Beisl is a haven to all pork lovers. The restaurant serves hearty Austrian home-cooked cuisine paired with imported European beers and wines to comfort homesick Europeans and those who want a taste of Europe. The small cosy restaurant provides an intimate dining experience and the old-school European bar with classic wooden furniture is well received by those who want to kick back with a pint or two after work.

Karl's Beisl is a finalist in the Time Out KL Food Awards 2009 Best European Restaurant category. The Time Out KL's food awards are 100% voted for by the people of KL. This way, we guarantee that popularity and consistent performance is rewarded.

Contact:
Solaris Mont Kiara
Tel: 03 6204 0628

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
European

Restaurant Mama’s Kitchen

2009-11-15T21:49:00.000-08:00

This popular shop steps from Devi’s Corner in TTDI is absolutely packed on weekends and does a pretty brisk business at lunch and dinner during the week as well. The friend who sent me here for the claypot loh she fun did so with a warning: ‘Don’t go really hungry, because your wait will probably be way looooong.’ One way around the long wait is to go at an off hour; at 2:30pm on a Thursday the resto had few patrons.

I’m going to be frank and admit that I have an immediate dislike for any place where the waiter takes one look at my white face and then presumes to suggest what I would or wouldn’t like to eat. Potato leaf with fermented bean curd, please. ‘Really? Do you know what that is? Do you really think you can take that?’ I do, and I do.

Quibbles aside, the service here is fairly prompt, if a bit befuddled. Potato leaf appeared on the table in the form of kangkong, which I sent back. The server returned with the kangkong to ask if I really wanted to send it back. Well yes, since I ordered potato leaf, I would. Happily, an order of Mama’s famous loh she fun turned up just that, and it didn’t disappoint. When it arrived the dish was burping heat bubbles through the layer of semi-crisped chopped pork that capped the dish of noodles. On top, a sunny-yolked raw egg sat waiting to be stirred in. Chopped meat is augmented with slices threaded through the noodles, which are predictably chewy in that semi-gluten-ish rice flour sort of way. For me the whole dish was a bit underseasoned, but that’s easily remedied with a bit of soy from the bottle on the table.

As for those potato leaves, they did finally arrive, bathed in a creamy, slightly tartish fermented bean curd sauce and crowned with a mound of browned sliced shallots. Baby gailan was cooked to that clichéd but much appreciated crisp-tender stage, its vegetal greenness balanced by the sharp saltiness of super cruncy ikan bilis.

Mama’s menu is extensive, covering a range of standard stir-fries, soups, and rice and noodle dishes. While not exactly upscale, the décor is a cut above your average open-air restaurant. Judging from the claypot loh she fun, further exploration might be warranted.

Contact:
Jalan Datuk Sulaiman, TTDI
Tel: 03 7729 3030

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
Chinese

Marmalade

2009-11-15T21:46:00.000-08:00

Western. This is a homely, family oriented café that specialises in wholesome comfort food. Most of them healthy too! The salads and gourmet sandwiches are casual, refreshingly inventive and almost summery. Marmalade will probably remind you of Nigella Lawson. And not because the waiting staff all have big bottoms.

The Time Out Food 40 is our regular definitive guide on where to eat in the Klang Valley. Establishments will only appear in the TOKL Food 40 if they rank amongst the best and most satisfying dining experiences according to our team of independent, honest and experienced food critics.

Contact:
E-0-1, Ground Floor,
Block E, Plaza Mont Kiara.
No. 2, Jalan Kiara,
Mont Kiara.
Tel: 03 6201 1743

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
8.30am-9.30pm daily.

Cuisine:
Western

Pride of India

2009-11-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

Pride of India serves up colourful and aromatic dishes that are mostly of North Indian origin, as such most dishes are mild, but there are some that’s based off the South Indian fare, which means they’re really spicy, so you should think twice before jumping straight in with the spoon. Spicy dishes or not, you’re definitely spoilt for choices here. Decorations are minimal, but arranged neatly, giving the impression of a really spacious room.

Pride of India is a finalist in the Time Out KL Food Awards 2009 Best Indian Restaurant category. The Time Out KL's food awards are 100% voted for by the people of KL. This way, we guarantee that popularity and consistent performance is rewarded.

Contact:
7G Jalan 22A/70A,
Wisma CKL,
Desa Sri Hartamas
Tel: 03 6201 4477

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
Indian

Izakaya Ichiban

2009-11-15T21:39:00.000-08:00

Traditional izakayas were once the stomping ground of the weary Japanese businessman, out for drinks after slaving away at work. These days, it seems the izakaya attracts a larger circle of clientele – Izakaya Ichiban, for one, was patronised by diners ranging from couples to families when we made our trip there.

Amidst snug surroundings (warm yellow lighting, earthy décor) we started with the cool, chilly kai sen salad. Lettuce and cucumber were tossed with raw scallops, sweet shrimp and a smattering of tobiko (flying fish caviar) before being drizzled with wasabi dressing and mayonnaise. The scallops and shrimp were sweet and fresh; however, the wasabi dressing barely made a blip. It’s not that I enjoy ingesting large quantities of the piquant paste, but slightly more wasabi would have added a zingy kick.

The una tama toji (eel cooked with eggs, onions and mushrooms) was great comfort food, and it would have been even better if the eel hadn’t been quite so riddled with bones – there seemed to be more than usual. Nevertheless, the clear consommé the eel had been cooked in was eagerly slurped up by all.

The chicken teriyaki wasn’t a very adventurous choice, but we were pleasantly surprised at how well the sticky-sweet teriyaki sauce went with the nicely browned chicken. The slightly more exciting sounding tofu gratin, on the other hand, was a letdown: beneath the blanket of cheese lay a gluey sludge that tasted how we imagine melted plastic would. Thankfully Ichiban’s new Hawaiian maki, just one of the many innovative makis on offer, came next. The compact maki were topped with slices of smooth, pearly pink salmon, and a novel touch came in the form of apple mayonnaise and apple-flavoured masako (capelin roe) daubed on top. Refreshing and zesty, it made a successful, if slightly strange, combination.

Food might have been a little inconsistent, but service was prompt, with spillage being cleaned up in a jiffy. A tip: if you’re having trouble combing through the very extensive menu, get recommendations from the head waitress – as we mulled over ordering yaki udon, she told us smilingly, ‘We don’t do that so well here.’ Top marks for honesty, at the very least.

Contact:
Lot P, 3-M Plaza,
Ground floor,
Hartamas Shopping Centre,
60 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1
Tel: 03 6201 5905

Website:
www.izakayaichiban.com

Operating Hours:
Mon-Sat, 12noon-3pm; 6-11pm;
Sun & public holidays, 12noon-3.30pm; 5.30-10.30pm.

Cuisine:
Japanese

Rakuzen

2009-11-15T21:27:00.000-08:00

Situated in one of the quieter shopping malls in town, Rakuzen is home to some of the better Japanese food in KL. A popular restaurant, you’ll be lucky if you are immediately seated without a reservation, especially during dinner when the restaurant is packed. I waited 35 minutes for a table but it was worth it.

The restaurant is tastefully decorated with bamboo, giving it a relaxing and tranquil feeling. It is divided into a sushi bar section and the rest of the restaurant is divvied up into rooms with private booths of various sizes. Some of the booths have sliding doors which allow them to become private dining rooms, sealed off from the rest of the restaurant. There are often Japanese diners in the various booths on business dinners which speaks volumes for the quality of the food.

One thing that you will notice in Rakuzen is the extensive menu, with a variety of speciality dishes. What Rakuzen is known for, however, are their dragon rolls which are made with tiger prawns, fried tempura style and then wrapped in sashimi rice together with mayonnaise, topped up with roe and thinly-sliced avocado.Though you can find them in other Japanese restaurants in town, Rakuzen’s are on a different level altogether. As soon as the pieces touch your tongue, you taste the freshness of the ingredients and the soft yield of the rice and avocado slices, before tasting the crispy tempura batter and the sweet flesh of the prawn. A visit here is simply incomplete without ordering this.

Also, a personal favourite of mine is the chawamushi. Not a fan of this dish elsewhere, I do like the Rakuzen version which is fresh and creamy without the slight fishy smell you find elsewhere. Once again, the freshness of the dish is impressive, a theme that repeats throughout the menu. From the tepanyaki and teriyaki, to the gyudon and soba, you will be hard-pressed to find fault with the dishes served. The service is also excellent, with the wait staff blending into the background, appearing only when you need them. Though the price is slightly on the pricier side, the quality of the food makes up for it tenfold.

Contact:
Lot P17, Plaza ground floor,
Hartamas Shopping Centre,
60 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1,
Sri Hartamas
Tel: 03 6201 2060

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
Mon-Thur, 11.30am-3pm & 6-11pm.
Fri-Sun & public holidays, 12noon-11pm.

Cuisine:
Asian

Daorae Garden

2009-11-15T21:22:00.000-08:00

Korean isn’t quite spur-of-the-moment food; diving into all that garlic and chilli requires a bit of advance planning. And whomever you plan to spend the rest of the post-meal day with had better partake with you, because you know what they say about garlic breath (it’s best shared). But issues such as these needn’t be considered if you’re pondering a visit to Dorae Garden. Let’s call it the perfect restaurant for those who want to eat Korean but don’t want to smell like it for the rest of the day.

Don’t be misled by the kickoff complimentary soup. Clear of broth and richly meaty, it’s spicy enough to clear sinuses and set lips abuzz, but these sensations were not once repeated over the course of our recent lunch. Kimchi jigae, a flame-red stew packed with pork, chunks of kimchi, and soft bean curd was tasty, comforting, and certainly filling but left us waiting, in vain, for the fiery punch that Korean food is known for. In Korea, barbecue is where it’s at, and Dorae does a good job prepping its meats for the grill. The restaurant’s in-table ‘cues don’t get quite hot enough (or are not allowed to preheat long enough) to properly char the meat, but despite their necessarily long turn over the (fake) coals both bulgogi (sliced sirloin) and go chu jan sam kyb sal (thinly sliced pork) tasted fine, hinting at soy and sugar marinade, and were exceptionally tender. Extra salad leaves for wrapping are available on request and at no extra charge, and whole garlic cloves are heated in a bit of oil at the side of the barbecue to mellow (but not obliterate) their intensity. Unfortunately, however, the accompanying bean paste tasted mostly of salt and was curiously flat, devoid (again) of that characteristic Korean kick.

Perhaps the biggest ‘eh’ moment of our meal came when the panch’an (small dishes) were delivered. Kimchi and ggakdugi (cubed daidon given the kimchi chilli treatment) were fine, if on the mild side, and it’s hard to go wrong with kong namul (cool blanched bean sprouts dressed with sesame oil), but fern shoots were mushy, pajeon (thin pancake of green onion) greasy and flabby, and the heavily mayonnaise-dressed macaroni salad just plain perplexing. Service is attentive, management obviously makes every effort to take care of its customers, and the restaurant’s light-filled upstairs dining room is a pleasant spot in which to kick back (shoeless). But Dorae Garden serves Korean lite, fare that hints at the real deal but pulls back at the last minute. Perfect for the delicate palate, but a bit of a disappointment

Contact:
27-29 Jalan 23/70A,
Desa Sri Hartamas,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 6203 2616

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
Asian

The George and Dragon

2009-11-15T21:19:00.000-08:00

The George & Dragon is fashioned to look like a typical old English tavern and it’s hard not to imagine being in England when sipping a pint while sitting on one of the barstools. Aside from the beers, pub crawlers come here to look for typical British food like the famous toad in the hole, bangers and mash, pigs in blanket and who can ignore the ultimate British dish fish and chips? The menu at the pub is kept simple and concise so that quality is consistent. If you’re one for teatime, you can have English afternoon tea here with scones and clotted cream.

The George and Dragon is a finalist in the Time Out KL Food Awards 2009 Best Pub Grub category. The Time Out KL's food awards are 100% voted for by the people of KL. This way, we guarantee that popularity and consistent performance is rewarded.

Contact:
Bangsar Shopping Centre
Tel: 3 2287 8316

Website:
www.finneganspubs.com

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
Western

Bangsar’s Tasting Room

2009-11-15T21:18:00.000-08:00

'Needs more commitment,’ a friend said of our French fries with wasabi mayonnaise on a recent Saturday evening at Bangsar’s Tasting Room. She was, in a way, describing our entire meal. The fries were very nearly there: tender batons sporting mere traces of the crisp golden crust that might have been had they been left longer in the fat, accompanied by a perfectly pleasant mayonnaise that merely hinted at the wasabi that might have made it more memorable had it been added a bit more assertively.

No complaints about the Tasting Room’s physicalities. The 45-seat first-floor space is stylish but not self-consciously sleek, tables are generously spaced, and there are a few sofas where guests can lounge and nibble while mining the wine list (huge kudos for the selection of well-priced wine flights and for the reasonable prices on bottles) or get down to serious business with a full meal. The vibe is relaxed but service is professional; this is the only KL restaurant in its price range at which a request to serve three appetizers shared between two people in three separate courses has actually been heeded. And if servers aren’t quite equipped to answer every question about the wine menu, written descriptions most vintages are available.

But the food menu is a minefield of well-conceived but unevenly executed dishes. An appetizer of baby octopus required far too much mastication and its white wine-based red capsicum and tomato sauce lacked the vibrancy one might associate with those vegetables; the seared water chestnuts served alongside, however, were a brilliant combination of crispness and light char. A decently sized piece of foie gras served atop a single Portobello mushroom fared better. The liver was cooked just right, coffee-hued and crusty outside and ever so slightly pink within, and married beautifully with the pan-fried fungus - but some textural contrast would have cranked this dish up a notch.

My entree of expertly cooked pan-fried Pacific codfish swam in a buttery red wine and porcini sauce – not in and of itself a bad thing, except that its flavour completely overwhelmed that of the fragrant dukka that coated the fish. And my friend’s New Zealand lamb with chocolate sauce was, simply put, tragedy on a plate. We’d anticipated the chocolate incorporated with other seasonings, perhaps something along the lines of a Mexican mole, but the sauce was one-dimensionally chocolate-y, overly rich, and way too sweet. It belonged on a sundae, not on plate of lamb cooked to within a rubbery inch of its life.

Entrée gaffs were partially redeemed with a slice of cheesecake topped with a tart berry couli. While not the New York-style heavy-on-the cheese cheesecake of my dreams, it nonetheless made for a pleasingly light, not-too-sweet ending to the meal.

In spite of the slip-ups I’d probably return to the Tasting Room. Why? Well, for wine lovers it’s an eminently relaxing setting in which to sample and sip while not breaking the bank. And the menu does have its moments, if you choose well. Dishes incorporate excellent ingredients and there is obviously some talent in the kitchen. I’d just like to see both put to full use more evenly across the board.

Contact:
65-1 Jalan Bangkung
(above Wine Cellar),
Bangsar
Tel: 03 2092 4404

Website:
N/A

Operating Hours:
N/A

Cuisine:
Fusion