If you’re looking for unique afternoon tea experience, you should probably visit Trace at Elements by Westin KL. Their Arteastry afternoon tea set comprises two part. Part one consist of savoury items like waffle topped with salmon and crème fraîche, confit portobello mushrooms with Swiss cheese bruschetta, chicken sliders with Tomato relish in mini croissants, tomato basils macarons etc..as well as mixed scones serve with preserved and clotted cream. In general, they were slightly below expectation.
Recent food conversations led me to Cava, a Spanish restaurant and bar at a rather quiet street called Jalan Bangkung in Bangsar. Opened for a few years now, Cava is like a well-kept secret, one that I will selfishly not post if I could! Alas, good things must be shared.
What was ordered :
1. Prawn ala Plancha (RM22), piping hot prawns drenched in olive oil, Rosemary, mixed herbs & paprika
2. Crispy goat cheese with mint Harissa sauce (RM18)
3. Valencia Paella, with big red prawns, mussels, clam, squid and chicken on a bed of squid ink rice (Double portion 3-4 pax, RM77)
Don't miss Cava's refreshing signature sangria, available in both red and white (try it with peach!)
Because of its location, the al-fresco dining (over wooden barrel tables and high stools) afforded us with a more intimate setting which we would gladly choose anytime over indoors. Fine dine for lunch is also possible with their executive lunch sets now available at RM28++, Monday to Friday. Reservations are highly recommended.
The self-declared 'Distinctively Different Indian Restaurant' serves both North Indian and South Indian cuisines. If you're confused like me and can't tell the difference between the two, in summary the Northeners eat a lot of breads and curries such as naan, rotis, samosas, cheesy spinach curry (palak paneer) and the like. South Indian cooking on the other hand is based around rice, lentils and stews. Like Banana leaf rice and Dal curry.
In a brief, Chutney Mary's Lunch Sets are a great deal. For RM7.50, my Banana Leaf Rice Set came with bottomless rice, 3 assorted vegetables, papadoms, 1 curry (Dal) and rasam. On the other hand, the Mutton Briyani Set (RM16.90) with basmati rice and modest pulls of mutton rogan josh are best hunkered down with the mutton gravy on the side. Come here to satisfy Indian cuisine cravings without being overwhelmed by bountiful heat and flavours.
Sagar easily tops my list of favourite Indian restaurants in the city. Their daily lunch buffet at RM35+ per person allows visitors to sample a chunk of the menu from vegetarian to non-vegetarian dishes, and it includes dessert and a soda drink. I tried everything on the line of trays but top highlights are all the classics done right - fragrant Briyani rice, Dhal curry, Fish Masala and Chicken Tandoori. Memorable food, speedy service, beautiful interior. Definitely good value for money and a must go for Indian food cravers.
Having eaten Indian food for three days in a row, I have a growing respect for this cuisine. Saravana Bhavan's growing chain of vegetarian restaurants all over the world is a testament to its passion for bringing Indian cuisine to everyone.
While its menu swags an exhaustive list of Dosa (Thosai) and Rice dishes, it was the Chinese Wok that got our attention. The Chinese Indian cuisine is said to have developed by a small community of Chinese in Kolkata for over a century.
Curious as to what the Gobi Manchurian (RM11.5) is, this dish typically consists of battered and deep-fried cauliflower fried to a familiar kung-po chicken texture, doused in a thicken soy-onion-based sauce. I chose to have this wrapped in Roti (RM5), a thicker rendition of the Chapati. The combination was an unassuming match made in Heaven and truly represented the melting pot of cultures in South East Asia.
Restaurants come and go, but Leonardo’s has stood the test of time for a reason. Judging from the positive reviews both online and off, I went with high hopes and finished my meal grinning from ear to ear. Leonardo’s delivered. Its menu does not restrict itself to one place and you don’t question their geographical choices. You simply ask what’s good and eat, and nod again in satisfaction and approval. They probably said it best: if it tastes good, put it on the menu!
I was led to two options on the menu: Leo’s Bak Kut Teh (RM39) and Ranjit’s Pasta (RM33), which happened to be my waiter’s favourites. Keeping a mental note to come back for the former, I ordered the pasta infused with chili padi, garlic, mushroom and bacon bits, and had no regrets. The same waiter wasted no time to recommend the classic Chocolate Volcano (RM21) paired with Forty Licks vanilla ice cream upon picking up my finished plate away. I didn't fight back. It was a fitting twist for a delicious finale.
If all you want to do is dine alone and eat a steak in a relaxed and casual dining atmosphere, then this is the place to do it. Open for lunch and dinner, Maria’s Steakcafe has a range of different menus suited for everyone, from the restaurant’s signature beef steak, to standard fish and chips, and chicken parmigiana. As per chef's recommendation, I had the Australian Black Angus steak cooked medium rare (RM48/100gms). It was downright juicy and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, even on its own!
