The experience there was like gazing through the horizon of the Straits of Malacca as the orange orb danced with the blueness of the sky, waving one last ray before slipping itself behind the hills of a scenic Penang. The soft, breezy cold wind and the view of the sailboats and moving ferries being thrown into silhouettes indeed made QEII an ideal place for romantic couples to dine in. Tourists of all nationalities arriving from visiting international cruisers, berthed at the nearby Frank Swettenham Pier, can be seen flowing into the bar and grill for some early celebrations.
By the year 2012, you would see more changes along the Weld Quay stretch with the ongoing RM500 million “The Pier at Weld Quay” projects, where there would be the “old meet new” restoration and construction of a boutique hotel (The RiceMiller), commercial plaza (Straits Capital Plaza), tourism school (Georgetown College – Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Studies), retail podium (Pier Market), apartment suites (The RiceMiller Residences) and townhouses (Heritage Suites). Upon completion, this urban landmark, facing the present Tanjung City Marina, will not only enhance the skyline, but rank Penang alongside other renowned port-cities of the world.
Located at one of Penang’s heritage piers named Church Street Pier, Tanjung City Marina, QEII Restaurant claimed to serve the best of the best in terms of quality food with equal finesse to make each meal a memorable one, whether within the bar area or al fresco. Moreover, they are also providing a great place for people to chill out with many unique styles of lounges. From my first time experience there, they had indeed proven their worthiness with what they had promised.
Dinner was simple and yet elegant as my intention of going there was for their much acclaimed pizzas. Somehow, there were just too many choices in their carefully selected menu that tempted me to order more. The Lobster Bisque (RM16) was rather special. It was creamy rich with smooth flowing lobster puree stirred in white cream with a touch of white wine and cognac. The soup had a very distinctive shellfish flavor with chunks of fresh lobster meat, garnished with some chopped coriander. It could be rather intruding for those who are not in favor of strong shellfish taste but I was fine with it.
Carbonara pasta has always been my favorite and thus I tried out their Linguini Carbonara (RM23). The serving was large. The dish had a generous amount of sautéed beef bacon and egg in white cream sauce. The usage of fresh and dried herbs together with some smashed garlic and sliced mushroom was just right. This was one of the best carbonara I had so far from any of my visits elsewhere. Although the linguini pasta was as bit hard for the Asian’s preference (but that’s how the Italians loved it), the whole combination blended in perfectly.
While enjoying our starters, the aroma of freshly baked pizza began to drift into our nostrils. The pizza we ordered which was nicknamed as The Godfather (8”-RM26, 12”-RM32) was presented not long after that. It had freshly made dough, rolled thinly and spread with freshly made tomato puree, sautéed spicy clams (lala), dried chili, sweet & spicy sauce and topped with lots of Mozzarella cheese and cilantro, baked to perfection in a wood fire oven. With the first bite, I could not stop eating. The crust was well baked without any sign of flimsiness as none of the toppings fell down on my plate. 😛 It was truly the work of an experience chef as this sort of pizza required quite a tedious time shifting and rotating in high heat within the wood fire oven.
For those who love to have a simpler topping, you can always opt for Soho (8”-RM39, 12”-RM45). On top of the crispy thin crust, the pizza had a generous amount of pepperoni, fresh pears, onions, pine nuts, topped with 3 different types of cheese such as Cheddar, Mozzarella and Gorgonzola, garnished with field greens. The taste was remarkably unique and tasty.
If you are in a creativity mood, you can always combine your own in the Pizza La Vostra (8”-RM34, 12”-RM40). Just select 5 ingredients from the following ingredients such as grilled chicken, chicken ham, turkey bacon, tuna, egg, beef salami and pepperoni, red and green pepper, artichoke, mushroom, roma tomatoes, Kalamata olives, Virgin green olive, capers, mozzarella, gorgonzola, cheddar or feta cheese. Here the 12” order with grilled chicken, chicken ham, pepperoni, mushroom and mozzarella cheese. It was extremely filling.
One of the most ordered pizza here would be the Penang Hot (8”-RM30, 12”-RM36). The pizza would have lots of fresh prawns in spicy sauce, topped with onions, garlic, chopped basil and mozzarella cheese. Who do you think was behind all the passionate baking of these delicious pizzas? It was none other than the experience Chef Joe who had worked alongside with Chef Emmanuel Stroobant (Chef In Black) when he was working in Meritus Hotel, Singapore. Unfortunately, Chef Joe had now left QEII but do not be sad as he would now be overseeing the Italian restaurant at Hard Rock Hotel, Penang, which would be officially launched on 19 September 2009.
The dinner ended with some beautifully presented desserts. One of them was the Chocolate Volcano (RM12). Instead of a piece of rich chocolate moist cake as per menu, they gave me a piece of warm and moist butter cake with layered white chocolate mousse. I did not mind too as the cake was light and fluffy and truly delicious. It was dressed with oozing melted chocolate, one fresh strawberry, some chopped walnuts and presented with some sweet and tasty raspberries in jam sauce. It was heaven!
The next was the Pear Crumble (RM8). The warm grounded cinnamon cooked pears had the right sweetness for my taste bud. Although I would prefer a crunchier oat and hazelnut crust, the whole combination with white Anglaise cream, strawberry and raspberries in jam sauce did not disappoint me at all.
If you are coming from Lebuh Light, you will see a roundabout with a stainless steel betel nut structure (Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower is just beside it). Drive straight after the roundabout and you will be right in Pengkalan Weld (Weld Quay). Just follow the road and you will see the Frank Swettenham Pier on your left. Drive a bit further and you will see the Church Street Pier on your left. QII Penang is just right at the end of the pier, just before Hai Nan Town Restaurant within the Tanjung City Marina. The ferry terminal is just after that.
Name: QEII PENANG
Address: Tanjung City Marina, Church Street Pier, 8A Pengkalan Weld, 10300 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-261 2126
Business Hours: 12.00noon-12.00am (Dining), 12.00noon-3.00am (Entertainment)
GPS: 5.415150, 100.343764
RATING:
Ambience: 10/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 9/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 9/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
If the main chef left the kitchen, I wonder how’s the food taste going to be.
Well, I think you got me wrong. There are many chefs in the kitchen but the one handling the pizza section had left. He assured me that the pizzas would be handled by someone previously under his guidance. So no worries! 🙂
Any ongoing promotion?No?
Sadly to say… No!
i like the desserts!!! looks so nice and yummy!!!
The pizzas tasted even better Allen. Give them a try. 🙂
ya..will the food quality still maintain if the chef leaves?
anyway the pizza looks delicious!!
As I had commented to Ken, the kitchen are handled by a different bunch of chefs.
you were invited for a review?
I went there many years ago, also was told their pizza is good, true enough they are.
but I didn’t try on that, I took their spaghetti.
their food is rather pricey.
Not really NKOTB if you are talking about the pizzas. If you consider the size and the amount of ingredients and cheese used, I would think it’s even cheaper than Domino’s or Pizza Hut. It’s the quality ingredients we are paying for. Maybe as a Penangite, we are not used to paying so high for food. 😛
have been wanting to go there for dinner, but always ended up going to the pub for a drink instead.
Errr… but the pizzas are served until midnight. Hmmm… you must have gone there after the kitchen hours. How’s the date then? 😛
pizza looks good…but really pricey!
Actually good food would always be pricey especially those of international standards.
[…] all nationalities arriving from visiting international cruisers, berthed at the nearby Frank Swette click for more var _wh = ((document.location.protocol=='https:') ? "https://sec1.woopra.com" : […]
ah… this is what you trying to tell me the other day? It’s really look delicious leh.
Yup it is Mary. 🙂
The pizzas look gorgeous! I think it’s worth forking it over, for I am definitely one of those who do not believe in eating substandard pizzas. Very impressive!
Very true Min. I would rather pay a bit more to get the best in the food I eat. 🙂
The environment of this place is really good, with sea view. 🙂 Nice photo shooting too 🙂
Thanks WikiStreetFood. It’s good to see you around here too. 🙂
Lovely ambiance and good food …this is the place to be in 🙂
Now you know where to have your romantic dining with hubby CK.. hehe. 😛
wow I love the view and the atmosphere, so how very comfy! 🙂
You should pay them a visit when you are in Penang Sid. 🙂
Ahh..i would pay for good pizza! Luv ’em!
i want those desserts too!
Come get them Rebecca. I know you can eat a lot but please tell me your secret to keep slim. 😛
for RM16 at least u get some lobster meat in the soup…
i remember paying for more than that some where else just for the soup! :p
Psss… where’s the place. I make sure I won’t go. 😛
[…] sprinkled with some mixed herbs. The texture for the spaghetti was softer than the ones I had at QEII, which was based on the Italian’s choice of springiness. The mushroom gravy was just normal with […]
[…] linguini pasta be used instead of spaghetti pasta. My preference would still be the one I had at QEII. The next two pasta dishes which were the Alla Marinara (RM16.90) and Baked Cheezy Seafood Pasta […]
Lobster bisque looked very nice but I think the “rouille” sauce with grilled garlic toast was missing?
The other dishes were merely Italian inspired… So, is this more a pasta/pizza/lasagna place, or an all round western/oriental restaurant?
Jay-P.
Yea… speaking of that, both the rouille sauce and garlic toast were missing there. I guessed saffron might be too expensive here to make the sauce. 😛 As for the menu, it’s more towards French/Italian cuisine with a large section on pizzas. You see, this is more towards the bistro by the sea concept and I think pizzas would be quite ideal. Try them out Jay-P… their pizzas rocks!
[…] I had found to be real fascinating would be the Weld Quay/Macallum Street area. There were the best woodfire pizzas, cheapest stir fry Chinese cuisine (choo char), freshly fried prawn fritters, best tom yam fish […]
[…] Weld Quay, overseeing the Straits of Malacca. It would be a great place to chill out without paying exorbitant pricing for your food. By the way, there will be more delicious dishes available from time to time from […]
oh.. i wan go have a taste d.
I’m sure you would Pam… you are always very adventurous. 🙂
the pizza was perfect although the price was quite expensive but it worth..n their chef can rock the floor 2 on the ladies night check it out…..!
Haha… I should check them out then on Wednesday. 😛
may i know that, do yours organise a buffet for about 30pax?
if got, pls quote ?
The contact is there Ms Lee. I don’t own the place~
[…] restaurants to club scenes, namely SOHO Free House, SOHO Penthouse, SOHO Country House (Auto City), QEII, Chin’s Stylish Chinese Cuisine and Chin-Chin Bar. The settings at all the outlets are unique by […]
[…] it had some distinctive flavors from some toasted prawn shell, almost similar to the flavors of the lobster bisque I had at QEII. I won’t mind having some dashes of white wine in the sauce to go with the nicely […]
[…] The Bisque de Crabe Armoricaine (Crab Bisque/法式螃蟹浓湯) was good, even better than the lobster bisque I had at QEII. Somehow, even without the usage of wine or cognac, the soup was filled with flows of seafood […]
[…] some distinctive flavors from some toasted prawn shell, almost similar to the flavors of the lobster bisque I had at QEII. I won’t mind having some dashes of white wine in the sauce to go with the […]
[…] had some distinctive flavors from some toasted prawn shell, almost similar to the flavors of the lobster bisque I had at QEII. I won’t mind having some dashes of white wine in the sauce to go with the nicely […]