CRIZ BON APPETITE

During my recent stay at E&O Residences, right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, I managed to pay a visit to Delicious @ Bangsar Village II to check out their forth coming “Inspired by Tapas” promotion as well as new items in their menu. The “Inspired by Tapas” menu would cover 10 small dishes created by Delicious’ CEO, Steve Allen, and Executive Chef, Sandy Alan Rowe. The menu would run from 4 January 2016 until 31 March 2016. The price quoted within would be in nett price, which is inclusive of 6% GST and service charge free.

Let’s have a peek at what would be in store for you in the “Inspired by Tapas” promotion in January 2016. Firstly, you would get to try out their Baked Pumpkin with Grilled Prawns (RM17.50). I loved this dish a lot as the aromatic and earthy flavors from the baked pumpkin, combined with some arugula salads and flavors from the grilled prawn, was palatable to my liking. At least, it was less sinful to my healthy diet.

Next on the list was the Baked Chicken Thigh with Romesco Sauce and Toasted Almonds (RM15.50). Though the baked chicken thigh was nothing much to shout about, I would personally think that it needed a bit more herbs to pep up the flavors. However, I liked the complement of the romesco sauce as it had that earthly, nutty and yet garlicky tomato sweetness to my liking. It was a bonus to have some additional toasted almond flakes on the dish.

The next dish reminded me of sauteed mushrooms on bruschetta. It was their Creamed Garlic Mushrooms with Croutons and Poached Egg (RM13.00). Immediately, I fell in love with this dish as I loved how the kitchen had presented the dish in a different style. The oozy greatness of the poached egg added some extra creaminess to the dish. However, it would be great if there were some added greens to go with the dish as it could be quite surfeit to drown in all the creaminess.

Malaysians love satays and the next dish was something that caught everyone yearning for more. It was their Grilled Beef Skewers (RM18.00), served with tomatoes, red onions and peppers on a bed of garlic fried potatoes. The nice marinate and the smoky flavors on the tender yet juicy skews of beef chunks were heavenly.

The next dish in the list was their Black Cod with Capsicum Sauce (RM18.00). Somehow, this dish did not impress me as the flesh was not as smooth and fatty as that of a Pacific cod. Anyway, black cod is not a cod fish as named but more towards the texture of halibut which is firmer and flaky. Its actual name is sablefish. Moreover, I personally felt that the taste from sauce overwhelmed the true flavors of the fish.

On top of the tapas inspired dishes, there are some new items added into the menu such as the Crunchy Chicken Wings with Sesame and Seaweed Crust (RM18.00), served with mustard mayonnaise. We all loved the wings as each bite was pepped with flavors. With a little dip into the provided condiment, it was the perfect dish to sink your teeth onto.

Who would have thought that such basic item such as the Pumpkin Risotto Balls (RM13.50) would have created a list of followers? The pumpkin, mushroom and rosemary infused risotto balls, deep fried to perfection and served with some pesto mayonnaise was something out of the world. The dish was quite a nice snack to my liking.

The kitchen had ingeniously created a Malaysian salad with their Roasted Pumpkin, Coconut, Beef Serunding Salad with Papaya (RM26.50) and dressed in spicy lime dressing. It was quite a playful concoction with the usage of the mildly spiced up coconut milk infused beef floss. It would be great too if some cubes of ketupat were to be added in place of the papaya slices as they do go well with any meat serunding (floss).

For pasta lovers, you could try out their Carbonara with Seaweed Egg (RM28.00) in parmesan cream with Mushrooms with the option of either beef bacon or shredded chicken. I had the beef bacon version and it was great as there were also some peels of parmesan cheese being added in as garnish.

For a healthier bite, you might want to try out their Wild Mushroom Wrap with Cherry Tomatoes, Parmesan Cheese, Cucumber and Pine Nuts (RM26.50). Of course, they would be some French fries to keep you all filled up.

There would be some new and old desserts to end your meal. If you have a big appetite for desserts after your meal, you should try out their Macadamia & Salted Caramel Cheesecake Sundae (RM17.50). The portion was humongous. I would advise you to share out between two persons. They do have Chocolate & Raisons Cheesecake (RM15.00) too. If you feel that you would like to consume your dessert at a slower pace without having the ice cream melting up so fast, just go for their Macadamia & Salted Caramel Cheesecake (RM15.00). It’s basically the same thing minus the added ice cream as per the sundae. As for me, I would always love something sour to wash down all the meaty stuff after a hearty meal. I went for their Lemon Meringue Pie (RM15.00).

As for beverages, they do have some new drinks too such as the Rose Lychee Frostie (RM12.50) and Apple, Mint & Lemon Frostie (RM13.50). Other than iced or chilled beverages, you could always try out their Hot Latte (RM13.00) or their Ronnefeldt Tea Selections (RM9.00 – English Breakfast, Chamomile, Earl Grey, Peppermint or Jasmine).

In addition to all the new menu items, the eatery had started to roll out a Monday & Tuesday Specials night of “BUY 1 FREE 1” dishes. In December, Asian Mains get the spotlight followed in January with Sandwiches, Burgers & Wraps. Available from 3.00pm every Monday and Tuesday, the guests can choose any two of these dishes and they receive the lower priced item absolutely free. Popular amongst students and young professionals, we hope everyone can enjoy these value added specials in difficult times.

Overall, the chefs had done some great jobs in revamping the menu as I do find some of the new dishes to be rather innovative, healthy and flavorful. I do hope to find other new creations in the near future.

Though Delicious @ Bangsar Village II is located within the ground floor of the complex, it’s actually situated at the junction of Jalan Telawi 2 and Jalan Telawi 4, directly opposite the Balai Polis Bangsar or Restoran Devi’s. It’s not hard to reach there even if you are not locals. You can just key in the GPS via WAZE app or just grab a taxi.

Name: DELICIOUS @ BANGSAR VILLAGE II
Address: Lot GF-1, Ground Floor, Bangsar Village II, 2 Jalan Telawi 1, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Contact: +603-2287 1554
Business Hours:
Mon-Wed: 11.00am to 10.30pm (last order 9.45pm)
Thurs-Fri: 11.00am to 11.00pm (last order 10.15pm)
Sat, Sun & PH: 9.00am to 11.00pm (last order 10.30pm)
GPS: 3.131327, 101.671562

RATING:
Ambience: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 8/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

About The Delicious Group: Named after the signature Delicious Cafe, the Delicious Group now consists of nine F&B outlets operating under three separate F&B entities. The six Delicious Cafes are located in prime spots across the Klang Valley (St Mary Place, 1 Utama, Bangsar Village II, Mid Valley, Sunway Pyramid and Setia City Mall), Simplyd (The fast casual café concept has three outlets located in Nu Sentral Mall, The Curve and Avenue K) as well as a strong catering division for all types of events, weddings and parties. The Delicious Group is 100% owned by the Eastern & Oriental Group.

Of all the Delicious Group eateries, only Delicious @ St. Mary Place serves buffet breakfast as early as 7.00am until 10.30am daily. Basically, the breakfast caters to the needs of the occupants at St. Mary Residences and the guests at E&O Residences. It would be at RM37.50/pax for walk-ins as well.

The selections could quite international with spreads ranging from noodles soup, porridge with condiments, egg of your choice, grilled sausages, juices, cereal, waffles with sauce, grilled tomatoes with cheese, hash brown, baked beans, sauteed mushrooms, fried noodles, nasi lemak with condiments, various bread with spreads, croissants, Danish pastries, muffins, yoghurt and fresh fruit cuts.

Here are some of items I had tried out during my stay at E&O Residences earlier this month.

Overall, for the price paid, I would consider the spreads to be quite adequate for my breakfast. However, it would be great if the eatery could serve at least one salad dish to cater to those who are healthy conscious.

Delicious @ St. Mary Place is located right outside the St. Mary Residences and E&O Residences along Jalan Tengah (off Jalan Sultan Ismail). If you are driving from Imbi towards KL Ciry Park via Jalan Sultan Ismail, slow down as you reach Wisma Genting. Do watch out for a small hidden lane on your left. Turn left into Jalan Tengah and you would see Delicious @ St. Mary Place on your right just after the entrance to the residences. If you are unsure, just key in the GPS (3.151752, 101.707942) into your WAZE app and you should have no problem at all to find the venue.

Name: DELICIOUS @ ST. MARY PLACE
Address: G-7 & G-8 Tower A, St Mary Place, No. 1, Jalan Tengah, Off Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Contact: +603-2022 1983
Business Hours: 7.00am-9.30pm / 7.00am-10.30am (Breakfast)
GPS: 3.151752, 101.707942

RATING:
Ambience: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

About The Delicious Group: Named after the signature Delicious Cafe, the Delicious Group now consists of nine F&B outlets operating under three separate F&B entities. The six Delicious Cafes are located in prime spots across the Klang Valley (St Mary Place, 1 Utama, Bangsar Village II, Mid Valley, Sunway Pyramid and Setia City Mall), Simplyd (The fast casual café concept has three outlets located in Nu Sentral Mall, The Curve and Avenue K) as well as a strong catering division for all types of events, weddings and parties. The Delicious Group is 100% owned by the Eastern & Oriental Group.

Christmas 2015 is just in a few days’ time and by the time you realize it, it would be countdown to New Year 2016. Have you decided where to celebrate these festive seasons with your family members or friends? Here’s a summary of where you could dine out and at the same time get your money worth on the many spreads of delicious meals out there. Do click on the photo to find out more on the respective eatery and promotions available. In alphabetical order, here are the Penang promotions~ Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year~ 🙂

59Sixty Restaurant & Events:

David Brown Restaurant & Terraces, Penang:

Eastin Hotel, Penang:

E&O Hotel, Penang:

Hotel Equatorial, Penang:

Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Penang:

G Hotel, Penang:

Golden Sands Resort, Penang:

Hard Rock Hotel, Penang:

Hotel Jen, Penang:

Olive Tree Hotel, Penang:

Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang:

St. Giles Wembley, Penang:

Swez Brasserie @ Eastin Hotel, Penang will be all out to impress you with their buffet spreads this coming Christmas 2015 and New Year 2016.You would get to enjoy these festive seasons with your loved ones over an array of mouth-watering dishes specially pepped up by the skillful chefs of the hotel. Before I cover on some of the dishes served, let’s have a look on the summary of the packages available.

FESTIVE PACKAGES SUMMARY:

Christmas/Countdown Buffet Dinner (6:30pm-10.00pm)
RM168nett (adult), RM80nett (child)

Christmas/New Year Day Hi-Tea (12.00pm-3.00pm)
RM82nett (adult), RM40nett (child)

Christmas/New Year Day Buffet Dinner (6:30pm-10.00pm)
RM118nett (adult), RM55nett (child)

Special Order: One whole bird of Turkey with stuffing at RM338nett (3 days prior booking is required)

Note: For the first 80 pax with full payment before 15 December 2015, you would be entitled to a 25% discount. For Senior Citizens (60 years old and above), you would be entitled to a 25% discount as well.

Special Appearances: On Christmas Eve, starting at 6pm, those in attendance will be able to enjoy live performance by Eastin’s carolling singers, lucky draws, activities. Eastin’s own live band performance, Melody will usher in the New Year 2016 on the eve with fireworks countdown.

Downloads: Christmas 2015 and New Year 2016 Menus

The highlight of the season would definitely be at the Carving Station especially on the Authentic Roasted Turkey with Classic Ingredients and Condiments. Do watch out for the Yorkshire Puddings which would be great with any meat items. One thing great about the turkey was that it was prepared perfectly with the right roasting, tenderness and juiciness.

There would also be some international Cold Delicacies such as Chicago Turkey Mixed Salad, Australia Potato Salad and Walnut Apple Salad to start off your meal. At the same time, do check out their Fresh Mushroom Cream Soup served with Fresh Baked Bread and Rolls.

For Hot Delicacies, you would be treated with Chicken Roulade with Pomegranate Sauce, Spanish Butter Rice with Nut, Poached Seabass with Saffron Sauce and more. Well, I quite like the Chicken Roulade with Pomegranate Sauce as it was one dish that you could hardly get from other eateries. Pomegranates are loaded with important nutrients that may lower the risk of all sorts of diseases.

As for Desserts, they would be many festive bakes and pastries to tempt your sweet tooth such as Ginger Bread House, Christmas Fruits Cake with Icing, House Christmas Mousse, Christmas Log, Ginger Bread Fantasy, Cherry Truffle and more.

The Swez Brasserie is located at the ring wing of Eastin Hotel, Penang (next to Queensbay Mall). If you are coming from Georgetown towards Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone via Bayan Lepas Expressway, do watch out for the Pulau Jerejak signboard (leading to Pulau Jerejak jetty). Ignore the turning and drive on to the next left junction. Turn left into Jalan Aziz Ibrahim and drive on until you a roundabout. Turn 3 o’clock and drive on until you see a big Eastin Hotel signboard at the first right junction. Turn right and drive on. Park your car at the basement car park. Take a lift to the first floor lobby and you would see the restaurant there.

Name: SWEZ BRASSERIE @ EASTIN HOTEL
Address: 1 Solok Bayan Indah, Queens Bay, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-612 1128
Business Hours: 12.00pm-2.30pm (Lunch), 6.30pm-10.00pm (Dinner)
GPS: 5.33643, 100.306345

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7.5/10 (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)

December is the month of many celebrations with Christmas just weeks from now and New Year being just around the corner. The newly reopened Café Laurel @ Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Penang won’t be left out from all the thrills of celebrating the festive occasions with spreads of goodies to pamper its guests and diners. You can call in +604-226 9988 Ext. 2819/2820 to make your reservation today.

Firstly, let’s celebrate with their Reopened Promotions of BUY ONE FREE ONE (Buffet Lunch) and BUY TWO FREE ONE (Buffet Dinner). The promotions are valid until 31 December 2015, excluding festive days. Do check out the poster below.

On the other hand, festive promotions would be as below. For the eve of Christmas and New Year, you would have the BUY ONE FREE ONE (Buffet Lunch) and BUY TWO FREE ONE (Buffet Dinner) promotions, whether of the actual day of Christmas 2015 and New Year 2016, you would get to enjoy their BUY ONE FREE ONE (Buffet Lunch) and BUY THREE FREE ONE (Buffet Dinner). These offers are only applicable for paying adults.

Let’s have a look at their extensive spreads for their International Buffet Dinner on a Sunday night.

At the Salad & Cold Selection Sections, you would expect to savor Thai Chicken Salad, Thai Papaya Salad, Dry Cuttlefish Salad, 8 types of Plain Salad, Assorted Cold Cuts, Seafood on Ice, Smoked Fish, Beef Pastrami and Marinated Baby Octopus.

At the Soup Section, you might get Seafood Tom Yam Soup, Chicken Cream Soup with some Crispy Bread Rolls & Butter.

The eatery has many Action Stalls with delicious dishes such as Sashimi/Sushi with Condiments, Ikan Panggang (Portuguese Style), Char Koay Teow, Roasted Duck, Mix Grill (Jumbo Sausage, Lamb Chop), Pasta Station, Laksa with Condiments and Assorted Dim Sum

Some of the dishes at the Main Dish Section could be real delectable such as Roasted Lamb Leg, Pan Fried Fish in Cream Sauce, Chicken Roll with Thyme Sauce, Stir Fried Prawn, Mix Vegetables, Sambal Ikan Bawal, Gulai Kambing, Mee Goreng Mamak, Rendang Ayam, Paceri Nenas, Nasi Hujan Panas and Steamed White Rice.

For dessert lovers, you could head up to their Dessert Section for some sweet treats such as Assorted Mini French Pastries, Freshly Cut Tropical Fruits, Cream Caramel, Profiteroles with Chocolate Sauce, Bread & Butter Pudding, Crème Brulee, Chocolate Mousse, Fruit Cocktail, Ice Cream with Condiments and end your meal with some Coffee & Tea.

Overall, I quite like the spreads especially at the sushi section where all the cuts were extremely fresh and palatable to my liking. However, there are still rooms for improvement especially at some specific action counters where I would at least expect a staff in attendance to cater to the needs of diners.

Café Laurel is located at the right wing of Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Penang. Upon entering the lobby, just head to the right side and you will see the entrance to the eatery.

Name: CAFÉ LAUREL @ EVERGREEN LAUREL HOTEL PENANG
Address: 53 Persiaran Gurney, 10250 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: +604-226 9988 Ext 2819/2820
Business Hours:
Buffet Lunch: 12.00noon-2.30pm (Mondays – Fridays)
Hi-Tea: 12.00noon-3.00pm (Saturdays & Sundays)
International Buffet Dinner: 7.00pm-10.00pm (Sundays – Thursdays)
Seafood & Japanese Buffet Dinner: 6.30pm-10.00pm (Fridays & Saturdays)
GPS: 5.4311774, 100.3180416

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7.5/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 7.5/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

Won’t it be cool if you could celebrate your Christmas with your loved ones and friends up Penang Hill this year? David Brown’s Restaurant & Tea Terrace has the perfect solution for you this year with their two promotions. One would be their Christmas Eve Set Dinner at RM188++/pax (24 December 2015 only) and the other would be their December Set Dinner Promotion at RM98++/pax (1-31 December 2015 except Christmas Eve). Dinner time would be from 6.00pm until 10.00pm. In order to get to the restaurant, you would need to take a train up Penang Hill. For MyKad holders, it’s RM10/pax (adult) or RM4/pax (senior citizen, child & student). As for visiting tourists, it’s RM30/pax (adult & senior citizen) or RM15/pax (child & student). Daily train operation hours will be 6.30am-11.00pm (last train from top station).

Let’s have a look at what would be served during the Christmas Eve Set Dinner Promotion 2015 (24 December 2015 only and no ala carte dishes will be served during dinner on this specific day). Please also take note that if you pre-book the set dinner with full payment before 15 December 2015, you would be entitled to a 20% discount.

Prior to the start of any set dinner, you would be served with an in-house made bread roll each, accompanied with butter.

To get your Christmas mood rolling, you would be first served with their complimentary version of Amuse Bouche. It’s a turkey croquette served with some hot pepper and vinegar spiced up sriracha mayonnaise. The item indeed boosted up my appetite for more delicious dishes to follow.

As for appetizer, it had Arugula Salad (commonly known as salad rocket), dressed with balsamic reduction lemon vinaigrette and topped with some slices of smoked beef bacon, tempura oyster mushroom with light sprinkles of crushed hazelnut. It was a simple and yet palatable to start off the meal.

We had Chicken Veloute Soup next. The texture of the soup really reminded me of KFC’s gravy for their mashed potatoes. It came with some slices of poached chicken, grilled eryngii mushrooms and a sprinkle of chopped chives. Maybe I have a strong taste bud as I found the soup to be a bit light to my liking. Somehow, it lacked some “roasted” flavors in it. It would be great if the kitchen have utilized some thick broth from simmering some roasted chicken parts to pep up the flavors more. Adding in some heavy cream would also give the soup more texture.

There are 3 options for the mail meal, namely turkey breast, Norwegian salmon and lamb racks.

The first option was the Traditional Roasted Turkey Breast, served with roasted herb potatoes, broccoli, purified apple chutney and glazed with some turkey juice. I quite like the whole combination especially with a twist with the usage of purified apple chutney and turkey juice though my favorite would still be the traditional cranberry and giblet sauces.

The second option was the Pan Seared Norwegian Salmon & Scallop, served with spear asparagus, tomato tartar, chives potato cream, and lime hollandaise. Every items on the plate complemented the perfectly pan seared salmon real well.

The third option which was the Pan Roasted Rack of Lamb was my favorite amongst the 3 options. The dish was served with glazed onions, confit cherry tomatoes, braised lamb pie with some balsamic lamb juice. It was the heavenly dish that would linger in my mind for quite awhile.

To clear the heaviness of the food you had consumed earlier, they have a pre-dessert of Ginger Lime Granita. It may look like some crushed ice but the flavors were just right with some crunchy texture.

The dessert was rather unique as the Chocolate Mousse Cake was skillfully decorated with some caramelized popcorns, caramelized banana, coconut gelee with an assortment of berries. The whole combination had just the right sweetness to my liking.

Lastly, you have the option to choose between Tea or Coffee with a Christmas Cookie to end your meal. I would recommend you to have their coffee as they are using the Italian brand Caffe Vergnano Espresso Rico ‘700 which has an intense and full-bodied flavor with hints of chocolate finishing. This blend had just the right balance of fragrantly roasted Arabica combined with the rich and full-bodied Robusta. It was the perfect beverage to end the meal.

In case you can’t make it on Christmas Eve, you can also check out their December Set Dinner Promotion at RM98++/pax (1-31 December 2015 except Christmas Eve). Here’s the menu.

While waiting for your meal to be served, you would always get to try out their in-house made bread roll with butter.

To start off, you could savor their Soft Shelled Crab Salad with Sesame Dressing as appetizer. With some crunches of the batter fried soft shelled crab combined with the many greens plus fragrantly pepped up sesame dressing, it was a great start before the main meal.

We were then served with Chicken & Corn Soup. I quite like the texture and flavors of this soup. At least there were some bites in it.

There are 3 options for the main course such as poultry, fish and lamb rack.

The first option was the David Brown’s Poulet, served with roasted herbed potatoes, steamed vegetables and gravy. This was quite a fusion dish with the L-shaped chicken drumsticks being marinated with dozen types of herbs and spices. For those who prefer stronger flavors, this dish would suit you well.

The second option was the Pan Seared Grouper, served with potato croquette, steamed vegetables and wasabi mayonnaise. It was a fuss-free dish for a dinner option.

The last option was the Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb, served with potato fondant, steamed vegetables and lamb juice. It was not a bad choice actually, considering that the meat was tender and juicy to my liking.

As for dessert, it was the heavenly Chocolate Brownie with their signature homemade Caffe Vergnano 1882 Espresso Chocolate Ice Cream. The slightly crispy crusted and moist brownie combined with the earthly bitter sweet ice cream was the perfect dessert to end the meal.

If you get enough of the ice cream, you could always order coffee rather than tea to end the meal. They would be serving Coffee or Tea with Christmas Cookie during this season.

Overall, I do find some of the dishes served here to be quite impressive, especially the Christmas Eve Set Dinner. It might be a hefty sum for some to foot but you can be assured of quality ingredients being used in the menu. Just take a short getaway up the hills and be mesmerized with the cool breezy and scenic night view of the island. I’m sure you would not regret making that decision.

It’s not hard to find David Brown’s Restaurant and Tea Terraces as it’s located above the small Strawberry Hill next to the train station. Upon disembarking from the train, just walk towards the end and turn right and you can see a stairways leading up to the restaurant.

Name: DAVID BROWN’S RESTAURANT & TEA TERRACES
Address: Lot 400, MK 17, Daerah Barat Daya, Strawberry Hill, Bukit Bendera, 11300 Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia
Contact: +604-828 8337 or +6018-409 6277
Business Hours: 11.00am-3.00pm (lunch), 3.00pm-6.00pm (tea), 6.00pm-10.00pm (dinner – last order at 9.00pm)
GPS: 5.424210, 100.268632

RATING:
Ambience: 9/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 7/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7.5/10 (1-4 tasteless, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)
Pricing: 7.5/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 expensive)
Service: 8/10 (1-4 bad, 5-7 average, 8-10 excellent)

With the festive seasons of Christmas and New Year just around the corner, Hard Rock Hotel Penang will be having a few promotions to pamper its guests and diners with an extensive spread of delectable dishes under the expertise of the hotel’s kitchen team [From left to right: Rizal bin Hashim (Sous Chef), Abdul Rahim Bin Mohammad (Sous Chef), Mohd Nazir Bin Aziz (Chef De Cuisine), Zulkanai Bin Md Elias (Kitchen Manager) and Wan Mohd Shahrul Bin Wan Mohd Saad (Sous Chef)]. Do enjoy the delightful holiday treats this Christmas & New Year eves at Starz Diner @ Hard Rock Hotel Penang from 6.30pm until 10.30pm. Please call +604-886 8057 or email fb.penang@hardrockhotels.net to book earlier to avoid disappointment.

For both Christmas and New Eve dinners, you would get to indulge in their maki platters (Abuni Salmon Maki, Cheese Maki, Unagi Maki, Rainbow Maki, etc) plus bread and rolls (Grissini, Olive Bread, Multi Grains, Baguette, etc). Their Grissini (breadsticks) were one of the best I’ve tasted.

On the eve of Christmas, Starz Diner will be offering a Christmas Eve Rock ‘n’ Roll Buffet Dinner at RM186nett/pax, inclusive of a complimentary party pack and lucky draw.

Some of the dishes to look out for would be their Prawn Tikka with Mango Melon Salsa, Asparagus with Crab Meat Salad, Shellfish Bisque, Roasted Turkey with Giblet Gravy & Cranberries Citrus Sauce, Cajun Spice Red Snapper with Shrimp and Mussel Salsa, Miniature Berry Gingerbread Cakes and Chocolate and Cherry Yule Logs.

The highlight of any Christmas meal would be their Roasted Turkey with Giblet Gravy & Cranberries Citrus Sauce, Glazed Nuts Stuffing, Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables. It was the perfect dish to start off the festive season. Ooo.. I always enjoyed my turkey with their sauces. Those condiments were some of the best ones around.

Their Chocolate & Cherry Yule Logs was one of the good ones around, considering that the cake was moist and fluffy without being too sweet.

Of course, there would be the English Fruit Cake with Glazed Fruits. Sweet as it is, it’s a great dessert to end the dinner over a cup of hot tea.

For those who would fancy a set dinner instead of a buffet dinner may opt for Hard Rock Café Penang’s 4-course Christmas Eve Dinner at RM185nett/pax. The dinner offers a starter – Mini Citrus Salad and a Cream of Lobster and Crab soup. For the choice of mains, the café will be serving a choice of Roasted Five Spiced Lamb Rack, Roasted Turkey Breast and Pan-fried Atlantic Salmon. For dessert, diners will feast on a delicious Strawberry Meringue with Berry Compote and Wild Berry Macadamia Gelato. Dinner would include two selected drinks and a complimentary party pack.

If you are not into set or buffet dinners but wanted something fulfilling to celebrate with a group of family members or friends, you could always try out their December promotion at Pizzeria with Chef Joe’s specially concocted Santarina Turkey Pizza (RM40nett), from 11.30am until 10.30pm daily. This pizza is oven-baked to perfection with grilled turkey breast with mushroom glaze, tomato salsa, spinach and cranberry sauce.

At the Hard Rock Café Penang, satisfy your taste buds with a Holiday Rock Platter, available for 2 persons at RM160nett or 3 persons at RM240nett. Serving until 23 December 2015, this platter is big enough to share and guaranteed to rock your palate. This platter comes with a choice of starter – House Salad or Soup of the Day. For the main course, diners will indulge in a sharing platter consisting of Potato Skins, Onion Rings, BBQ Beef Ribs, Spaghetti with Prawn Paste, Mini Beef Burgers with Satay Sauce, Chicken Wings with Chipotle BBQ Sauce, Ferringhi Ikan Bakar with Portuguese Sauce and Pulled Lamb Sandwich with Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce. Homemade Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream would be served for dessert.

On New Year’s Eve, Starz Diner will be serving a New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner at RM199nett/pax inclusive of a complimentary party pack and lucky draw.

Some of the highlights to look out for are the Homemade Salmon Gravlax and Marinated Prawn with Condiments, Chilled Shooters (pumpkin, beetroot, green pea & basil tomato), Roasted Chicken served glazed baby carrot and citrus tapenade, Coffee Crusted Beef Fillet with Pumpkin Puree and Shallots Gravy, Mix Berries Financier with Mascarpone Cream and Mango Crème Brûlée.

On top of that, there’ll be two more promotions for New Year Eve at Pizzeria and Hard Rock Café. Pizzeria’s New Year’s Eve Seafood Buffet Dinner at RM199nett/pax which would include a variety of Cold Platters, Chilled Seafood, Salad, Antipasto, Cheese Platters, Soups, Hot Dishes, BBQ Seafood, Pasta & Carving Station, Pizzas and Desserts. The promotion would also include a complimentary party pack and lucky draw. On the other hand, Hard Rock Café Penang will be offering a 4-course New Year’s Eve Dinner at RM195nett/pax. The Starter would include a Mini Chicken Chop Salad, Creamy Leek and Fennel plus Potato Soup. The options for the Main Courses would be either a choice of Grilled Marinated Angus Strip Loin & Pacific Scallop, Baked Sesame Cod Fish & Grilled Sambal King Prawn or Oven Baked Lamb Rack & Tandoori Salmon. Diners would be served a delightful Tiramisu Mascarpone Mousse with Pistachio Biscotti and Coffee Gelato to end the meal.

Overall, the specially crafted dishes were palatable for all who love to savor some traditional as well as fusion items during these coming festive seasons. Of course, the Roasted Turkey and Stuffing would be the main highlight during this Christmas promotion and that Coffee Crusted Beef Fillet with Pumpkin Puree & Shallot Gravy would be something new to savor during this New Year Eve.

The Starz Diner is located at the left wing of Hard Rock Hotel Penang. Upon entering, just head to the left side and you will see a little glass door leading to the eatery.

Name: STARZ DINER @ HARD ROCK HOTEL PENANG
Address: Batu Ferringhi Beach, 11100 Penang, Malaysia.
Contact: 604-881 1711
Business Hours: 6.30am-11.00am, 5.30pm-11.00pm
GPS: 5.467568, 100.241382

RATING:
Ambience: 8/10 (1-4 cheap, 5-7 average, 8-10 classy)
Food Choices: 8/10 (1-4 limited, 5-7 average, 8-10 many choices)
Taste: 7.5/10 (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)

RESERVATIONS:

Starz Diner/Pizzeria: Call +604-886 6057 or email fb.penang@hardrockhotels.net.
Hard Rock Café Penang: Call +604-886 8050 or email hrc.admin@hardrockhotels.net.
More information: Hard Rock Hotel Penang’s F&B Promotions

Hard Rock International:
With a total of 204 venues in 64 countries, including 157 cafes, 22 hotels and 11 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company’s two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, Fl., both owned and operated by HRI parent company The Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as other exciting locations including Bali, Chicago, Cancun, Ibiza, Las Vegas, Macau and San Diego. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include San Juan, Lagos and Gran Canaria, Spain. New Hard Rock Hotel projects include Daytona Beach, Dubai, Los Cabos, Tenerife, Abu Dhabi, and Shenzhen and Haikou in China. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com.