Food Review - Inn of 4 Seasons

Name
Inn of 4 Seasons, Holiday Villa
FoodHalal Chinese Dim Sum
Location
Subang Jaya

Getting there
Located at almost the end of the road where the Subang Jaya Medical Centre (now known as the Sime Darby Medical Centre) is situated, just before the entrance of the neighboring gated community, the Holiday Villa has been a major landmark for the area for many years.

ParkingThere are ample parking spaces within the hotel or even at the public parking bays right outside the hotel.

ServiceAs the place is ALWAYS running a full house for the buffet Dim Sum, the staff are always busy either bringing the freshly steamed Dim Sum to diners or clearing the tables. Surprisingly (or maybe not so much to some), most of the wait staff are non-locals but they do provide very good service and honestly try hard to please the guests.

AmbienceSituated on the ground floor within the hotel, the entrance is a little inconspicuous. As the hotel is fairly aged, you will find its ambience similar to Chinese Restaurants of its class (ie: PJ Hilton and Federal Hotel spring to mind) – clearly old but well maintained – Reminiscent of the fine dining of our parents’ generation. The garden, visible thru the full-height windows from the dining area provides a good view and really enhances the place.

TasteI always and still maintain that Pork-Free Dim Sum cannot be compared with the non-Halal variety. However, I have to say that most of the items here are very good. I can hardly recall which item really disappointed me (well, the most obvious candidates will have to be the Char Siew Pau & Lor Mai Kai ‘coz there is simply no Char Siew in there). Otherwise, I really thought it to be worthy of a return trip.

PresentationI have to say the individual Dim Sum items are done really well in terms of their presentation. Just don’t bother looking at the buffet counters. This is because we are in Malaysia and as the place is usually running at full house, the food is haphazardly hoarded onto their plates and thus, leaving the buffet table in a mess with most of the food dishes either empty or half-empty.

VarietyThe major Dim Sum items (eg: Siew Mai, Har Gow, Jue Cheong Fun, Lor Mai Kai, Porridge, Fried Fujok, “Char Siew Pau”,etc) are all there. You may not get them the moment you are seated but you will eventually get them when you dine there. They even serve desserts like Lychee and Sea Coconut.

Value for MoneyAt buffet prices, this is a really good deal. Good food at very affordable prices.

Overall
Except for the fact that it is pork-free and that you may need to wait a little for the food, I have no complaints about the place or the food. It’s not fine dining (Can buffet meals ever be considered Fine Dining?). Go try it and let me know what you think.