Food Review - MAD Restaurant (Sunway Putra Mall)

Name

MAD Restaurant aka Modern Asian Diner Restaurant 

Food

Western, Local, Fusion, Halal 

Location

Sunway Putra Mall (used to be called The Mall)

Getting there

This place is accessible via various means. Besides driving there, it is located right across from the PWTC (Putra World Trade Centre), so taxis, buses & LRT are all available as options.

Parking

There's ample parking in the mall itself or across at the PWTC or along the commercial area outside of the mall.

Ambience

True to its name, the decor of the place is rather minimalistically modern. The theme colors of the restaurant being just in 3 colors - Black, White and Grey. The lighting is slightly dimmer and the fabrics on the seats (Some of the seats are single seat cushion sofas) do make the place very cozy. 

Service

This place (well at least for this Sunway Putra Mall outlet) is staffed mainly by non-locals. I must say that the level of service is quite good. They are very attentive and polite (when compared with many other places, including some 5-star hotels).

Presentation

The food presentation is rather quirky as some of them are presented on a wooden platter much like the American-Style casual dining a la Bubba Gump's. Some others are served on White China, very much like Fine Dining in a luxurious hotel.

Either way, it's visually interesting especially when a group of friends or family are at the same table. Great for those who love to take photos before they eat =)Taste

I do quite like the food here. Although it's not the best in terms of taste but I like it enough for me to come back for more. One thing to note though is that perhaps quite a bit of flavor enhancers are used. I say this because we usually feel quite thirsty each time after we dine there. 

Variety

There's enough variety on the menu to warrant repeat visits. If you are coming here with friends or family, there is enough variety on the menu for everyone. They have pasta, rice, sandwich, noodles, etc.Value For Money

A major factor for my decision to come back here for more repeat visits is of course this place offers really good value. Most of the items here are below RM20. Unless you are planning to order the Steak or Lamb Shank, you can pretty much budget around RM20 per main item.

So, am I going to go back there? You bet. 

 

Food Review - Heritage Village

Name 

Heritage Village 

Food

Baba Nyonya, Local, Halal 

Location

Jaya Shopping Centre

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Location
Located on the 3rd floor of the completely rebuilt PJ Icon - Jaya Shopping Centre, which is directly opposite another equally recognizable PJ landmark, the PJ Digital Mall.

Parking
There's ample parking spaces. Diners can opt for parking within the complex or along the various public parking spaces along the road & vicinity.
 
Ambience
This place seems to be packed almost every single time I am there (I've been there 4 times so far). It looks like the PJ community really likes this place as the diners I see there range from young couples, and groups of young people to families from 3 generations (from grampa to grandchildren).

I guess this may be partly due to the fact that the mall had just been re-opened fairly recently after it was demolished & rebuilt from scratch. Ths place is clean, new & very inviting.

Service
The staff are mainly non-locals. However, that's a plus point in fact because they are very courteous and understand what real service means. The only downside with them is the communication part as they may not sound or say things in the way we understand them easily. However, their enthusiasm in their work more than makes up for this.

Food
I've a bias for Baba-Nyonya cuisine, so, of course I'm gonna like most of the food items here. Special
mention goes out to the Lo-Bak (deep fried meet-rolls), the Pong Teh Chicken.

Taste 
As I had said earlier, I love Baba/Nyonya Food. I haven't identified any item from the menu that I didn't like despite my not having tried out every single one.

Presentation
I have not been to a Baba/Nyonya place that doesn't serve their food in the traditional Chinese clay-ware. And Heritage is no exception.

Variety
There are lots to choose from in their menu.
They range from the Baba/Nyonya classics like
- Otak
- Lobak
- Pong Teh
to sections for Rice, Noodles, deserts and dishes.

VFM
The prices are pretty reasonable and for the various times that I dined there, the place was full.

I'd have to say that if you like Baba/Nyonya cuisine, this would be a good place to try out. Let me know what you think once you have done so. =)

Food Review - Kim Lian Kee

Location
VIVA Home Mall, Jalan Loke Yew (not to be confused with the VIVA Mall as I was.)

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Getting there

The restaurant is located on the 1st floor of the VIVA Home Mall. This mall is very easy to spot as it is located along the famed Jalan Loke Yew (parallel to Jalan Cheras) and right next to the new hotel - VIVATel.

Parking
If you are going to the VIVA Home mall, then you'll have no problems parking as there are tons of parking at the mall itself or if you are trying your luck at the free weekend parking at the shops right outside the mall, you may also do that.
Ambience
One interesting aspect of this place is that its kitchen is located right smack in the middle of the dining hall. I guess that's why they have a separate section for the diners outside on the verandah. The seating on the verandah is rather interesting as it overlooks the constantly busy Jalan Loke Yew. So I suggest you try it out there if it's not too hot for you.
Presentation
The food comes quite nicely presented on dainty little oval plates. I have to say they have very nice plate-ware as their logo appears on each of them. They seem clean enough and I think the place is still fairly new and thus, the logos on the plates still look pretty clear & vibrant.
Variety
All the standard noodle varieties are found on their menu, even the Not-so-Standard Loh Mee, Claypot Loh Shu Fun (which Literally means Rat Noodles) and Moonlight Hor Fun (with a raw egg on top). So in terms of variety, there's definitely reason for a repeat visit, which was what I did, unfortunately.

Taste & Value For Money
Yes, the noodles here taste good despite the person doing the cooking may not be a Chinese at all (Yes, it looks like many of the foreigners are really picking up these culinary skills very quickly).I have to say each time I eat here (I've been here 4x thus far), I ask myself why do I even come here? The prices are a little on the high side for the portions and ingredients (or the lack of it) we get for the prices that they charge. On average, each menu item is around the RM10-11 (and this is before the taxes mind you) and the portion is similar to a snack or tapas - ie: just enough to tantalize but not enough as a full meal (unless you are trying to lose weight).
I actually tried to count the pieces of shrimp in my plate of noodles the other day when I was there. Wow - there were 3!  I think that was my lucky day. So what do you get for RM11 - 95% noodles and 5% of ingredients if you are lucky.
Having said that, it's easier to accept what I have to say next - which is, despite Kim Lian Kee's reputation and pedigree as a big name in Chinese Fried Noodles (especially for the Hokkien-Style - where the noodles are fried in thick dark soy sauce), I have had quite a few equally good, if not better, Hokkien-Styled noodles even in unassuming street stalls. And these places only charge between RM6-7 per serving and their sizes are very much more reasonable.

Verdict
Overpriced and over-rated. Definitely not worth your time or money unless it's just to sate your curiosity as to how good Kim Lian Kee Noodles actually taste. But then, you know what they say about curiosity.

Food Review - Baba Low's

Name

Baba Low's 

Food

Baba/Nyonya Cuisine

Getting There

The best way to get there is to take note of a couple of major landmarks. The most notable 1 would be the NSTP (New Straits Times Press) Building at the corner of Jalan Bangsar & Jalan Riong.

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Tucked away in a remote corner of Bangsar, coming here brought me back to the nostalgic feel of the yester-years. Except for the number plates on cars, this place looks like time had somehow stood still here.

 Parking

As the shop is located on a tiny 1-way street, despite having parking bays along it, there aren’t many. However, right in front of the shop is a tiny community field. Diners can park their cars along the roadside if doing so doesn’t obstruct traffic flow.

Ambience

Baba Low’s is a quaint little place that brings back nostalgia from the 60’s/70’s because it has bits that reminded me of the old world charm. It seems to be a family-run type of establishment instead of the big-budget franchises that have no soul, that are usually found in malls. This place hasn’t really

When you’re sitting in there enjoying your Baba/Nyonya fare, you’d hardly think you’re still in the Klang Valley. 

Presentation

Served in dainty little bowls that has painted sides typical of the uniquely 60’s Malaysian/ Malaccan Straits heritage designs. These are quite common in Melaka (Malacca) even today but in KL, they scarcely can be found.

Variety

They have a few sections to their menu and despite not being a very extensive menu, they have enough items to warrant repeat visits.

• Satae-Satae (not to be confused with Satay or Sate aka BBQ meat skewers, another Malaysian favorite)
• Otak-Otak
• Chicken Pongtae
• Cendol, the All-Time favorite of MalaysiansTaste

I was floored when I ordered the Nyonya Laksa the 1^st time I was there. It was 1 of the best I ever had in a very long while. So of course, I could be biased as I had not had a Nyonya Laksa in quite a while.The 2^nd time I went back there, I wanted to have the Nyonya Laksa again but the item was sold out! Apparently, many who dine there know of this little gem and I surmise it must be 1 of their top selling items. So, predictably, when I went there for my 3^rd visit, I had to have the Nyonya Laksa. I managed to get it but this time around, I felt that the flavour and taste was a little less intense compared my previous visit.Still, having said that, it is still by far, 1 of the best I’ve ever had in the Klang Valley.  Value For Money

The items are not expensive as each dish is less than RM10. However, the portions are really small. I could easily wallop 3-4 menu items with ease. So it you’re there with your family members, be prepared to have a table full of items! Even if you’re there with a date, be prepared for 4-6 items on your table.