Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)
Address: 55, Jalan Abdul Samad, Kampung Bahru, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zGFpeJxPfeB8CPjv9
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
Braised Lamb Shank = RM58.80
Creme Brulee = RM18.80
Service Charge 10% = RM11.44
SST 6% = RM7.55
Click here for the Full Menu and Receipt (Opens in a New Tab, Price is accurate as of Posting Date)
This was a Restaurant mentioned and recommended by Amelia. She did not specify much or comment about this place so I thought I'd go explore and check it out myself. What the Place actually is, is an Atas Level French (Fusion?) Restaurant. That said, they don't have much Classic French Dishes on the Menu such as "Coq Au Vin" which I was hoping to try.
Simple, but also a Tad Atas Renovated with a Beautiful Entrance and Nicely Air-Conditioned Interior with Soft Piano Instrumentals playing in the Background as you can see in the Videos. This is the sort of place that would be perfect for a Couple Dinner Date I reckon.
Having said that, even on a Saturday Dinner Evening Timing of 8.00pm when I visited, the place was rather ๅทๆธ ๆธ . There were No Other Customers other than me and a Malay Family.
The Service Staffs here are Myanmar Folks who can speak abit of English. They're Friendly and tries to behave as Professional as they can. I appreciate them serving a Glass of Plain Water to me upon sitting down. All of them are lead by the Owner/Head Chef who is a Friendly Malay Lad. Really Friendly and Welcoming, he exhibits a Professional Welcoming Poise when communicating with me. In our further convos, I was delighted to find out that he's actually a (Former) Singaporean! Hahaha so in a way, I'm actually dining in a Singaporean Restaurant.
One issue I did notice when I'm talking to him as I observed is that he seems to be more focused on his Phone than actually looking me in the eye when we are talking. Perhaps this is something that can be looked into given that this is a More Atas Level of Restaurant.
Looking thru the Menu, I noticed that Beef Wellington is available. As I've never eaten this before, I thought I'd give it a try. After making my order, I was then only told that Beef Wellington needs at least 35 to 40mins of Prep Time. Aiyah.
As I made my order at around 8.00pm and they officially close at 9.00pm (they have since changed closing time to 9.30pm it seems), that means that I will only have at most 20mins to eat it. The Head Chef advised they are willing to close later for me to finish the Meal but of course I wouldn't do that to a Restaurant. (I mean who don't want to go back home earlier right?) I do appreciate this Nice Gesture though.
Its a Pity that I don't have the chance to eat this so do take note of this Potential 40 Mins wait if you want to order this especially if you are coming near to their Closing Hour. If I have a suggestion, perhaps indicate this Prep Time in their Menu like some other Restorans do as a Pre-Empt, instead of giving Customers a Sudden Last Minute notice like this. Then again, this is the First Time I'm eating Beef Wellington, maybe this Long Prep Time is expected?
Anyway as this is a More Atas Level of Restoran, I requested to check if they are able to serve up everything together. The Head Chef initially mentioned they are able to do so, but there seems to be some confusion along the way and they are not able to do so in the end. It took 24 Mins for the Lamb Shank, 25 Mins for the Beef Tartare and 28 Mins for the Creme Brulee. Everything was served up in 28 Mins.
Classic Beef Steak Tartare = RM36.80
This is my First Time ever eating this Infamous Dish. Hahaha the very first time I've even heard of it was through this Famous Iconic Comedy Skit by Mr Bean that showcased it. Hahaha I've always wanted to try what this tasted after I learnt that this is a Real Dish.
What this Dish is, is basically Minced Raw Beef. Considered as a High End sort of Dish, you're not going to find this in many Restaurants unless its of a More Atas Level type.
When I saw them serving it here, I jumped at the chance to try. Served with a Side of Toasted French Loaves, its meant to be eaten like a Meat Spread to spread on the Toast.
When I saw them serving it here, I jumped at the chance to try. Served with a Side of Toasted French Loaves, its meant to be eaten like a Meat Spread to spread on the Toast.
I would describe Beef Tartare as a Very Onioney Tasting Cold Minced Meat. There are Zero Taste of Beef actually. The Whole Thing is Not at all Beefy and surprisingly taste like eating Canned Tuna. At least this is my First Impression of it.
There is also abit of Western Type of Herbs mixed within as I tasted as an Aftertaste. Try to imagine mixing Canned Tuna with Diced Onions and a Mix of Western Herbs and you will get an idea of how this taste like. Mixing in the Egg Yolk gives it a More Creamier Texture and Not at all Too Eggy.
Apparently as I learnt, some Lower-Quality Beef Tartare do taste Beefy with a Bloodish Taste ่ก่ ฅๅณ. Not the case with this one, as it tastes Very Clean and Fresh for me. Really taste more like Tuna than Beef actually.
The Toasted Bread is Crispy to the Bite and the whole thing is like eating Tuna on Toast. Eating with Toast is obviously done to let the Carb help with reducing any Jelakness, but this Beef Tartare is so Clean Tasting that I didn't feel any Jelakness at all even when I ate half of it without any Toast. That is how Clean this tasted for me.
Braised Lamb Shank = RM58.80
This was the Dish that the Head Chef personally recommended in place of Beef Wellington. Beautifully Presented, it was a Huge Hunk of Lamb Shank and looked nicely appetizing. The Sauce that was served with this tasted like its either Very Beefy or Muttony?
I really couldn't discern its either that, or a Mix of Both Flavours. Definitely Rich and Meaty and Slightly Saltish this was a Complex Tasting Level of Rich Meaty Gravy. Delicious.
I appreciate that there is a Good Effort to individually charr the Mushrooms and biting into them also released a Savoury Garlicky type of Juiciness. There are Zero Raw Mushroom taste in this one. Nice.
Likewise the Carrots were so Fresh tasting, I didn't even taste any of that Typical Carroty Rawness. Mashed Potato was well pounded, obviously made from Actual Potato with Butter mixed in. Smooth and Creamy, this was a Very Nice Tasting Atas Level of Mashed Potato.
As for the the Lamb Shank itself, even though it was left for awhile, I was delighted that the Meat was still Nicely Warm. Its not those Super Tender until Pick up and Fall off the Bone but still Tender enough. Slightly Saltish, Not at all Gamey and Very Clean to the Taste.
Even without any Sauces or adding any Condiments, I could eat Half of it without feeling any Sense of Jelak. Very Nice. Interestingly, while I don't taste the Gamey Lamb Flavour in the Meat itself, the Gravy that came with it certainly did. Its like as if they somehow magically extracted the Lamb Flavour from the Meat into the Gravy. Combining the 2 of them completes the Full Lamb Flavour. Solid Tasting, it was Very Shiok to ๅคงๅฃๅคงๅฃๅ่ like this.
Creme Brulee = RM18.80
This is the One Item that Every Google Reviewer raved about for this Place, so of course I have to try. Hahaha although its a Dish I've heard often, this is also my First Time eating a Creme Brulee. Its of course a Dessert with a Beautifully Caramelized Sugar Top.
In fact, the Top Skin is made out of Sugar Syrup that breaks easily. Below it is a Very Soft, Almost Liquid Textured Custard Cream that's Not Overly Sweet.
The Combined Mix of a Hard Crunch from the Sugar Top Crust with the Soft Custard Cream below was a Textural Delight in my Mouth. Despite being an Obvious Sugary Dessert, it was surprisingly Not Overly Sickeningly Sweet. Not Overly Sweet or Overly Milky, I can understand why this is Highly Raved among the Google Reviewers.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
As this is my 1st Time tasting this Dish, I have no Prior Expectations on how it should taste like, but I am impressed with what I got. Despite being made of Primarily Raw Minced Beef, there is Nothing Beefy or Gamey about this. Not even a Slight Sense of Raw or Bloodiness ่ก่ ฅๅณ. In fact I'd describe this like eating Canned Tuna actually.
As I researched further, Beef Tartare is NOT supposed to taste Raw or Beefy so I would say this is a Pretty Good Version of it. If anything, I will use this as my Baseline Standard to judge Future Beef Tartares that I will try. I definitely can recommend this to give a try if you are ok with it. Hahaha Nothing Wierd like how Mr Bean treats it thats for sure! ๐
And it wasn't only the Lamb Shank itself, every one of the Side-Dishes that accompanied it was also done at a Good Level especially when I saw the Effort to even Charr the Mushrooms. If you are looking to enjoy a Good Lamb Shank, I can definitely recommend this to try.
My first time eating this Famous Dessert, what I particularly liked is how not Overly Sweet it tasted even though its a Sugar-Based Dessert. The Mixture of the Different Textures was Delightful and I can totally understand why this Particular Dish is Most Highly Raved among Google Reviewers who reviewed this place.
Overall, I have no issues Culinarily with all of the Dishes I ate as they are all made at a High Quality with Effort. These are indeed Very Well Made and there are alot of work that has obviously gone into them.
Having said that, I personally feel the 2 issues that could use some improvement as I mentioned in the Review were:1) I feel it is better to Pre-empt the 30 to 40 Mins Prep Time for the Beef Wellington in their Menu instead of Last Minute inform Customer. For a Atas Level of Restoran, last minute get Customer to suddenly decide on something else after it was ordered felt inconvenienced. ๐ค
2) Now the Head Chef himself was a Very Friendly Chap and Very Welcoming. He was Very Enthusiastic in engaging with me in Conversation (perhaps too Eager) as I found it hard to do review properly when he kept wanting to engage with me in Conversation while I ate. ๐
And when I did want to engage in Conversation with him after the end of the Meal, I was abit miffed when I noticed he was more focused on using his Phone than actually looking me in the Eye to talk to me. ๐ค I'm not trying to find issues, and perhaps it was because it was near Closing Hours.
But for a More Atas Level of Restoran like this, perhaps this could be improved. A Fiercer Customer than me would probably be Much Less Forgiving about this already I reckon. ๐ค I did appreciate he mentioned they are willing to close later if I were to order the Beef Wellington though, so thats really nice.
Issues aside, what I am more concerned is the ๅทๆธ ๆธ feel of this Restaurant even when I was there at a Prime Dinner Time on a Saturday Night. I'll be brutally honest, I'm not sure how long this can sustain. ๐ค (To be fair, I was there 1 Hour to their Closing Time of 9.00pm. They've since changed their Closing Time to 9.30pm I noticed.)
Overall Really Good Culinary Quality from the Dishes I've eaten, and probably one of the Rare Places in JB to eat the Iconic Beef/Steak Tartare Dish or Beef Wellington. I can definitely recommend this place to give it a try if you are looking for a More Higher End Atas Restaurant and are ok with the Prices on their Menu.
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