GOOD EATS WITH HIGH SPIRITS AT D’ATAS BISTRO

Lunch started with a dramatic flair on our maiden visit to the newly opened D’Atas Bistro. Presented in a smoking cloche, the signature D’Atas Whisky Sour (RM40) left us smitten with its tangy, boozy taste with a tinge of smoky peat.

It was a captivating twist to the classic cocktail of John Jameson whiskey, fresh lemon juice, gula melaka syrup and Angostura bitters crowned with frothy egg white and a dried orange slice.

Ladies will adore Fly with Chan (RM38) – an Insta-worthy tipple of shaken gin, raspberry puree, limoncello, lavender syrup, lemon juice and egg white prettied up with edible flowers.

Teetotallers can seek solace in Curry Mama (RM18) – a creamy curry leaf-scented mocktail of coconut milk, coconut puree, and lime juice, with a topping of pineapple juice. Such an inventive and invigorating drink.

D’Atas (literally a contraction of Damansara Uptown in Malay) also serves Toddy (RM12 per glass, RM60 per bottle) – local palm wine sourced and tapped from the restaurant’s own palm trees in Nilai. This rare albeit delightful find tasted mildly sweet and fizzy with faint whiffs of fermented rice.

A refreshing tweak comes in the form of Connor’s Draught Stout & Toddy (RM16). It should go down well with those who prefer to have the palm wine tempering the stout’s inherent bitterness.

 

Made with butter roasted mushroom, the unctuous Cream of Mushroom (RM18) is one of the curtain-raisers here. Overall, I thought it was too peppery but hey, you should be the judge and jury of this popular mainstay.

Smoky and tender Grilled Lamb Skewers (RM20) drizzled with mint-mayo sauce got the thumbs up; the delectably moreish bites, well-spiced and on-point. Hardly surprising then it’s chalked up as one of D’Atas’ crowd-pleasers.

Instead of ho-hum tomato or mushroom bruschetta, D’Atas updates this appetiser with an Asian slant, featuring pan-fried sardines paired with chilli shrimp paste atop crusty slices of French bread.

The Shrimp Paste Sardines Bruschetta (RM11) were rather salty but in a good way; a perfect accompaniment with your favourite ‘poison’ from the bar.

Ikan Masak Lemak & Rice (RM28) stole the show with the boneless seabass fillets immersed in robustly spicy and lemak-rich coconut cream, bird’s eye and green chillies. The zingy-hot gravy together with white rice was a match made in culinary heaven.

Mutton Sub-Monster (RM32) – scrumptious mutton varuval with red onion, tomato, and fresh lettuce slathered with mint-mayo on a slab of crusty French baguette proved another winner in our books.

The thin-crust Kimchi Pizza (RM23) passed muster; the tart and distinctive pickled cabbage kicking the flavour quotient several notches up. A definite appealing option to go with boozy drinks.

Cooked cockles, tofu puffs, long beans, and a hard-boiled egg lend substance to Curry Laksa with Sambal Belacan (RM18). We didn’t fancy the yellow mee but it’s the only noodle option available. The aromatic curry gravy passed muster; a dollop of the sambal helped add greater depth and flavour.

Two grilled housemade beef patties with melted cheese, fried egg, onion rings, sliced tomato and gherkins in-between a sesame bun form the Smoking’ Double Beef Burger (RM33). Unfortunately, our beef patties were overcooked and dry but D'Atas promises this hiccup will be rectified.

Spice and chilli fiends will enjoy Asian Style Chilli Chicken Pasta (RM16) – spaghetti tossed with spicy-hot pan-fried chicken breast with chilli flakes, wild rocket and cherry tomatoes.

Topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce, the Molten Lava Cake (RM18) hit our sweet spot with its airy-light chocolate cake oozing with luscious, melted dark chocolate at its core.

Lighter on the palate is Tri-Crepe Cakes (RM18) – soft, paper-thin crepes filled with a choice of durian, chempedak, blueberry cheese or red velvet sponge and cream. 

In its bid to draw the white collar crowd, D’Atas serves Set Lunch from 12pm – 2.45pm daily. Priced from RM16 upwards, diners can choose from 12 main course options and enjoy free flow of ice lemon tea.

 

Membership is available for regular patrons. Enrolment is easy and benefits await such as 15% discount for food & beverage at D'Atas.

For reservations, call D’Atas Bistro, hp: 010 248 1356. Address: 108G, SS21/39, Damansara Utama 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Business hours: 12 noon – 12 midnight daily

 

SKY-HIGH SOIRÉE EATS AT VOGUE LOUNGE KL

Come for the venue. Stay for the view. Event hosts with lofty ambitions may want to consider Vogue Lounge KL as the haute spot for their next soirée - those 360° views of the city’s skyline alone are bound to take invitees' breath away.

Opened in September 2019, Vogue Lounge is part of the Condé Nast group, with sister Vogue Cafes in Bangkok, Beijing, Shanghai, Istanbul, Porto, and Riyadh. This Kuala Lumpur outpost is the embodiment of the Vogue lifestyle, with the aim of delivering an ultra-chic and sophisticated dining experience through a fashionable, luxe lounge and rooftop bar.

Located on the 38th floor of Menara SUEZCAP, Vogue magazine covers and framed portrait shots flank the walkway leading to its entrance. The dramatically designed interior flaunts a soaring high ceiling, adorned with contemporary teardrop-shaped lightning fixtures.

Wraparound picture windows accord expansive panoramic vistas, while within the main dining area a raised screen platform doubles up as a runway underfoot. Plush banquette seats interspersed with strategic clusters of linen-covered dining tables, creating Insta-worthy nooks and corners.

Besides a sleekly designed cocktail bar and a modern well-stocked wine cellar, there's also a private dining room tucked discreetly away behind the latter that seats up to 12 persons. Even the washrooms ooze glitz and glamour with black & white marble floors and Hollywood vanity mirrors with lights.

At the Rooftop Bar, bartenders perform their mixology magic to enliven the evening. For special events such as weddings, birthday parties, launch events, etc, the Rooftop Garden boasts its own dedicated cocktail bar and seating area. Its top-selling point is the spectacular cityscape especially at dusk once the lights come on.

To complement the informal Rooftop Garden setting, Executive Chef Steve Ariffin is tasked with interpreting modern European and Asian specialities for the Rooftop Sharing Menu.

Among his culinary creations we sampled are Crab Tacos (RM42) featuring Soft Shell Crabs with Kyuri, Tobiko and Spicy Avacado. Beautifully presented, the dainty appetisers are designed for casual dining – meaning you can pick them up without creating a mess. We like the co-mingling of soft and crunchy textures and of bold, vivid flavours.

The main course we tried was Roasted Whole Seabass (RM98) stuffed with Lemon & Dill. Complemented with Garlic Aioli, the fish’s natural sweetness is amplified by the tart and herbal accents. The smoky overtone was more discernible once we anointed it with some garlic aioli.

Moreish wedge-cut Truffle Fries (RM28) makes a compatible pairing with your fave tipples. Adorned with a sprinkling of grated cheese and truffle oil, the danger lies in their addictiveness so be forewarned.

 

Simple yet endearing, the rustic Mushroom Risotto (RM32) beguiled us with its no-nonsense ‘less is more’ approach reminiscent of hearth and home. We relished the fungi’s plumpness and rich umami flavour juxtaposed against the soft tender grains, on our palate.

A 'pretty-as-a-picture' Chocolate Pavlova with Passionfruit Sauce was served as the grand finale. Shaped like a mini clump of wispy cloud, we found its delicate sweetness tempered by slivers 0f strawberry tucked within the confection.

Ours was but one of several Rooftop Sharing Menus available. The venue is eminently ideal for weddings, birthdays, special events and corporate functions designed to impress.

 

In addition to a specially curated drinks list with signature cocktails, champagne selection and fine wines, premium spirits and distinctive beers, the Vogue Lounge team can assist with music and whatever arrangements necessary.

For reservations and more information, call Vogue Lounge Kuala Lumpur, tel: +6 016 8466 552 or +6 03 2771 1530/1531. Address: Level 38, Menara SuezCap 1, KL Gateway, Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur. Website: www.voguelounge.my