Specialities from four corners of the world beckon
from Merchants All-Day Dining restaurant at the new Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).
Located on Level 13, this modern and inviting outpost serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and even brunch to both hotel guests and the public daily. Neutral tones reign within: pristine white tiled walls with contemporary light fixtures, rustic communal tables, open kitchens and eye-catching décor evocative of a bustling marketplace form an inviting backdrop for dining, entertaining and relaxing purposes.
Open 6.30am to 10.30 pm (operational time applicable
for various meal sessions), Merchants also has a tastefully furnished private
dining room, available for reservations.
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| Pix courtesy of Crowne Plaza KLCC |
On our maiden visit recently, lunch can be had
from Merchants’ a la carte menu offerings of local classics and international
fusion options. We opted for Gambas Al Ajillo (RM50), Grilled Australian Angus
Beef Burger (RM55) and River Shrimp Curry Noodles (RM60) as there was only two
of us.
Lunch started on a positive note with toasted baguette
slices as the perfect accompaniment for the delicious tiger prawns. Cooked in
olive oil, garlic and chilli flakes, the crustaceans were yummy and tasted even
better when paired with the crusty bread soaking up the robustly flavoured oil.
That appetiser paved the way for the scrumptious
burger. Sandwiched between a sesame seed bun, the juicy mince Angus beef patty
was enhanced by caramelised onion, melted Cheddar cheese, smoked beef slices, sliced
tomato, lettuce and gherkins.
For different taste variations, we tried
sampling the burger with mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and sweet chilli sauces in
miniature bottles on the side. Chopped onion and jalapeno also provided sharp
albeit welcome flavour accents. These condiments worked well with the burger.
Our only complaint was the rather dry thick-cut fries.
If you choose to have the curry noodles, you
can pick either wantan noodles, yellow noodles or rice vermicelli. We preferred
rice vermicelli and it was a good choice to absorb the aromatic spiced broth.
The river shrimp imbued the soup with its rich,
natural sweetness; its meaty texture adding textural appeal to the equation. Varied
textural interest was drawn from the inclusion of chicken, beancurd puffs, long
beans and beansprouts.
We completed our meal with Sago Gula Melaka
(RM25), a pretty creation of moulded large sago pearls complemented by mildly
creamy coconut milk with palm sugar syrup. As desserts go, it passed muster as
we personally prefer the smaller sago pearls for nicer mouthfeel.
To work off our lunch a little, we went on a
quick tour of the hotel, starting from the rainforest-inspired RhymBa
Lobby Lounge & Bar where huddle spots and solo pods accord
guests a nice respite or double up as functional work spaces.
The different room categories were pleasantly
modern and versatile, designed to blend work/life travel needs for productivity
and relaxation. Furnished in neutral tones to suit today’s business and leisure
traveller expectations, each room come with spacious and well-appointed
bathroom, comfy sofa couches, and tactile rainforest element décor.
Up of level 32 we were shown to Le Midi, a modern
brasserie cum bar with expansive views of the city skyline and a speciality
menu of French fusion fare.
Relaxation reaches new heights with the hotel’s
rooftop infinity pool and cutting-edge gym. Also available is a spacious ballroom
and five well-equipped function rooms with all the essential mod-cons.
For more information and
reservations, call Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur City Centre, tel: 03-27828888. Address: No 22, Menara 8 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur.
