ROASTED MAY SIZZLES AT SUBSTANCE

‘Buy 1 Free 1’. Isn’t this music to your ears? Especially when the irresistible deal is for the All-You-Can-Eat Roasted Buffet this May at Substance all-day dining restaurant, Courtyard by Marriott KL South.

Expect a well-balanced, expansive buffet spread highlighting splendid roasts, meat and vegetables alike, to feed you well and succeed at it too. Headliners of Roast Lamb and Chicken are amply supported by roasted pumpkin, sweet potatoes, eggplant and capsicums, alongside crispy fried potato wedges.

We enjoyed savouring the rosemary-scented roast lamb and juicy chicken, made memorable by the house Peri-Peri sauce – it’s unapologetically fiery and perfect for those who like sauces with bite.

Get the dining party started with King Neptune’s ransom of Seafood Appetisers: freshly shucked oysters and a trio of sashimi along with poached prawns, flower crabs and mussels.

Salad days never look better than fresh options like Smoked Duck Salad with Orange (smoky, subtly briny duck breast slices mellowed by wedges of orangey brightness atop mixed greens), tuna-flecked Salad Nicoise, Pasta Salad, and DIY Gado-gado (blanched long beans, beansprouts, cabbage and diced fried beancurd dressed with peanut sauce) among others.

Smoked Salmon, Assorted Nigiri and Maki Sushi, and little bowls of Soba Noodles with hot and cold broth jazz up the spread with vibrant colours and textural variety.

 

Also flexing some serious muscle are notable hot dishes such as the deeply flavourful Asam Pedas Oxtail (think lip-smacking chunks of oxtail falling apart at the bone), Balitong Masak Lemak (little horn shells in tantalising chilli and turmeric-based gravy), Sweet & Spicy Prawns and a not-too-shabby Beef Rendang.

Don’t pass up on the Curry Mee either. Lemak-rich santan broth nuanced with aromatic, rounded rempah (spices) make this noodle dish sing.

Fluffy Green Peas Rice serves as the ideal canvas to embrace all those delicate, comforting flavours of Braised Lamb with Radish and Carrots, restorative Steamed Herbal Chicken with Minced Ginger and homey Braised Chicken in Sesame Oil.

Other gems worth the calories: Baked Oysters with Spinach and Cheese and Chinese Fried Rice with tiny silverfish for that subtle crunch. Over at the Indian corner, creamy-rich and well-spiced Chicken Makhani coupled with Idli and Samosa ensure a strong showing.

 

Sweet endings range from assorted Nyonya Kuih, Sweet Wheat Porridge, Fresh Fruits, dainty slices of Carrot, Red Velvet and Cheese Cake, Chocolate Eclairs and two types of Fruit Jelly.

Verdict? The Roasted May promotion is varied enough, locally grounded, and boldly cranks up the flavour when it counts whether it's a power lunch or a laid-back dinner.

Available for Saturday & Sunday Lunch from 12.30pm - 3pm at RM138 nett per Adult, RM98 nett per Senior Citizen and RM69 nett per Child and Thursday to Sunday Dinner from 6.30pm - 11pm at RM158 nett per Adult, RM108 nett per Senior Citizen and RM79 nett per Child.

For more information and reservations at Susbtance (Level 3), Courtyard by Marriott Kuala Lumpur South, please WhatsApp: +603 8682 8898.

Cheers to 137 Bar

Hidden gem of a bar is a compelling pitstop post-dinner. Tucked away up a flight of stairs just beyond the cosy setting of Courtyard Lounge, 137 Bar should be your port of call, for drinks and chill-out session.

 

Fronted by a contemporary bar with backlit drinks display, 137 Bar is tastefully furnished with mellow lighting, cushy armchairs and a secluded nook for small parties who desire some privacy. The décor is sleek bordering on minimalist.

Cocktails abound, imaginative with local twists cleverly included. The friendly mixologist rustles up a curated selection for our sampling, starting with KL South Sling.

It’s house-infused lemongrass syrup with Absolut Vodka, pineapple juice, lime juice, fresh pineapple slice, lychee fruit, grenadine, and a dash of Angostura bitters – a pleasantly bright and vibrant notes on the palate.

My fave has to be Assam-boi Mojito – an invigorating blend of Bacardi Rum with salted prune infused syrup, lime, mint leaves, and soda. Superbly refreshing and cleansing.

Tea fans will love Teh Tarik Twist – a grown-up version of brewed local black tea laced with spice-infused rum, condensed milk, cardamom, and cinnamon stick. Irresistibly potent so go easy on this.

Blending classic cocktail with local coffee gives rise to Kopi O – White Russian; mixing Absolut Vodka and Kahlúa with condensed milk, strong local black coffee, and coffee beans.

It’s only befitting local fresh coconut takes centrestage, to create a beach-worthy Coco-Mojito. Here, fresh coconut is married with Nusa Caña Rum, lime syrup, mint leaves, and fresh coconut water. Panacea for our sweltering weather yo.

Ginger loving drinkers will enjoy Twice As Nice at 137: an ingenious concoction of ginger-infused rum, sliced ginger, lemongrass, calamansi lime and orange curaçao, with a dash of Angostura bitters.

Bar 137 should be your port of call when visiting Courtyard by Marriott KL South, be it for personal or corporate entertaining purpose. The cool laidback vibes is perfect for date nights, convivial gatherings and casual way to welcome the weekend. 

 

ATLANTIS DIVES INTO FEASTS FOR GENERATIONS

Designed to serve a familial clan of up to 20 persons, the Generation of Jubilation set menu (RM4,388++) by Atlantis Seafood Restaurant & Bar is more than a lavish banquet — it’s a celebration of legacy, family bonds and specialities that balances between tradition and indulgence.

 

The opening salvo of Forever Grateful Platter featuring a quartet of starters: Deep Fried Lychee Shrimp Balls, Salt & Pepper Abalone, Crispy Scallops with Wasabi and Mayonnaise, and Braised Fish Roe Prosperity Bag, is richly infused with symbolism.  

Coated in puffed rice crisps, the lychee-shaped shrimp balls deliver a satisfying crunch with subtle sweetness, playing on contrasts of texture and flavour. Ebikko and wasabi mayo lend the Crispy Scallop a lightly creamy touch with the fresh punchy spiciness of wasabi.

Translucent, eggy sauce enhances the Braised Fish Roe Prosperity Bag – a beancurd skin pouch stuffed with fish roe-accented fish paste shines the light on subtler tastes and delicate textures. Sheathed in deep-fried batter, the Salt and Pepper Abalone teases the tastebuds with its toothsome texture and mildly briny nuance.

A soulful clear broth packed with meaty chicken, chicken feet, cep mushroom and the ethically controversial shark’s fin in the Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Shark’s Fin underscores the menu’s adherence to classic banquet fare. A dish to evoke nostalgia and the weight of old-school tradition.

Choi poh or preserved radish adds comfortingly earthy depth to Steamed Soon Hock with Preserved Radish. 

Steamed to just right doneness, the dish is a masterclass in Cantonese technique. Dried shrimp and chopped bird’s eye chillies dial up the flavour dimension further.

Rich and decadent, the Baked Canadian Oyster with Black Truffle and Cheese should appeal to the young and young-at-heart.

The Double-Delight Crispy Chicken lives up to its name with chicken prepared two ways: deep-fried bite-size chicken coated with mayo, and well-rendered chicken skin stuffed with prawn-fish paste and almond flakes.

 

Whilst the former is underwhelming for me, the latter – a mainstay from yesteryear banquet – wins the day. Special mention must be made of the accompanying pickled cherry; the tangy-salty-sweetness is marvellous for alleviating any cloying richness.

More Cantonese influences appear in the Stir-Fried Australian Scallops with Truffle and Mixed Vegetables, highlighting a refreshing balance of clear, distinct accents to the overall meal.

 

For a hearty finale, the Longevity Egg Noodles with Three Shredded Meats offer is a perennial trans-generational favourite. Loaded with beansprouts, shredded chicken and mushroom, the saucy noodles will leave everyone replete.

 

Dessert to sweeten the occasion consists of cool, gelatinous, and subtly sweet Double-Boiled Hasma with Peach Gum and Red Dates, paired with fluffy soft Longevity Peach Buns—a nod to good health and long life. Perfect for rounding off the meal with such splendid treats.

Overall, the Generation of Jubilation is a well-crafted menu that is cohesive and celebratory—perfect for marking milestones with loved ones.

Guests who pre-book the two set menus: Generation of Jubilation (RM4,388++ for 20 persons) and Generation of Joy (RM1,788++ for 10 persons; RM1,248++ for 6 persons) will receive a complimentary family portrait to commemorate the occasion.

Exclusive for Jom Makan Life readers: Quote MD02 to enjoy 5% off the Parents' Day menus with your reservations at Atlantis.

For reservations at Atlantis Seafood Restaurant & Bar, please contact: 011-2888 1544. Address: Ground Floor, Life Centre, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.