THE highly anticipated Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill has finally opened its doors last June, and it has been the talk of the town.
Located at Sunway Resort in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, this is the first 'Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill' that's open outside of London.
Obviously, everyone who's a fan of Gordon Ramsay who is known for his fiery temper and meticulous personality in many cooking reality TV series such as MasterChef and Hell's Kitchen, is excited to dine at this exclusive restaurant by the celebrity chef.
And, to be truly honest, it's really hard to get a table for dinner and you might want to start looking for dates in advance, say… next year?
As luck would have it, we got a lunchtime reservation. Although it doesn't give off the romantic vibe that I'm after, the day-time ambience is rather fabulous too!
EAT
While lunch starts at noon, it is best to come early and kick it off with a glass of fancy mocktails (or cocktails if you prefer) at the glittering cocktail bar.
The restaurant offers a masterly crafted menu of classic favourites such as Hibiscus Mojito, Chilli Margarita and Baileys Espresso Martini.
Wanting something light and refreshing, the Chelsea Royal Garden mocktail is the perfect choice.
It's a delicious mixture of green apple juice, lemon bitters and Lyre's classico non-alcoholic sparkling, garnished with apple foam and a flake of gold leaf on top - very chic!
Adjacent to the cocktail bar, there's a dedicated wine cellar that showcases an extensive global wine list for wine enthusiasts.
Seated, we are first served with a fresh basket of bread with smoked marrow butter.
Then, comes the first on the menu - fresh from the sea. For seafood lovers, the restaurant is famous for its Seafood Tower, served on the unique centrepiece, a giant octopus plate holder.
The cold seafood platter comes with fresh oysters, Boston lobsters, scallop ceviche, king crab legs, prawns and citrus-cured salmon.
For starters, there's the citrus-cured salmon served with smoked yoghurt, kohlrabi and salmon roe, but I would highly recommend the Arnold Bennett twice-baked souffle, which is smoked haddock served with aged cheddar sauce and fine herb salad.
If you can't have beef for mains, the Dover Sole Grenobloise (RM315) served with capers sauce, soft herbs, croutons and beurre noisette is another star pick at the restaurant.
While sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce and ice cream is Ramsay's signature dessert, we are served with Chocolate Tart made of 64% Manjari chocolate and served with honeycomb, yoghurt sorbet and extra virgin olive oil.
PICK
Dining at Gordon Ramsay's wouldn't be complete without trying out the chef's famous Classic Beef Wellington, obviously!
Served gueridon-style, a well-dressed waiter will be serving guests a fresh cut upon request and although it is priced at RM290 a slice, the portion is quite generous.
If you don't already know, the dish consists of the best beef fillet of the loin primal, mainly a thick tenderloin baked in pastry dough - but oh, the culinary team seems to master it all too well!
Served medium doneness, the meat is very lean yet juicy, and perfectly seasoned. It is wrapped in layers of duxelles (mushroom stuffings) and puff pastry on the outside that looks incredible as it tastes - crispy and soft!
On the sides, there's green salad and the creamiest pomme puree (mashed potato) that really compliments the dish.
There's also the red wine jus that is said to go well with the Beef Wellington but even without the jus, the dish still tastes as good.
The restaurant does not serve pork at all, and all meat in the menu is sourced from halal-certified suppliers.
MOOD
Gold and black marble definitely makes an elegant statement at the entrance of the restaurant, but the interior wows me even more.
A huge black and white portrait of the man himself hanged on the wall at the first part of the restaurant is almost welcoming.
The interior design features robust furnishings with a rich red and forest green colour scheme accentuated by polished walnut hardwood flooring, brass finishes, 24 karat gold leaf hand-placed ceiling and more.
The restaurant can seat up to 150 guests at a time and there are three private dining rooms which are named after London's most cosmopolitan districts - 12 Chelsea (seats from 10 to 12 guests), 10 Soho (seats 10 guests) and 8 Mayfair (seats 8 guests).
I'm seated at one of the best spots at the restaurant, a booth seating with iconic works of British icons taken by celebrated photographers such as Terry O'Neill and Arthur Steel in the background.
VERDICT
SERVICE Living up to expectations, the restaurant which features an exquisite menu inspired by Savoy Grill, Ramsay's iconic restaurant located in London, serves only the finest ingredients presented with culinary flair by the celebrity chef's highly-skilled team.
And, yes, it is pricey! I mean, it is… an upscale restaurant by a very famous celebrity chef, located at a five-star hotel. You pay not only for the meals, but also for the impeccable service.
I'd say, it's a perfect venue for a memorable dining experience with your loved ones such as an intimate birthday or anniversary dinner, as well as a romantic proposal surprise.
I SAY Is it worth the hype? Well… it's definitely worth the wait. It is likely that the restaurant will be fully booked for the next few months, especially for dinner. So, don't wait to make your reservations.
FAST FACTS
Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill
Sunway Resort, Persiaran Lagoon, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor
TEL 03 7492 8000
WEBSITE www.sunwayhotels.com/sunway-resort/dining/gordon-ramsay-bar-and-grill
EMAIL gordonramsay.rsvp@sunwayhotels.com
HOURS The Lounge & The Bar opens from 10am-11pm, Noon-3pm (Lunch), 5pm-10.30pm (Dinner) daily.
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