There are a few circumstances where I’d be able to afford a meal at the glitzy, glamourous five-star The Ritz Carlton Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
- a) I won the lottery
- b) Media review
And then there’s c) : I got a voucher to dine there, like in this case.
The initial plan was for the Moo and I to enjoy the three-course dinner for two, but we decided at the last minute to bring Pops along, and I’d foot the bill. Dinner was to be at The Library, the hotel’s cosy, lounge-restaurant on the 1st floor. As the name suggests, the main dining area features floor-to-ceiling bookshelves paired with polished timber floors and wood panelling. And yes, you can actually take the books and read them while you’re waiting for dishes to be served!
The lounge area, where patrons can enjoy a live band playing over dinner.
Freshly baked bread with truffle butter and salt was served, then a palate cleanser of yuzu and plum powder jelly. The tart, sour taste and refreshing hint of citrus cleared off any earthiness from the truffle, prepping the tastebuds for the dishes to come.
We were told that the restaurant had just implemented a new menu, with East-meets-West creations crafted by YTL Corporate Executive Chef Wai Look Chow and Austrian Michelin-starred chef Johann Lafer. For appetisers, we had Scallop and Truffle With Egg Mollet Aioli. The scallops were fresh, meaty and sweet with a slight sear, while the truffle sauce was earthy and rich. The egg mollet had great texture – soft but creamy.
Moo opted for the Blue Lobster with Nantua Sauce; made from a Bechamel-sauce base, cream, crayfish butter and crayfish tails. The lobster meat had a firm, springy texture that gave it plenty of bite.
For mains, Moo had the Poulette de Bresse with Goose Liver and Truffle. The liver was extremely rich, with an explosion of fat in the mouth that melts onto the tongue with each bite, without being overly greasy, and the chicken was cooked just right so the meat remained tender and soft.
Pops ordered the Hirame with Crustaceans Sauce, with four slabs of grilled sole topped with a pair of fresh oysters and a side of lobster claw. The sole had a flaky texture which made it quite dry, so good thing there was a sauce to go with it.
My Turbot with Sea Urchin in a light cream sauce was also served with a side of asparagus and potato. Turbot is not a strong tasting fish so the light sauce was just right to bring out the delicate flavours; plus the salty, briny umami of the sea urchin.
Although I’m aware that fine dining portions tend to be small, this wasn’t enough as a main imho.
Wrapping it up with dessert was the Mascarpone with Chocolate and Kahlua. The sweetness of the mascarpone cheese was balanced out by the liqueur’s slight hint of bitterness, which to me was divine because not a big fan of super sweet desserts anyway.
The Abinao Mousseline with Pecan and Vanilla looked too good to be eaten, and was rich, dark and decadent. Wonderful textures as well from the soft, creamy mousse to the crisp tempered chocolate decorations and sponge biscuits.
Our three course dinner for two covered by the voucher was RM500; while Pop’s meal was RM150. I was a little taken aback because I thought water was complimentary and they charged me RM30 for it; cries, so the final bill with service charges etc. came up to RM210.
For those keen on a nice, intimate night out and have the money to splurge, the menu is a nice blend of European and Asian flavours, paired with a classy ambience and top notch service. Reservations are recommended.
THE LIBRARY @ The Ritz Carlton Kuala Lumpur
168, Jalan Imbi, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
- Operation Hours
Two Chefs – One Cuisine at The Library: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Monday to Saturday)
Sunday Roast: 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. (Sunday only)
Menu Du Jour: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Sunday only)
Drinks at The Library: 6 p.m. – 1 a.m. daily
Online reservations here or call 03-2142 8000.
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