Saturday, January 31, 2015

Sekeping Victoria @ Victoria Street, Georgetown, Penang.

An extended member of the Sekeping Retreat group, Sekeping Victoria is the group's first "branch" in Penang. The Sekeping brand is famous for its rustic-forestry retreat; similarly, Sekeping Victoria is designed for those who are looking for a quiet escape from the fast and busy city life. Ironically, Sekeping Victoria is located in the heartland of Georgetown- Victoria Street, off the bustling Weld Quay and Beach Street. We were astonished by the rustic interior design, it was an eye-opening experience. Guests can relax and calm their minds amidst trees in this artsy space. Minimal changes were done to this heritage house, Sekeping tries to maintain everything just as it was. Having a relaxing afternoon here is truly a unique experience as compared to those conventional cafes; Sekeping Victoria is also a picturesque place perfect for portraitures. In case you are wondering, a night stay at the rooms (two rooms together) here costs Rm 650 for four person, additional Rm 50 for every additional guest.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Yella Fork @ Chow Thye Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Chow Thye Road, a short slip road off the bustling Burmah Road in the heart of Penang, has been drawing a lot of traffic lately thanks to the cafes and restaurants there. An Aussie-influenced Cafe- Yella Fork,  is one of the latest members to join in. The Chef (who is one of the partners of Yella Fork) has honed her culinary skills in Melbourne, brought some of her proud creations back (their signature Chicken Pie is one of them). Painted in Yellow, the entire cafe cum restaurant exudes a very warm and pleasant atmosphere; same goes to their hospitable attention to guests. Budget watchers will be glad to know that their dishes are reasonably priced. One of the great places to get quality solid food at a well-subsidized price. 

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Friday Evening Poolside Barbecue Buffet Dinner @ The Royale Bintang, Weld Quay, Penang.

Welcome the weekend by treating yourself to a sumptuous meal at one of the new hotels in the heartland of Georgetown- The Royale Bintang. Spaces are very limited in the colonial building but the management managed to have a pool built right beside a restaurant on second floor; and right now, the hotel is rolling out their first Friday Evening Poolside Barbecue Buffet Dinner. Choices are aplenty though not as extensive as some establishments in town but this particular buffet theme is definitely well-designed for meat lovers.

Friday Night Poolside Barbecue Buffet Dinner:
Price: Rm 83+ (adults); Rm 40+ (senior citizen and children).
Time: 7 pm to 10 pm; available on every Friday. *available until the end of March 2015*
Venue: Poolside on Level 2

Many Thanks to Royale Bintang for hosting us that evening.


Monday, January 26, 2015

Hainanese Afternoon Tea (Kong Thai Lai Coffee House) @ Hutton Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

Many would drive past this old rustic Coffee House along Hutton Lane, not knowing its one of the Coffee Houses frequently visited by the Millionaires and Billionaires in Penang. Step in Kong Thai Lai and you will be enveloped in a time portal, instantly teleporting you back to those older days. The Coffee House is beautifully preserved; guests seemed to enjoy their cup of Joe quietly reading newspaper while some happily discussed on the current issues happening in the country. Time appears to be slowed down in that space. One of the few places that is still preserving the unique Penang-retro vibe. Kong Thai Lai Coffee House is a stone's throw distance away from the multi-storey car park along Hutton Lane, opposite to Eden Restaurant.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Qian Wei La Steamboat (左麻右辣) @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

The fast-deveoping town- Bukit Mertajam has seen many new eateries sprung up lately; Qian Wei La is one of the few eateries that received huge attention from the crowd recently. The aforementioned establishment is a newly opened Steamboat restaurant; it has the right setting- clean, brightly-lit, air-conditioned, good ventilation system, built-in induction cooker and ample parking space. They may not have extensive choices but good enough to satiate your Steamboat craving, as well as your lust to BBQ Meat. Steamboat sets are available as low as Rm 18 nett. A great place for your communal dining experience with your friends and family members. Qian Wei La can be found right opposite to "Taman Gemilang" food court (新时代), near Jalan Song Ban Kheng, Bukit Mertajam.

Many Thanks to Qian Wei La for hosting us that afternoon.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

The Cream & Fudge Factory @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

The Cream & Fudge Factory is a new Ice Cream Parlour that joins the clamouring crowd at the al-fresco area between Gurney Plaza and G Hotel. It is certainly a delightful addition to the mall as shoppers get to stretch their shopping legs while enjoying a scoop of icy cold Ice Cream to counter the sweltering tropical heat in Penang. It does not have a glamorous set up, just like any Ice Cream parlour in the malls- a simple displaying fridge with a couple of tables and some chairs. With 16 flavors in total, one could take some time to decide on what to order (though they do not come cheap), a place where Ice Cream aficionados would not want to miss. 

Monday, January 19, 2015

DRIP Cafe @ Prangin Terrace, Georgetown, Penang.

**DRIP Cafe has since ceased its business operation.**

A new tenant at Prangin Terrace- named DRIP Cafe, an abbreviation of Diversity Re:boot Installation Project. The cafe adopts Japanese-Western influenced style, evidently seen from their small menu; featuring signature dishes like Corn Cream Pasta, Japanese Curry Rice and Mashed Potato with Cheese and Streaky Beef. These are all they have, for mains. Desserts were also introduced to us with aplomb, enthusiastically suggesting us to go for their Rare Cheese Cake and Lemon Yogurt. The place is clean and brightly lit, comfortable seating with ample space in between. On the second floor, there is a small area dedicated to live band performance, interested parties could have a look on their Facebook Page. A quiet, comfortable and pleasant cafe for you to spend your leisure afternoon or to satisfy your reading pleasure.

Friday, January 16, 2015

D' Fat Mona Lisa @ Free School Road, Jelutong, Penang.

It's easy to increase a pound or two, especially with so many wonderful delicacies around us here in Penang but unfortunately, that makes no exception for the most-celebrated painting- Mona Lisa as well. The exaggerated Mona Lisa depicts a sense of humor, where the team seeks to create a fun space for coffee lovers to mingle. The ambiance is somewhat unique, probably larger in space, together with the comfy couches, they exude the warmth of home. Menu is simple and minimalist- the usual cafe fare but one of the dishes did manage to impress me. D' Fat Mona Lisa is housed within a bungalow situated along Free School Road, opposite to the famous Banana Fritter stall. Ample parking space is available too.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Kuih Nyonya Moh Teng Pheow @ Jalan Masjid, Georgetown, Penang.

Located at one end of a quiet alley- Jalan Masjid, off Chulia Street, is a famous old-school Kuih Factory named Moh Teng Pheow. The place is famous for dishing out fresh home-made Nyonya Kuih. The 60 year old- Kuih Factory had a minor refurbishment recently, turning a corner of the place into a cozy, presentable "canteen". Step in the place and you will be welcomed by a warm, homely atmosphere with retro bric-a-brac. The entrance may seem unappealing, walk in and you will find yourself in a living museum, demonstrating the entire kuih-making process using utensils from the past. The retro vibes of the cafe, are boosted by the mismatched bits of antiques and vintage pieces. Moh Teng Pheow offers a small menu, but the team is dedicated to offer their best. To find Moh Teng Pheow, locate Sky Hotel at Chulia Street, a stone's throw distance away from Yeng Keng Hotel and walk straight into the alley (Jalan Masjid). You should be able to find the place right in front of you shortly.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Downtown Art Heritage Cafe @ Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, Georgetown, Penang.

Downtown Art Heritage Cafe is no longer new, I espied the place some time ago when I was in the vicinity. The seemingly quiet and curious cafe is a subsidiary of SOJU group, offering an Asian-inspired menu that defies convention. It does not offer the ubiquitous Aglio Olio, Egg Ben but rather, something unique with their own delightful personal touches. The strategic location makes Downtown Art Heritage Cafe highly visible, it takes the prominent corner lot of Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, right next to the touristy Armenian Street. A great place to enjoy a meal and rest your legs while visiting the forever-bustling Armenian street.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Koay Teow Th'ng @ Fook Cheow Coffee House, Hutton Lane, Georgetown, Penang.

"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast"- John Gunther, an English designer. "Most Penangites have our favorite spots for breakfast but where would you recommend me for a bowl of good Koay Teow Th'ng?" The question was posed and one of the few responses received was this Koay Teow Th'ng nestled within Fook Cheow Coffee House along Hutton Lane. Well-established for more than 30 years, this particular stall of Koay Teow Th'ng manned by second generation is fabled for its home-made Fish Balls with a generous serving of shredded Lettuce. Go later than 8 am and you will find it hard to secure a seat at the coffee house, best time to visit will be around 7: 30 am.


 Koay Teow Th'ng (Rm 4.50/ Large)


Home-made Fish Ball Soup (Rm 4)

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Saffron @ Lot 33, Prangin Mall, Penang.

Three new tenants moved into the newly refurbished Lot 33, sub-basement of Atrium B, Prangin Mall. Previously unused sub-basement was given an overhaul and has reopened to the public lately. All of the restaurants are being managed by Cosmic; out of three, two restaurants caught my attention- Pizzaiola and Saffron. The former restaurant is a Pizza-specialist, expect to see a variety of quirky, fun Pizzas; one good example will be Nasi Lemak Pizza. The latter one has a better interior decor- comfortable seats, eclectic mix of colors which exudes a livelier atmosphere. The menu, on the other hand, was somewhat too limited. For mains, diners can only pick either Fish or Chicken, no other options. 

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Hong La Jiao (红辣椒火锅) Restaurant @ Burmah Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Steamboat is no longer an occasional affair for the folks in Penang. The holiday season draws a lot of crowd into Steambaot restaurants in Penang lately, probably they enjoy the joy of fishing around the bottom of sunken treasures together with friends and family. The business at Hong La Jiao (红辣椒火锅) Restaurant was quick and brisk for the past few weeks. We were not surprised, the steamboat establishment offers "rather" authentic Sze Chuan Spicy Steamboat, with a comprehensive menu of steamboat ingredients and condiments. Budget-conscious consumers will be glad to know that the ingredients are reasonably priced. An ideal place for family gathering or just to sate your steamboat cravings. Hong La Jiao is housed within Wisma Wang, right next to Shell Petrol Station and opposite to Pakma Food Court along Burmah Road.


Monday, January 5, 2015

Hit & Run Bistro @ Bishop Street, Georgetown, Penang.

**Hit & Run Bistro has since creased its business operation.**

Hit & Run Bistro is the 6th restaurant/ cafe that joins an already clamouring crowd at Bishop Street; instead of serving the usual artisanal Coffee, Hit & Run serves alcohols and the typical lavish fare at Western restaurant. Prices seem to be a little steep at first sight but they commensurate with the high-quality ingredients. The spacious seating, restful vibe make the place an inviting space for a drink or to chill out with your friends. However, I thought the chairs could be more comfortable, probably chairs with back support will be a better idea. Hit & Run can be found right next to the parking space along Bishop Street, opposite to Coffee Affairs.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Noodle Doodle @ New World Park, Georgetown, Penang.

Another new Thai Boat Noodle establishment has invaded New World Park, drawing a huge crowd to the food court; a result of the continuation of the Boat Noodle-craze. Noodle Doodle occupies a prominent spot at New World Park, within walking distance from the food court and right next to Mizi Bistro (opposite Passion of Kerala). Similarly to its competitor at Summerton, the interior decor is simple and minimalist but Noodle Doodle has a better ventilation system and ample seating space. The menu, however, is quite restricted.


Thai Soup Boat Noodle (Rm 1.90)

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Hinode Udon (日の出) @ Automall, Karpal Singh Drive, Georgetown, Penang.

I have been waiting for an Udon specialist to invade Penang and my wish has finally been answered recently with the opening of Hinode Udon at Automall. This is the Taiwanese brand's first branch in Penang, the operating style is simple- canteen style. Order your preferred noodles and soup bases; proceed with the selection of tempura and various condiments. However, the absence of Zaru Udon upset me, I thought it would be a great joy to savor a bowl of refreshing-cold Zaru Udon but my crave was not granted. Hinode Udon serves soup based- Udon/ Ramen only (sorry to Onigiri fans too). Albeit some hits and misses around, Hinode Udon is definitely one of the few places that you would love to drop by to ease your Udon cravings without putting a dent on your wallet. Hinode Udon is occupying one of the most prominent spots of Automall, right next to Pie Harbor and Coffee Smith.