Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Crab & Lobster @ Straits Quay, Penang.

The moment you walk in Crab & Lobster, you must be prepared that you are signing up for a messy-mayhem meal. There's no restaurant that serves Seafood in Penang like Crab & Lobster (yet) but the concept has been around for a while- cooked Seafood will be poured on the table and diners will savor the crustaceans using gloved hands so this might not be the ideal place for a romantic date. I have had similar experience once recently during my Medan trip. There are a few packages available but for a start, we'd suggest to go for their economical Shrimp or Crab Feast (with add-ons available). For those with deep pockets could order their imported alcohols on a huge display fridge (around the Rm 25 to Rm 30 mark if you must know) while the Oysters aficionados could go for their range of premium imported fresh Oysters beautifully displayed at the Oyster Bar at one corner of the restaurant. The service provided to us was expert (including recommendation for Oysters) and there is a sense of warm conviviality to the place (there's also an al-fresco dining area that offers Straits Quay's Sea View). If you decide to visit for dinner, advance reservation is recommended. Crab & Lobter is occupying the corner lot at Strais Quay... right next to Aster Spring and few shops away from Healy Macs and Uncle Albert's.



We were handed plastic gloves and urged to put on aprons before we could feast upon Crab Feast (Rm 98)- a Mud Crab, 300 grams of Prawns, 250 grams of Clams, Corns, Sausages and Potatoes; served with their signature sauce with mild spiciness. The sauce was finger-licking good- timeless acidic tomato-based sauce and reasonably spiced without overshadowing the seafood sweetness lies within the crustaceans. The portion was alright but probably best to serve 2 to 3 diners, though extra orders of Steamed Buns or Fries could do the justice.  We believe (unconfirmed though) the Prawns were caught live from their aquarium right next to their Oyster Bar; they were so fresh that every bite was bursting with sweet Seafood juice. All items were expertly cooked and none were overcooked; an uncommon but fun dining experience. 


Irish Tragheanna Bay (Rm 27 for 3)


Gallagher Sprcial (Rm 63 for 3/ from Ireland)

The friendly Oyster Bar that occupies one corner of the restaurant boasts fresh Oysters of all types air flown from European countries- Ireland, Netherlands, France etc. Usually five or more varieties are being beautifully displayed at the fridge and if you are as lucky as us, you will be informed that the Oysters were flown in few hours before your arrival at the restaurant. Crab & Lobster sells their Oysters in a minimum order of 3 pieces with prices ranging from Rm 27 to Rm 63. 

We started with the lowest-priced ones... just-shucked Oysters were elegantly placed on ice and served to us. Tabasco and Lemon slices were provided. The Irish Tragheanna Bay Oysters were small in size but big in flavor. They possessed a reasonable amount of Seawater essence but the texture was smooth and creamy. The umami flavor lingered in the palate even after quite some time. The pristine white body taunted us for another helping but we wanted something else. We then decided to splurge and ordered their most expensive Oysters- Gallagher Sprcial available. They came in relatively larger size than the former type but both the taste and texture were completely different. Gallagher Sprcial was a lot crunchier than Irish Tragheanna Bay, it feels more refreshing and the fishy flavor was less-intense. We were told that it was supposed to be creamier but the three of us did not think so. All in all, our vote for "favorite of the day" goes to Irish Tragheanna Bay. 


Fries (complimentary with every order of the Set)


Garlic Butter Toast (complimentary with every order of the Set)


Ratings:
Taste: 8/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Service: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Price: 6.5/10 (1-3 expensive, 4-7 average, 8-10 cheap)
Parking: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Ambiance: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Non-Halal
Service Charge: Yes 10%
GST: Yes 6%

Additional Information:
Address: Lot 3A-G-7, Ground Floor of Straits Quay, Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, 10470, Tanjung Tokong, Penang.
Business Hours: 12 pm to 12 am. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: 604- 899 2828

Map of Straits Quay Marina Mall

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