KEN HUNTS FOOD: Auction Rooms @ Kimberley Hotel, Jalan Sungai Ujong, Georgetown, Penang.

Monday, March 21, 2016

Auction Rooms @ Kimberley Hotel, Jalan Sungai Ujong, Georgetown, Penang.

Housed in an iconic building along Jalan Sungai Ujong, Auction Rooms is Kimberley Hotel's in-house restaurant. You may not be convinced by its exterior but stepping in the restaurant will change your mind. It has the traditional English elegance with a touch of the modern industrial vibe. It links to Kimberley Hotel, though the restaurant is housed in a heritage house along the same road. On the menu, it has a nice blend of Western elements with an Oriental touch; but prices are far-affordable than those established hotels in town. Auction Rooms can be a picturesque place, the vintage furniture aids in fostering the atmosphere. Kimberley Hotel is just opposite to the famous Yong Pin Dim Sum at Jalan Sungai Ujong.

We got excited like little kids when we saw XO Pasta (Rm 16) on the menu, at least something different for us to try than the conventional Aglio Olio or Carbonara. Angel Hair Pasta was used, evenly tossed with Deep Fried Silver Fish and Anchovies. It carried a hint of spiciness but we were not quite impressed with the dish. We thought it was a tad too sweet to our liking, probably sugar was added to balance the salinity of the Silver Fish and Anchovies. The dish has potential but some refinements are required, some addition of Seafood would be great.

To assuage the guilt of over-indulgence, we decided to try something light and healthy but it turned out that their Roasted Chicken Salad (Rm 18) was a disappointment. The Roasted Chicken was so dry that chewing it becomes wearying task. It was served with the Japanese Sesame Sauce/ Goma Sauce; while we appreciate their generosity for the Chicken strips, we thought they could do a better job in managing the texture right.