Monday, November 13, 2017

Viva La Pasta @ iStay Hotel, Rangoon Road, Georgetown, Penang.

With a name like Viva La Pasta, one would expect to see a heavy Italian fare in this newly opened restaurant. It is housed within the new budget hotel- iStay Hotel in the heart of Georgetown. Step in the cafe and you will be pleasantly amazed by how cozy the place is. While every effort was made to ensure the place lives up to the classy Italian theme but we did not think the Italian element was strong enough. In fact, we spotted a wallpaper with Chinese characters. On the menu, it offers quite a wide variety of Italian fare, ranging from Antipasto, Pizza, Pasta, Grills and even classic Italian desserts. Very wallet-friendly price points but as far as authenticity is concerned, we thought the flavors have been localized to suit the local audience. 



Pizza Funghi (Rm 18)


Vongole (Rm 18)


Tiramisu (Rm 14)

If you are on a tight budget, their Rm 19 set lunch (includes a Soup, Main, a glass of Drink and Dessert) may be a good option. When asked for recommendation, the server introduced their Vongole with aplomb. The Linguine was beautifully cooked to al-dente texture served with heaps of Clams and Broccoli. We did not like the Broccoli here, for they were overcooked. The Seafood essence could be bolder and the hint of spiciness can be further enhanced. It was alright but definitely not the best one around. 

All Pizzas come in 8 inches and thin crust, our order of Pizza Funghi consists of thinly sliced Button Mushroom and Garlic with Tomato base. The flavor combo was okay but the earthiness of the Mushrooms was muted, the only relief was the crunchy bite of Garlic. No Italian meal is complete without Tiramisu, Viva La Pasta's version was decent but lacked of the "X" factor; probably we prefer our Tiramisu creamier. It is suggested that the Tiramisu to be shared by 2 diners. 


Ratings:
Taste: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Service: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Price: 7/10 (1-3 expensive, 4-7 average, 8-10 cheap)
Parking: 6/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Ambiance: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)
Pork Free
Service Charge: No
Government Tax: No

Additional Information:
Address: 94 & 96, Jalan Rangoon, 10400, Georgetown, Penang.
Business Hours: 7:30 am to 10:30 pm. Opens Daily.
Contact Number: 604- 226 7618

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