Being an island city with close proximity to the sea, Penang boasts over an abundance supply of fresh treasure from the sea. Grilled Fish or Seafood is one of the most common items found in most hawker centers but it is certainly not a common item in cafes. The name- Mermaid Cafe that sells Grilled Fish (Ikan Bakar) does suggest cannibalism but let's forget about the name. Once you have stepped in the cafe, you will find yourself in a clinically clean, neat space with proper setup. The cafe is manned by Alex, a Malaysian talent returned from Singapore; the menu was devised using the family recipe, particularly on the Ikan Bakar Sambal. But it has evolved far beyond the classic Malaysian Grilled Fish... with more modern options available. Though the menu is pretty much fish-focused, there are other worth-savoring side dishes as well as desserts.
Many Thanks to The Mermaid Cafe for hosting us that day.
Grouper Steak with Home-made Pesto Sauce and served with Mashed Potato and Corn Niblets (Rm 48/ 180-200 grams)
The Mermaid's Signature Stingray (Rm 22 for 180-200 grams)/ White Rice (Rm 1)
Boxing Chicken- seasoned with Salt and Pepper (Rm 8)
The Mermaid's Signature Stingray has bold flavors and might be a little overly bold on its own but perfectly well over a spoon of Rice. The edges were carefully grilled to a crisp while the inner flesh remains its moist. Any order with the Signature Stingray will be served with a portion of the quintessential refreshing Chili dip. It was good but we were not blown away. For a Western-twist, we had Grouper Steak with Home-made Pesto Sauce and it was served with Mashed Potato and Corn Niblets. The thickly cut Fish possessed the most satisfying meaty-bite but the Pesto Sauce was a little too heavy on the seasoning... it would be better if they could reduce the salinity. If you are neither a fan of the old-school Sambal sauce nor the vegetal Pesto, you may opt for Garlic Butter... which will be served with Wedges and Salad.
Fruity Lemon Grass Jelly (Rm 12)
Jack 1984 (Rm 12)
For desserts, we had Fruity Lemon Grass Jelly and Jack 1984; the former choice offered a more refreshing dimension with its icy cold, slight acidic nature while the latter option was creamier, sweeter and probably more tummy-filling. Both were equally great and carefully sweetened.
Sauces- Garlic Butter/ Home-made Pesto Sauce/ Signature Sambal Chili Paste
Additional Information:
Pork-Free
WiFi-Available
WiFi-Available
Service Charge: Yes 10%
Government Tax: No
Address: No. 86 B&C, Lorong Macalister, 10400, Georgetown, Penang.
Business Hours: 12 pm to 9 pm. Closed on Mondays.
Contact Number: 604- 227 0139
I imagine a mermaid being bakar-ed and served... LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteThat first pic has my mouth watering.
ReplyDeleteAtas version of ikan bakar :P
ReplyDeletesuper delicious, like that taste so much... yum yum
ReplyDelete