Mid Summer Love 仲夏之恋 @ Macalister Road, Georgetown, Penang.

A place to cool off amidst the sultry tropical heat- Mid Summer Love 仲夏之恋 is one of the latest spots in town offering icy cool sweet treats. The cafe specializes in offering Taiwanese-styled shaved ice; while it does not carry a very big menu (no mains at all), the shaved ice options cover both traditional and fruity flavors. Price points are slightly steep but the serving portion for one shaved ice is usually good enough for 2 diners. Seats are limited, especially with the social distancing rule in place, the waiting time can be a little longer during its soft opening stage. 

Pinwheel Resto Cafe @ Chulia Street, Georgetown, Penang.

It's easy to notice Pinwheel Resto Cafe... for its modern exterior in a heritage building along the bustling Chulia Street (next to the open space car park). But it does not suggest much, only its name and perhaps, chic interior from afar. The cafe offers a small Western menu with some Asian elements blended in... as well as some dessert choices. While we do enjoy the relaxed and casual atmosphere at Pinwheel, we found the menu to be on the weaker side... the offering seemed too ordinary for us to remember, though the food quality was alright. 

The Durian Tree Bistro @ Tropics Eight Suites, Georgetown, Penang.

The Durian Tree Bistro has got no relationship with Durians at all, the newly opened restaurant at Tropics Eight Suites is related to Duesey Coffee. The place is hard to notice from far but once you are near the entrance to Tropic Eight Suites, you will find this restaurant right next to the main entrance. The place has a classy, sophisticated setting... with various seating options- bar chair and table, sofa or the usual dining table. Menu-wise, it has a Western menu with quite a number of familiar dishes- from pasta to meat dishes... and affordability seems to be one of the strengths. If you don't mind the slightly smaller portion, this is a comfortable and quiet place for a casual Western meal. 

Citarasa Dadi Dada Cafe @ Lebuh Clarke, Georgetown, Penang.

Citarasa Dadi Dada Cafe is one of the latest cozy spots in town for a classic, sweat-inducing traditional Malay meal. Tucked away in one of the shop houses along Lebuh Clarke, Citarasa Dadi Dada Cafe offers a traditional Malay menu featuring many classics; some of the signature dishes include Mee Udang, Mee Jawa, Nasi Goreng and Nasi Campur etc. The place is not fully air-conditioned but the dining hall is well-equipped with fans and has good ventilation system. Most of the dishes are priced slightly above Rm 10 but they offer great return in value as most of the dishes are served in generous portion. A convenient spot to drop by for a quick fix over classic Malay food. 

Banana Beer Hauz @ Banana Boutique Hotel, Chulia Street, Penang.

Housed in one of the stately mansions in Georgetown, Banana Beer Hauz is the only restaurant found in Banana Boutique Hotel. It is easy to spot the boutique hotel but it is not a place that people would associate it with food. The exterior may seem overly simple but step in the place and you will be amazed by the beauty of old heritage design, gorgeously preserved from the past. You will be escorted to the main dining hall which has some basic tables and chairs. There's also a pond right in front of the dining area, bigger groups may request to take the private rooms (plenty of them) at the side. One would expect Nyonya or Western dishes here but the menu features quite a range of local delights- from Mee Udang to Hokkien Mee or Thai-styled noodles as well as various stir fries. Seafood is one of the key highlights here but fret not, items are reasonably priced here. The place also serves alcohols and could be a nice place for your evening chill outs.

Rempah 百分料理 @ Beach Street, Georgetown, Penang.

The name "Rempah" (refers to spices in English) gives an impression that the dishes will be heavily spiced. True enough, it is well-reflected and presented in every single dish. While the name gives you a rough idea on the dishes, it does not paint a clear picture on what type of food they are serving. Both the exterior and interior does not indicate much either. Rempah 百分料理 is in fact a restaurant serving a modern Nyonya menu- bold Nyonya characteristics can still be seen in their dishes but probably presented in a more creative manner. The purists might not be able to agree on what they are doing but the quality and consistent is definitely there. The price points are slightly above average here but in return, expect to enjoy a delicious meal full of surprises in a sophisticated, elegantly designed space. 

Pitaya By Juice Code @ Chulia Street, Georgetown, Penang.

Previously located at Beach Street, Juice Code has since relocated to Chulia Street and renamed as Pitaya By Juice Code. They have also expanded the food menu, offering more food and beverage options. Found at the junction to Chulia Street and Seck Chuan Lane, Pitaya has a narrow entrance, the seating arrangement is a little snug on ground floor but its more spacious on the upper floor. The indecisive would have a hard time in choosing what to order from the exhaustive list, the food menu covers from Brunch items to Pasta dishes... Pancakes, Waffles, Desserts and even Smoothie Bowls. Mid range price points but the serving portion is definitely more than generous. 

Fatkidz Patisserie @ Jalan Samak, Georgetown, Penang.

Fatkidz Pattiserie is probably one of the most hidden patisseries in Penang- tucked away from the bustling Dato Keramat, Fatkidz Pattiserie is well-hidden in one of the units at Medan Ria, a medium-low cost apartment behind Starview Chinese Restaurant. There are 2 units of dedicated parking lots right in front of the shop, so you will need to drive in to the compound (of Medan Ria). Once you have entered Medan Ria, Fatkidz Pattiserie can be seen on your right. From outside, it does not paint a picture on what the place could possibly offer but once you stepped in, you will be welcomed by a range of attractively-looking pastries and desserts. Seating space is rather limited and may not be too accommodating for larger groups. Nevertheless, a spot worth dropping by especially if you do love a piece of delicious cake or some buttery pastries. 

Sin Boon Kee Coffee Concept Store 新文记咖啡 @ Jelutong, Penang.

Said to be one of the oldest Coffee brands in Penang, Sin Boon Kee Coffee 新文记咖啡 has come a long since its humble beginnings in the 1940's. The brand first started as a local Coffee manufacturer and has recently open up a new concept store that allows customers to dine-in and have a sip on their cup of Joe. The concept store is a stone's throw distance away from their coffee factory at Jelutong (adjacent to Straits Garden). Apart from offering their signature Coffee, the place also churns out delicious Nasi Lemak and Hainanese Toasts as well as some local Chinese delights. A worth-checking out place if you do enjoy the Coffee-Hainanese Toast combo.

Kueh By Bibik's Kitchen @ Lebuh Clarke, Georgetown, Penang.

A new venture by the Bibik Nyonya Kitchen team- Kueh, can be found at one of the shop lots along Lebuh Clarke. The new venture has a slightly different offering... focussing on Kuihs, Snacks and some Peranakan delights uncommonly found in restaurants. During the soft-opening period, the menu is fairly small and more items will be introduced across time (only a couple of mains available for now). The place has a limited seating on ground floor but more spaces available on upper floor; step in the place and you will find a display rack presenting the Kuihs available for the day. There is no printed menu for mains and for now, they only offer Nyonya Kerabu Bee Hoon and Lam Mee... with Nasi Kerabu available only on weekends. A worth-checking out spot if you love some good Nyonya Kuih and Kerabu Bee Hoon.

Dear You Cafe @ Penang Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Probably the hippest cafe in town- Dear You Cafe appeals to cafe hoppers from its eye-pleasing, pinkish modern-chic interior decor. In addition to that, the pull factors of this place probably include the joy of discovering the place from their hidden location (like a speakeasy cafe if there's a term for this) and the aesthetically attractive food offering (well platted using colorful elements). The menu is rather small- with a few choices of fixed packages suitable for 2 diners and above... along with some ala-carte sweet treats. Prices can be quite steep considering the portion but the place is more about the dining experience than absolute taste. To find Dear You Cafe, make your way to the open space public car park right next to Komtar Walk, the cafe is within walking entrance from the car park entrance/ barrier. 

Hong Kong Kitchen @ Krystal Point, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Another option for Muslim diners to fight the struggle of finding a pork-free Dim Sum joint in Penang- the new comer Hong Kong Kitchen offers a pork-free Dim Sum menu. Found at Krystal Point Bayan Baru, the name Hong Kong Kitchen may paint a picture of Hong Kong Cha Chan Teng but in actual fact, it is a Dim Sum restaurant offering many Dim Sum dishes familiar to Malaysians. The choices might not be as extensive compared to some Dim Sum joints, but the variety is more than sufficient- solid selections such as Har Kaw, Siew Mai, Fish Balls are available.  The dining space is welcoming and could accommodate big dining groups... suitable for family eat out or casual meet up over breakfast.

Passion Restaurant @ Argyll Road, Georgetown, Penang.

The space previously occupied by Arte at Argyll Road is now taken over by the management team from Club J Restaurant, an expansion plan from their existing business. The place retains its sophisticated charm with beautiful art creations still around but Passion (the name for this place) seeks to offer something different than its sister restaurant Club J. Diners can now enjoy their meals at a place with completely different ambiance. Group diners (of 10 pax and above) may make advance booking for the private space on 1st floor to enjoy better privacy and complimentary usage of karaoke system (with visuals). The change to the menu is minimal, with a few dishes exclusively to Passion; the wine list however, remains unchanged. There are set menus available, which offer better values in return; diners may opt for ala-carte with better flexibility. Excellent consistency in food quality, full of surprise-menu, attentive service are some of the great reasons why you should put this place on your radar. 

Many Thanks to Passion Restaurant for hosting us.

[Main] Japan Wagyu A5 Sirloin (Market Price/ Requires Booking)

[Main] New Duo Prawns- Thai Style and Cheese Baked (Rm 140 ala-carte/ Rm 225 set dinner)

[Side] Homemade Mashed Potato served over Black Olive Mayo

[Amuse Bouche] Salmon Croquette

[Appetizer] Smoked Salmon Salad

[Appetizer] Mushroom and Duck Salad

[Soup] Chicken Soup with Chicken Ricotta Cheese Ravioli and Bacon

[Pre-Main] Pan Seared Hokkaido Sashimi Grade Scallop

[Pre-Main] Foie Gras on Fruit Compote (Rm 58 ala-carte/ top up Rm 15 for set dinner)

[Dessert] Tiramisu 

With prices from Rm 145, Passion's set dinner features 5-course menu... from starter to soup, pre-main, main and dessert. Diners may opt to top up a little to go for more premium options. Each 5-course set dinner shall start with a serving of Amuse Bouche and may vary each time. The Salmon Croquette (an Amuse Bouche of Passion) is deep fried in sphere shape with chunks of Salmon and served with Honey Mustard for the touch of sweetness as well as Japanese Seaweed for the crunch. For appetizers, there are 2 variants available- Smoked Salmon Salad and Mushroom and Duck Salad; both are dressed in the same sour-sweet citrus dressing but the former choice offers a smokier touch while the latter one has an earthy flavor with meaty texture.  

Continuing the feast is a serving of their home made Soup- Chicken Soup with Chicken Ricotta Cheese Ravioli and Bacon, served with a piece of warm, crusty Ciabatta. The Chicken Soup is creamy but not overly so, just thick and rich enough to cling onto the Ravioli. Moving on to the Pre-Main, the Pan Seared Hokkaido Sashimi Grade Scallop is one of the default options available with no additional top up. It has a couple of carefully seared Hokkaido Scallops served with Konjac Noodles with Thai Sauce. The combination may seem awkward at first but start with the luscious Hokkaido Scallops and end with the crunchy, bouncy Konjac Noodles with spicy-acidic sauce would set your appetite for the main. To add a little luxurious touch to your set dinner, go for the Foie Gras on Fruit Compote... generous portion of Foie Gras served with Fruit Compote, a classic interpretation of Foie Gras works with fruity, refreshing elements to cut through the creamy fats. 

Moving on to the mains- Japan Wagyu A5 Sirloin and New Duo Prawns- Thai Style and Cheese Baked are some of the highlights. The Japan Wagyu A5 Sirloin is seasonal and subject to availability. The well marbled Sirloin is carefully seared on the outer layer, locking the juices within. Minimal seasoning is required and a touch of salt is more than sufficient. With the pockets of fats in the Sirloin, the texture is soft, juicy and basically just melts in the mouth in a jiffy. For Prawn lovers, the New Duo Prawns is a must-try. Presenting the gigantic Prawns in 2 ways- one is to be grilled, served with Thai sauce; and another to be baked with cheese. Both are equally delicious in its own ways- how could fresh, succulent gigantic Prawns could possibly go wrong? All mains are to be served with a side of home made mashed Potatoes. The set dinner is concluded with a serving of dessert, either Tiramisu or Creme Brulee. The Tiramisu is served with a scoop of Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream. 

Additional Information:
Non-Halal

Service Charge: Yes 10%

Government Tax: No

Address: 25, Argyll Road, 10050, Georgetown, Penang.

Business Hours: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, 6 pm to 10 pm. Closed on Tuesdays.

Contact Number: 6017- 257 0173

Passion Restaurant Facebook Page