Bacon-sistently se-duck-tive: Naughty Babe Dirty Duck has proven itself to be a prime destination for hearty meat dishes over the past three years, but our latest visit to its Bangsar outpost surprised us with how the restaurant has widened its selection, with everything from seafood to signature cocktails to tempt both new & existing patrons.
Start with the smoky, striking octopus, flown in from Spain, served in a smoldering, vaporous swirl lifted at the table, tender to the chew, flavoursome to the palate, well-executed enough to possibly merit a spot at a Galician table (RM72 for a full tentacle above, or RM38 for half). If you love the nuanced flavours & textures of Spanish fare, you'll very likely relish this.
Other offerings also show evidence of European-inspired finesse: A sampling platter of serrano dry-cured ham, chorizo sausages & other luscious cold cuts, alongside Camembert, Parmesan & blue cheese, plus mixed olives, gherkins, dried apricots & crusty bread, makes for terrific, can't-fail sharing (RM98). Whet the appetite also with a virtuously wholesome duck confit salad with crisp watercress, rocket & curried almond flakes with a zesty honey lime dressing & balsamic reduction (RM26) & vice-loaded, lip-smacking garlic chilli prawns, served tapas-style with mushrooms & a drenching of olive oil (RM26).
Ultimately, most customers come to NBDD for their protein fix, which is where the restaurant shines: First, sample a couple of pork platters, such as the beautifully oven-roasted Iberico spare ribs, aromatic with a gentle herb marinade (RM78), & the chunky-juicy cured ham knuckle with sauerkraut & mildly tangy tomato-tinged mash (RM98, sufficient to feed a table of four) ...
... then lean into the other fleshy highlights, like a robust roulade of duck leg, stuffed with a mince of pork & turkey ham, complemented by spinach mashed potatoes & red wine sauce (RM38), a carnivore's delight of pork tenderloin rolled with sausage meat & wrapped with bacon, completed with pork gravy reduction, tomato mash, dried fruits & nuts (RM52) & Balinese-inspired grilled whole spring chicken with lip-smacking skin, served with a spicy sauce, chips & salad (RM32).
The fun doesn't end there: Desserts exude more than a whiff of playfulness, particularly the Magnum Explosion, a cold-&-hot, eye-catching creation of ice cream dipped in molten chocolate, for a treat that everyone will want to photograph (RM18), & Deconstructed Apple Pie, which assembles a baked apple hollowed out & filled to bursting with mixed nuts & dried fruits in gula melaka & cinnamon sauce, with a side of roti pastry (RM16).
Cocktails will capture the imagination too: Sweet Babe is the house speciality of muddled sugarcane rum, drizzled on pink cotton candy for another camera-worthy indulgence (RM28), while the Pain Killer injects a sense of spirits-lifting thrill with its trifecta of midori, vodka & sweet-&-sour mix, with Tic Tac 'tablet' antidotes on the side (RM28). And for those of us who love wine-based potions, NBDD's wine cooler & classic sangria both hit the spot; bonus fun fact - throughout July, if this is your birthday month, you'll receive a free bottle of wine if you spend at least RM400++ here. Many thanks to NBDD for having us.
Naughty Babe Dirty Duck
42, Jalan 25/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-6211-9966
25, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2288-8188
42, Jalan 25/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-6211-9966
25, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2288-8188
