By EDKL Writer A.A.
Ask anyone familiar with Sunway Pyramid where they might chill out in the evening, enjoying live music and excellent beverage promotions, and Impressoul Gastrology should rank high on their recommendations. Sleek and stylishly futuristic, this restaurant is a distinctive destination for its decor alone, but its food and drinks deserve consideration too. We visited for lunch when everything was calmer, leaving satisfied with their selection of contemporary fare with Japanese and Korean inflections.
Chef Kenny Chin spearheads the kitchen, whipping up an extensive range of tasty temptations.
Grab a cowhide-covered seat and rustle up some crustacean comfort: The Spicy Crab Salad, mixed with avocado salsa and a ginger dressing, is a pyramid of pleasure, beautifully plated and perfectly balanced in its refreshingly nuanced flavours and textures (RM22), while the Kani Kara-age distinguishes itself by rolling soft-shell crab in deep-fried wantan skin, so you get double the crunch, from both the crab and the wrappers (RM40). You won't go wrong with these two contrasting recipes, the first indulgently luscious, the second addictively crackling.
Testing the freshness of Impressoul's ingredients, the Premium Sashimi Combination passed with flying colours (RM210). From otoro (the fattiest part of the tuna) to chutoro (coveted medium-fatty tuna) to salmon, yellow tail and hotate, this is thoroughly a treat for raw seafood devotees.
Pair the sashimi platter with Impressoul's Sake O-Sashimi, which showers the salmon with a captivatingly aromatic sauce, enhanced with truffle oil for a lovely earthiness that harmonises well with the fish's natural sweetness and smoothness (RM30). Definitely a dish we'd order the next time we're here.
If you prefer your fish cooked, check out this showdown between black cod and Norwegian salmon.
In the battle between both, the victor is the Gindara Saikyo Yaki - our entire table swiftly polished off the cod fillet, triumphantly thick, tender and buttery, bolstered by a blended miso sauce; if you love cod, you'll adore this (RM82).
The salmon steak is still no slouch though, prepared perfectly to underscore a crisp skin and juicy flesh, with a miso teriyaki sauce and salmon roe for bursts of umami oomph (RM40). Bonus points yet again for the painstakingly gorgeous presentation.
While the menu might seem slanted toward seafood, there's no lack of meat to engage the carnivores: To share, the Gyu-Niku Cube Steak succeeds as an Asian-accented tapa that showcases Australian rib eye beef (RM48), while the Korean Spicy Dak-Bokkeum conceals a Japanese secret - the stone bowl of sauteed chicken layered sinfully with cheese owes its spiciness mainly to Korean gochujang chilli paste, but the dressing has been balanced with Japanese shoyu sauce to mellow out the heat (RM40; served with two steamed rice portions).
Browsing through Impressoul's cocktail list, standouts might include the Yuzu Martini, made with vodka, yuzu puree, triple sec and lime (RM28) and the Sweet Basil Mojito, with rum, strawberry syrup, basil leaves, cranberry juice, syrup (RM28). The repertoire of beverages is comprehensive, spanning beer to bourbon to brandy, with Scotch and Japanese whisky all also accounted for.
Promotions include a Ladies' Night complimentary free flow of Sangria for female customers every Wednesday, 8pm-10pm - ideal for sipping while the bands play from 9pm till midnight.
Mocktails filled with fruity fun are available as well: The Stimulator represents a rejuvenating mix of kiwi, pineapple, mango, strawberries and honeydew, while the Red Dragon is striking with strawberries, watermelon, dragon fruit and beetroot (RM15 each). Lattes are served in nifty steel mugs (hot RM10; cold RM12).
For patrons seeking more intimacy, multiple private rooms of various sizes are offered, each with its own different look.
Our thanks to Impressoul Gastrology for having us back.
Impressoul Gastrology
Ground Floor, Sunway Pyramid Hotel West, Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Open Sunday-Thursday, 1130am-1am; Friday-Saturday, 1130am-2am. Tel: 03-5650-5188
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