Bridge Bar @ G Tower

Sleek and stylish, Bridge Bar is reminiscent of hot spots such as Sky Bar and Luna Bar, but it feels slightly more exclusive and intimate.

Perched on the 28th floor, there isn't a view of the Petronas Twin Towers or the KL Tower here, but the setting remains impressive enough to recommend.

It's still a well-kept secret for now, but within a few weeks, the crowds might be clamoring for a couch on the alfresco terrace.

The catch? It's meant for the use of hotel guests and club members only (but was open to the public briefly during a recent trial run).

Snacks on the menu include fried pistachio scamorza cheese with tangy fruit chutney. High in sodium, but very addictive.

Duck spring rolls with roasted chili & hoisin BBQ sauce. Well-prepared, but the food isn't the real reason to head here, is it?

Fruit shooters of Orange with Vodka & Lemon with Tequila.

Chily-tho (a spiced-up Mojito) & Moscow Mule cocktails.

Watermelon juice for the teetotaler.

Bridge Bar,

G City Club Hotel, G Tower,

Jalan Tun Razak.

Essence @ Sheraton Imperial Hotel

Sheraton Imperial's current buffet promo of unlimited New Zealand oysters with a free flow of wine at RM128++ per person is a decent deal.

The smallish-looking oysters, ready to be shucked only on order.

Some skillful knife work to prise them out of their shells.

Absolutely addictive; we must have eaten dozens of these. Not at all bland like regular buffet oysters tend to be; these were briny, with a clean but flavorsome finish.

There were cooked versions available, with toppings such as beef bacon & cheese, but the raw ones tasted much, much better.

The wine wasn't top-notch, but it was satisfactory enough.

Essence,

Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Whisk @ Empire Shopping Gallery

A nice little cafe with warm, welcoming service.

The macarons might not be the best in town, but we could have spent a long time happily popping these tiny confections into our mouths.

Hummingbird cake. Moist and fresh-tasting, but could use more pineapples.

Red Velvet. Satisfying enough, though extra frosting and layers wouldn't hurt.

Carrot cake. Deliciously dense and not too sweet.

Lock, Choc & Barrel. Impeccably prepared hot chocolate.

Whisk,

Empire Shopping Gallery.

Prego @ Westin Malaysia

Prego's revised menu keeps us coming back for more, over and over again.

Foie gras & pesto terrine with crostini & pear compote. A cool twist to the typical goose liver terrine; this one was laced with pesto sauce, providing it with an extra wallop of flavor that nicely complemented the foie gras' sweet, smooth creaminess.

Braised beef cheek ravioli with porcini mushrooms. The ravioli skin could have been thinner, but the meat within was perfectly tender and tasty.

Woodbridge smoked Tasmanian ocean trout Puglia-style, with cream curd-filled mozzarella cheese & chili herb oil. Not bad; comfort food for fish fans.

Lasagnette di Aragosta _ silk handkerchief pasta with slipper lobster, leek confit & bisque emulsion. A briny pleasure, brimming with the flavor of shellfish. We wiped the plate clean with our bread.

Deep-fried calamari with tartar sauce. Probably the least memorable item we had.

Black cannelloni with crab mascarpone arborio filling & crab sauce. Addictively rich and creamy. Perfect for anyone seeking something heavy and filling.

Truffle roast chicken with asparagus & potatoes. A whopping portion that could easily satisfy two or three people. The chicken was juicy but unremarkable on its own; thankfully, the truffle shavings turned this into a powerfully aromatic luxury.

Chocolate mud pie. Basically ice cream cake, done as well as can be expected.

Brandy-laced tiramisu. Perfectly adequate, but desserts aren't what shine here.

Zabaglione ice cream with fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, spiced crumble & white and dark chocolate. A berry satisfying sundae.

Click here for earlier entries on Prego: May 21, June 28 & July 19.

Prego,

The Westin, Kuala Lumpur.

Yokozuna @ Fraser Place

This somewhat sterile-looking outlet serves basic Japanese fare.

Seafood udon. Loaded with fish, squid, prawns, mussels & even a scallop or two, but somehow, that couldn't save this from being a bland bowl of noodles that we could barely finish.

Tempura-battered Canadian sergeant-fish. The batter was excessively thick, while the fish was meaty but seemed too dry to suit this method of preparation.

Grilled cobia, drowned in an unappealingly cheesy sauce that would undermine this even if the fish had been fresher and juicier.

The sashimi and sushi constitute the best deal. Not prepared on order (instead, these are offered on a counter, supermarket-style), but they cost only RM3 and RM2 per plate respectively.

Taste-wise, very similar to Sushi King and other popular franchises...

... but since prices are even cheaper, these light bites are the key reason to head here. Also ideal for customers who want to avoid waiting for their food.

Yokozuna,

Fraser Place, Jalan Perak, Kuala Lumpur.

The Veranda @ Carcosa Sri Negara

KL has several worthwhile choices for Malay fine-dining, but this outlet at Carcosa Seri Negara is the one that seems most steeped in history.

Ikan Tuna Labu Kecil Kepal Kerdil Pais Kelapa Kering. A long name for what was essentially pan-fried tuna with local spices, served with pumpkin curry sauce & spicy pomegranate. The fish tasted fresh and succulent enough to recommend.

Otak-otak Berkirai (baked mackerel fish cake with crispy prawn & honey seafood black sauce). A fine mix of tastes of textures _ blending traditional and modern sensibilities _ made the otak-otak more memorable than the average stall offering.

Consomme of spring chicken confit ravioli. A subtly tasty, well-executed Italian twist to the beloved Asian chicken soup, though carnivores who prefer large chunks of meat in their broth might be disappointed.

Ikan "Tun" Khazanah Laut (salmon marinated with turmeric, grilled with salt & local herbs, then served with seafood sauce). Not quite as satisfying as The Veranda's Western preparation for salmon, especially since the sauce was overwhelmingly salty.

Lamb Rogan Josh (lamb rack braised with Indian herbs, onions & cinnamon). Probably the spiciest item on the menu, but it tasted a bit more Malay than Indian.

Raspberry & chocolate souffle with rose water milkshake. Something different from the usual desserts, but rose water and choc aren't exactly a match made in heaven.

Sarawak pineapple tart with green tea ice cream & caramel sauce. Nicely done.

Click here for earlier entry on The Veranda (April 26).

The Veranda,

Carcosa Seri Negara.