Ultimo @ Solaris Mont Kiara

The latest entry at Solaris is an elegant outlet with enthusiastic service and a solid menu, but the food might not be memorable enough to bring us back.

Complimentary pumpkin soup. A source of warm, comforting nourishment.

Salmon confit in lemon-infused olive oil, fennel, rocket and vanilla beans. Not bad. The salmon was moist and fresh, complemented nicely by the tangy salad.

Pork terrine with watercress and parmesan. Well-prepared, but more of an acquired taste. It didn't exactly look too appetising either.

Raviolo of scallop and prawn in its own bisque with basil oil. The bisque was flavourful, but the combo of ingredients was merely pleasant, nothing more.

(Note: Check your receipt! This was supposed to be a starter, but they billed us for a main course, nearly double the listed price on the menu)

Roast pork belly with stuffed trotter and potato puree. Kinda overpriced. The pork was meaty but the serving was still a bit too small for a main course.

Day in the Shade (bacardi rum, pineapple juice, cranberry juice) and Evening in Paris (smirnoff vodka, pineapple, orange juice, lemon juice).

Leconfield Synergy Chardonnay (Australia).

Ultimo,

Jalan Solaris 4, Solaris Mont Kiara.

Tel: 6204-0887

Havana @ Changkat Bukit Bintang

All grown up, Little Havana has dropped the "Little" in its name and now calls itself simply "Havana." The change comes with a refurbishment, making it seem like a stately New Orleans home straight out of HBO's "True Blood."

Even more intriguing is the revamped menu that offers Louisiana-inspired fare.

The Gator on a Stick is a can't-miss. Grilled crocodile meat (obtained from a Sabah farm) with dips of spicy tomatoes and lemon myrtle sauce. Taste-wise, it's like a delicious cross between chicken breast and pork belly.

Crawfish boulettes, a Cajun recipe of breaded crawfish balls. Hot and tangy.

Shrimp and grits, comprising poached shrimp in creole gravy with fried polenta. Scrumptious carbs + thick gravy = total comfort food.

Crab cakes with avocado cream & swamp spinach. Meaty and thrillingly fresh.

Mojito (rum muddled with mint, lime & cane sugar topped with soda) and Bloody Mary (vodka, tomato juice, lime juice, sherry, salt, pepper & celery).

Pineapple Daiquiri (white rum, lime juice, cane sugar, pineapple) and Strawberry Margarita (tequila, triple sec, lime juice, strawberry).

Havana,

Changkat Bukit Bintang.

Tel: 2142-7170

Dish Deli @ Solaris Mont Kiara

A calm sanctuary that dishes out tasty comfort food for customers of all ages.

We couldn't resist sampling their "Gourmet Goo" _ baby food made from healthy ingredients. Loved the smooth taste of the Vegetable Medley, a soft blend of sweet potato, pumpkin and carrots cooked with cinnamon and clove.

The Baby Dhall was not as flavourful as regular Indian dhall, of course. But the mix of gently cooked lentils, potatoes, carrots and cauliflowers seemed more nutritious and far less sinful than any mamak offering.

No worries, the menu won't leave adults hungry. The Lancashire Hotpot was a tender lamb stew, ideal for rainy evenings. Tasted home-cooked in a very positive way.

We gobbled every last spoonful of the Fisherman's Pie, a creamy, piping-hot concoction of mashed pototoes interspersed with dory, tuna and egg.

The peach crumble tasted super-fresh, unlike the desserts at many other delis.

Dish Deli,

Jalan Solaris 3,

Solaris Mont Kiara.

Tel: 6203-0326/0427

Bar Liberte @ Changkat Bukit Bintang

Another month, another new hangout surfaces at Changkat. This al fresco bar is drawing decent crowds, including a group of Elvis impersonators recently.

The food menu comprises interesting snacks. The escargot wantans with saffron dip were a crunchy treat, stuffed with fat, juicy snails.

Dry Martini (gin, martini extra dry, martini rosso) & Cuba Libre (bacardi, coke, lime juice).

Bar Liberte,

Changkat Bukit Bintang.

Mei Keng Fatt @ Kuala Ampang

We headed here before the hordes of hungry patrons poured in after 7 pm.

Winter melon soup. Would be better if there were more seafood in this.

Kampung otak-otak beancurd. Crisp on the outside, soft and sweet inside.

Chilli crab. Is this Malaysian or Singaporean? Either way, an enjoyable recipe.

Marmite pork ribs. Not bad but not memorable. No more ordering Marmite dishes!

Beehoon kam heong crab. Less oil & salt would make this more pleasurable.

Braised pork trotter. Seemed overcooked, since the meat was too tough.

Mei Keng Fatt,

Off Jalan Awan, Kuala Ampang.

Tel: 4256-6491

Rainforest Sports Bar @ Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

Decent cocktails, mediocre food, decent service, mediocre ambience...

Sizzling beef tenderloin with mushroom sauce, rainbow rice and veggies. A hearty portion, but too tough for our liking. Search elsewhere if you have a steak craving.

Hardy Tropical Jungle Pizza, topped with Thai green curry, chicken, veggies and cheese. Not as interesting as it sounded. The toppings were mild and tasted plain, while the crust would definitely be too thick for thin-crust lovers.

Lychee Martini and Banana De Forest (banana liquor, rum, galliano, orange & pineapple).

London Bridge (calvert gin, creme de cassis, apple juice, sweet & sour) and Green Grass Rainforest (malibu, butter scotch, mount gay rum, creme de menthe, sprite).

Bertinis (skyy vodka berry, triple sec, cranberry & sprite) and Dragonfly (passionfruit puree, cachacha rum, midori & red wine).

Rainforest Sports Bar,

Pavilion.

Tel: 2163-0163

Hua Xing @ Seri Setia, Sungai Way

Finally had a chance to check this place out over the long Raya weekend.

Salted egg pork ribs. The height of unhealthy eating, but worth the risk.

Curry chicken with bread. Didn't quite live up to its hype. The bread was nice and fresh, but the curry was underwhelming. Not thick or flavoursome enough.

Braised pork belly. Not bad, but a bit tougher than the versions elsewhere.

Fried eggplant. Addictive, but would have been perfect if it had been less oily.

Ulu Yam noodles. OK, but if this is what they really taste like in Ulu Yam, then it doesn't seem worth the drive there. Good stuff for a rainy evening though.

Tapioca noodles. A simple dish that we really liked. Comfort carbs at their best.

The potato noodles were relatively chewy, but still satisfyingly slurpy.

Hua Xing,

1st Floor, Plaza Seri Setia, Sungai Way.

Tel: 7876-3288