Cruising through a couple of watering holes that have surfaced in suburban shopping complexes, starting with Studio Lounge at Tropicana City Mall.
A bustling space with a novel attraction: beer is available through a "self-tap on-demand" system at some tables, negating the need to summon the service team to replenish frosty mugs of ale.
Live music kicks off by 9 p.m. weekdays; this vocal ensemble blazed through melisma-drenched renditions of everything from "No One" to "Belaian Jiwa."
The well-marinated mix of lamb and chicken satay is worthwhile, with a succulent meatiness that might put scrawny street stall skewers to shame. Roughly RM26-plus for 12 sticks.
"Moonlight" wok-fried noodles, with a raw yolk rising over plump prawns and springy beansprouts. About RM18 including taxes, it's tasty enough to signal that Studio Lounge's kitchen is crowded with competent cooks.
Nasi lemak, also satisfactory for a hearty supper. Studio Lounge serves Western fare too, including pizzas and pastas topped with roast pork.
Peanut butter alert! Couldn't resist ordering the alcoholic peanut butter sundae smoothie, consisting of peanut butter, dark rum, honey and monin vanilla syrup, but unfortunately, it proved too bland to recommend.
Mojito, red wine, what else? Oh, no beer, since we're not fans.
Next on our radar, House at Mutiara Damansara's e@Curve, an offshoot of
House at GTower. .
House's Facebook page recently indicated that its one-for-one happy hours for cocktails would last through 9pm, but when we arrived at 8:30pm, we were informed it was only up to 8pm. We drowned our sorrows nonetheless with an Absolut Flirtini (vodka, triple sec, pineapple juice).
Pink Lemonade (absolut vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, soda).
Yo-ho-ho and a bit of rum: Matusalem Clasico and Captain Morgan Spiced.
Bonus: holding court at e@Curve's courtyard, Moo Cow's frozen yogurt beckons.
Monthly flavors are always worth trying here. June's was Pat Poh herbal tea yogurt, with our topping selection of Oreos and pumpkin seeds.
Studio Lounge,
Ground Floor, Tropicana City Mall.
House at e@Curve,
Mutiara Damansara.
