A haven for steak-lovers, Marble 8 is one of two new outlets opened this past month by the people behind Marini's On 57.
This bungalow restaurant is an impressive-looking space, elegantly stylish with dramatic flourishes; it also ranks among the most darkly lit fine-dining establishments in KL's history. Try to reserve a table with a Binjai park view of KL's glittering towers.
Marble 8 Steakhouse's pride is Diamantina Wagyu beef supplied by revered Australian breeders Stanbroke, dry-aged right here in this restaurant for between 21 and 40 days. The slabs are a sight to behold, for sure.
Chef Joshua Clunas, formerly of The Brisbane Club & working in KL for the first time, tackles the meat, a master-class in tenderness, sliced & seared by the table.
Boneless filet mignon (Marble Score 5+, RM280 before taxes for 180 grams), the most affordable choice for the dry-aged category. Other options: boneless rib-eye (RM420 for 350 grams), New York short loin on the bone (RM480 for 450 grams), tenderloin on the bone (RM650 for 450 grams) & tomahawk (RM2,100 for 1.8 kilograms).
Wet-aged Black Angus & Wagyu beef is also available, vacuum-sealed for at least 21 days. The most budget-friendly one: Black Angus centre cut tenderloin (Marble Score 3+, RM148 for 200 grams).
Each steak comes with one sauce & one condiment; the selection spans red wine jus, mushroom ragout, spicy tomato chutney, creamed horseradish, house-made barbecue sauce & assorted artisan mustards.
Marble 8's side dishes comprise temptations like horseradish-battered onion rings with English cheddar dip (RM18), rosemary salted rustic steak fries with truffle aioli, dressed momotaro tomatoes with sweet onions & basil, mashed potatoes with truffle pesto & whole baked potato with crispy beef lardons, sour cream & chives.
The menu nevertheless extends far beyond steaks, featuring the likes of Wagyu beef lasagna (RM88) & other red-meat recipes like beef tartare & grilled lamb rack.
Hand-rolled macaroni with smoked duck, shimeji mushrooms & veggies (RM58). Steakhouse staples such as crab cakes, Caesar salads, oysters, prawn cocktails, foie gras, butternut pumpkin soup, spring chicken, grilled lobster & cod fish are also available, all in more elaborate recipes than usual.
Desserts? Three options for now, of which the dulce de leche cheesecake with coffee-perfumed buttercream, pistachio nut praline & blueberry gel (RM32) certainly reads as the most intriguing.
No worries though; customers won't need to eat in order to visit Marble 8. The venue also features a separate M8 bar that comprises an indoor lounge & better still, a garden site that's ideal for a breezy night. It was still pretty peaceful when we visited on a recent weekend, but expect that to change soon.
Cocktails here ignite the imagination: Our best bet's the Ragged Ocean (lavender-infused Cragganmore 12 years, sugar, angostura bitters, saffron-infused orange bitters, for RM57), a masculine-skewing concoction with memorable complexities.
Wolfberry 8 (gin, wolfberries, grapefruit juice, passionfruit pulp, simple syrup, for RM38), a sweeter creation.
By the bottle, the wallet will be wounded the least by the Italian Montepulciano D'Abruzzo (RM168).
All in all, the perfect place to head to right now if your entertainment expenses have a higher-than-the-norm threshold.
There's one more new Marini's venue nearby; check back later this week to read about that one.
Marble 8 Steakhouse & M8 Bar by Marini's
Jalan Binjai, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur. Beside The Binjai.
Daily for dinner. Tel: 03-2386-6030 (number works erratically)
Daily for dinner. Tel: 03-2386-6030 (number works erratically)
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