Cerdito ranks among Puchong's most distinctive new dining destinations; it's worth travelling here for pursuers of pork, since the restaurant specialises in Spanish Iberico meat, embedded in recipes that span both East & West. The team here is youthful & zealous - the youngest is 18, the oldest 27 - & their passion is clearly stamped on every one of Cerdito's offerings.
Head here hungry; there's plenty to sample. The Iberico Golden Crisp Pork Sticks (RM30) emerges as bite-sized, pork-crowned pastry crusts, their thin base complemented by the punchy, zesty juices of the premium meat & pineapple salsa - an ideal appetite-whetter with perky dynamics in each petite serving. The kitchen's versatility is evidenced in another starter, an Oriental-inflected broth of Iberico ribs (RM45), braised for four hours to a succulent fall-off-the-bone fleshiness, served with white cabbage in a soup that tastes lovingly prepared, with a rich but clean depth of flavour that emanates from the Iberico.
Our favourite order at Cerdito is the Black Pig Burger (RM45), which boasts a substantial slab of belly meat, cooked to an irresistible level of lusciousness, potentially capable of haunting our dreams for weeks. The Iberico Pulled Pork 'Sandwich' (RM45) is also enjoyable - fluffy mantao layered with lots of tender meat, enhanced with ebiko in an unconventional coupling.
Cerdito's pride ultimately rests in its main events, promising primal pleasure for hot-blooded carnivores. The Iberico loin ribs (RM40 for the portion pictured) can be attacked with gusto, capably marinated for lip-smacking effect, while the Iberico grilled short rack (RM70) showcases a sink-your-teeth-into-this purity of porkiness. Iberico prices are higher than regular pork, but it does deliver in the quality of both taste & texture. Plus, Cerdito's attention to detail extends to the sides, ranging from house-made mashed potatoes to tapas-style patatas bravas to pumpkin cooked in olive oil & pepper - no shortcuts to satisfaction.
There's nevertheless no lack of chicken, lamb & seafood creations to round out Cerdito's repertoire - a Chef's Special tidbits platter features harissa-spiced chicken skewers, house-marinated baby octopus & sauteed chorizo slices (RM35), while for fans of fungi, the Wild Mushroom Cappuccino comes with a truffled 'tea foam' topping (RM15) & the King Oyster Mushrooms convey fulfilling char-grilled nuances over an unexpected sprinkling of balsamic & cocoa soil (RM15). Heftier meals include the likes of wine-braised lamb shank served with its own jus (RM45) & fuss-free oven-baked chicken (RM16 for a quarter).
One dessert displays vital dashes of imagination - the Deconstructed Lemon Tart (RM18), with the tangy-milky curd topped three ways, including with butter crumbs, cocoa soil & pumpkin seeds, accompanied by a memorable shallot ice cream, which channels hints of an oily mouthfeel that might be an acquired taste but is certainly worth trying. Safer crowd-pleasers include a kahlua-spiked tiramisu (RM19) & Belgian dark, dense chocolate semifreddo (RM18).
Beverages include thoughtfully conceived, meticulously balanced mocktails (RM15) that blend elements of tea, fruits & even a tickle of spiciness. Expect layered combinations like the Cucumber Lemonade (cucumber, lemon rantcho syrup, mint leaves, soda water), Kiwi Mojiteh (kiwi fruit mix, wild mint syrup, lime, English Breakfast tea, soda water) & our favourite, Fiery Float (pineapple juice, banana, lemon juice, ginger syrup, tabasco & vanilla ice cream). We're glad that decent cocktails are also available, with mature drinks like the classic Negroni & Jungle Bird (RM35). Our thanks to the Cerdito team for having us here.
Cerdito Restaurant
G-11, Kompleks Kenari, Jalan Kenari 19A. Puchong. Open Tues-Sun, 12pm-10pm. Tel: 016-380-8639
The Eat Drink KL mobile app is now available, connecting restaurants & customers to promote a positive spirit of community.
Every restaurant on this app rewards users with a 6 percent discount, instantly & conveniently, everyday, all day long.
In return, users share photos of their experiences at these eateries, creating a new community of restaurant lovers.
For every transaction, at least RM0.10 will be channelled to a charity of the month.
Stay up to date: The Eat Drink KL newsletter is sent by email to subscribers every Monday; it's the Klang Valley's foremost weekly round-up of new restaurant openings, F&B promotions & other tasty tidbits.
Subscribe to Eat Drink KL Weekly for free via this following link:
Note to subscribers on Gmail: The newsletter may be in the Promotions folder of your inbox.
Check out the latest edition of Eat Drink KL: 100 Favourites, with 100 recommended restaurants. This eBook is available to read or download at this link: http://issuu.com/eatdrinkkl/docs/ebook
Buckle your seatbelts: Eat Drink KL is partnering with Uber to take restaurant lovers on new adventures across KL & Selangor!
If you haven't used Uber yet, it's time to begin! For new users, just follow the steps below to redeem free rides:
1. Download the Uber app from the App Store, Play Store or Windows Store - and register your Uber account.
2. Apply the code EATDRINKKL as your first promotional code & you'll receive 2 Free Rides worth RM30 each.
3. Request a ride through the app and ride for free to any destination (with two ride values of up to RM30 each).
