2ND Floor has the potential to scale the ranks of TTDI's top restaurants, brought to the neighbourhood by the team behind wine lounge Private Room & cocktail bar Pawn Room, in a new partnership with German chef Gerhard Albrecht, whose nearly five decades of professional cooking have resulted in an epic career spanning three continents, royal weddings & notable hotel executive chef stints. A certified Master Chef schooled in Heidelberg & former lecturer at KDU University College, he's now funneled his experience into the kitchen of this beautifully outfitted venue where classical & contemporary European cuisine takes centre stage, borrowing inspiration not only from Albrecht's home country, but Britain, France & beyond.
Our meal kicked off on a pretty promising note, buoyed by a service team that strives to convey passion & professionalism - the smoked salmon carpaccio was irreproachable in both taste & texture, imbued with nuances of porcini oil & lemon juice for extra dimensions of flavour that proved lovely (RM23). Salads & soups struck a pleasing balance between the time-honoured & the tantalising - the house salad is a visually appealing ensemble of crisp & juicy romaine lettuce, poached egg, pork bacon, parmesan & croutons, very light & easy to enjoy (RM20). Broth enthusiasts should probably try both the barley with vegetables in chicken broth (RM11; soup for the soul) & the satisfyingly rich mushroom with thyme & crab meat (RM16).
2ND FLR's crab cakes & French-imported goose foie gras should also successfully whet the appetite, the former pan-fried & breaded with a succulent, fleshy chew, complemented by chilli jam & an orange salad (RM32), the latter perfectly seared to the right sumptuousness, cushioned with a potato-apple latke, plus sides of pickled shallots & glazed onions (RM54).
Pork is the final cornerstone of 2ND FLR's repertoire - the prized Berkshire pork makes a prominent appearance, grilled as a thick, meaty chop that seems certain to fulfill customers' carnivorous lust (RM38), while pork ribs provide an even heftier feast, sufficient for two or three patrons, slow-cooked to immaculate, peel-off-the-bone tenderness, terrifically balanced with hints of saffron, oranges & poppy seeds, with a yogurt dip for even more moistness (RM55). The new potatoes & caramelised Granny Smith apples that complete both dishes aren't afterthoughts, delicious & meticulously executed in their own right. You might be stuffed by this point, as we were, but desserts like the ginger creme brulee (RM22) & cherry jubilee (RM15) are delicate enough to down without trouble. Many thanks to 2ND FLR for having us here.
2ND Floor Kitchen & Bar
46a, Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 5pm-1030pm. Tel: 019-914-8832
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