Eat Drink KL: November 2018

Friday, November 30, 2018

Lucky Tora, Mesui Road

Luck be a tiger tonight: Roaring into KL's city centre, this contemporary Japanese restaurant burns bright with playful plates that spur patrons to share their passion for fun, full-bodied food. From ‘crazy karaage’ with cheese and chillies to rum-&-raisin ice cream with salmon skin, Lucky Tora's selection - Tora means 'tiger' - exudes exuberance, exemplified by colourful bursts of mischievous wit throughout this vibrant venue.

While Japanese inspirations provide the fulcrum for the menu, the kitchen slides effortlessly toward other inflection points, with eclectic East Asian influences evident in the savoury prawn toast, deep-fried to a decadent crisp and layered with minced crustacean meat, made nuanced with wasabi cream (RM18), and the prawn gyoza, buoyed by a Szechuan-style spicy-sour dressing (RM24), both crafted for those carefree nights when calories can't be counted.

If you favour a lighter starter, the sashimi ceviche is a bright mix of raw seafood with zesty salsa to perk up the palate (RM22); alternatively, the tender and textured tsukune may only be a mouthful or three in size, but it punches above its weight in flavour (RM7), one of multiple skewers available for kushiyaki cravings.

While rice bowls and sushi rolls will charm carb-loaders, the kitchen is versatile enough to offer consistently tempting twists across the board - try the okonomiyaki, served hot and fluffy, heaped with wagyu beef in robust fermented bean paste (RM24), pragmatically paired with the La Prova Sangiovese (RM35 per glass). Lucky Tora's bar is no slouch, mixing Malaysian flourishes into concoctions like the sake cocktails - Mr Miyagi showcases the tangy chops of assam fruit (RM22) - and speciality highballs - check out the Kimochi, bringing together Angostura with coconut, pandan and basil seeds (RM35).

Lucky Tora
25, Jalan Mesui, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Daily, 12pm-1am. Tel: 03-2859-0489

This feature first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

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Thursday, November 29, 2018

Frische Krapfen & Donuts, Shah Alam

Inspired by the krapfen, or Berliner Pfannkuchen, Frische - German for ‘fresh’ - offers the soft, fluffy Deutschland equivalent of doughnuts, fatly stuffed with luscious fillings like lemon curd, buttercream with strawberries, and buttercream with dark or milk chocolate. Guilty indulgences, but completely comforting for the sweet tooth. RM6.40 per piece, or RM25 for four.

Regular doughnuts are also available at this friendly family-run hideout that bakes with heart, plain (RM2.70) or with glazes like white chocolate with Oreos, almonds or milk chocolate stripes (RM3.40 each or RM13 for four). 

Frische Krapfen & Donuts
G-G 67, Ground Floor, Plaza Jelutong, Persiaran Gerbang Utama, Shah Alam, Malaysia.
Open Tues-Sat, 1030am-930pm; Sun, 1030am-530pm. Tel: 017-708-1080

This feature first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

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Wednesday, November 28, 2018

BarTailor, Damansara Kim

BarTailor might be the Klang Valley's most fashion-forward bar, combining cocktail mixology with bespoke clothes-making. Spread over two levels, the main drinking action happens below on most evenings, while the space above is dedicated to the tailor component (by appointment only) and a VIP section.

BarTailor's cocktails might most fittingly suit novelty seekers: The venue's sartorial themes take flight in catwalk-worthy cocktails like Black Tie (RM33; ginned up with a dark charcoal blend) and Tuxedo (RM38; smoky whisky and vermouth with chrysanthemum syrup), while the Drunken Elephant employs notes of dragon fruit with Magic Dust popping candy (RM28), My Ex smells of durian ice cream (RM38) and Hot Babes is fiery with Tabasco sauce and chillies (RM28).

Bar Tailor
42-A, First Floor, Jalan SS20/10, Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Open Mon-Fri, 4pm-1am; Sat, 5pm-2am. Tel: 012-260-5006


This feature first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

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Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Kara Conceptual French Cuisine, Kota Damansara

Kara - Latin for 'beloved' - is the Klang Valley's latest French restaurant, with a reasonably extensive repertoire. Lovers of liver will likely choose the pan-fried duck liver on russet potatoes with green grapes for a warm starter (RM56) or the chicken liver pate with sliced baguettes and assorted greens for a chilled appetiser (RM24). Both illustrate the kitchen's style of inserting its twist on these staples, surrounding them with a bounty of fruits and vegetables for a buoyant, balanced platter.

Kara promises plenty of combinations for a confidently French meal - perhaps the snails in garlic herb butter, sandwiched in choux pastry for a distinctive take on escargots a la bourguignonne (RM32), followed by a mighty, meaty main of lamb rack encrusted in Provencal herbs with ratatouille (RM60), with classic standards like Stardust and Desafinado wafting from the speakers.

All in all, Kara is scarcely a fortnight old, so it should be worth watching where the restaurant evolves from here. An interesting addition to Kota Damansara's dining landscape, the venue is expected to also transform within the months ahead into an after-hours bar where patrons can relax to cocktails and cool tunes following their dinner.

Thanks to Kara for having us here.

Kara - Conceptual French Cuisine 
A-05-01, First Floor, Sunway Giza Mall, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Above Orange Boutique.
Open for lunch and dinner, closed Tuesdays. Tel: +603-76222868 or +6016-357-9213

This feature first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com

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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: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/5106C196432BB23