Meatworks @ Solaris Mont Kiara

Beef is the raison d'etre of Meatworks, the final cog in a farming corporation that cultivates local cattle. If this restaurant and meat shop can resolve some teething problems with its menu, it has the potential to become one of Solaris Mont Kiara's top hot spots.

The sirloin was hearty and flavourful enough to satisfy our carnivorous cravings, though it could have been less chewy. Not the best steak in town, but reasonably priced.

Generous serving of tender pan-roasted quail. Now here's the current trouble (which the owner vows to fix soon): the menu often promises ingredients that never show up. The quail was meant to be accompanied by a spinach tart, but it came with mashed potatoes instead.

The milk-fed lamb was a succulent pleasure, but we can't help making comparisons: El Cerdo's Spanish version is still the one to beat.

The salmon was a letdown. Didn't quite taste like the freshest catch of the day.

Fish fans might prefer the cod. Flaky, moist & well-prepared, but kinda boring.

Alcohol isn't available here, but customers can bring their own wine or easily cross the street to Cold Storage to buy some (like we did). No corkage fee.

Meatworks,

Solaris Mont Kiara.

True Brew Cafe @ Yap Kwan Seng

A furniture gallery that doubles as an eatery, True Brew Cafe isn't the most popular place on this street, but it's worth seeking out for a peaceful dinner.

The menu is well thought out, offering wholesome dishes with fun twists.

Vegetarian bah kut teh. All that's missing is the pork. But once you get past that, this is surprisingly tasty. All the ingredients are top-notch, even the rice.

Fried rice. This may lack the 'wok hei' that everybody loves, but it's recommended for those who prefer fried rice to be less oily. Generously packed with prawns and dried scallop bits.

Banrai-nobu tofu with wasabi flavouring. Cooked over a mini-stove fire at our table for 15 minutes, this turned out to be wonderfully soft and silky. The wasabi flavouring added a nice kick that made it less bland.

Ajishi-no Sakura Cookies. Not bad, but not really exciting.

Pineapple tarts. Loved this. Tasted freshly baked. Warm, soft and comforting.

Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. We're not coffee addicts, but this was OK.

True Brew Cafe,

Jalan Yap Kwan Seng.

Tel: 2168-8299

Kin Shui Tei @ Tropicana Golf & Country Resort

A strikingly colourful restaurant with a menu that's bursting with temptations.

Grab a table by the gorgeous garden for a soothing view, especially at night.

Monkfish liver in ponzu sauce. Nicknamed the "foie gras of the ocean," this was briny, delicate and absolutely delectable.

Amberjack sashimi in garlic sauce. Lots of veggies made this a healthy platter.

Escargot baked in garlic butter. Heaps of tasty escargot slices in the shell, cooked in flames that turned a simple dish into a spectacle.

Golden roll, generously laden with roasted sea eel & mango slices.

Minced tuna belly sushi. Overshadowed by the other more flamboyant items.

Kampung chicken with wasabi sauce. Tender chunks in a flavourful batter.

Fermented bean soup to warm both the stomach and the soul.

Deep-fried shishamo with cheese. A very different way of eating shishamo.

Salmon carpaccio. Not the paper-thin variety, but sliced very thickly instead.

Snow crab tempura. This was perfect; the batter was not too oily, too thick or too soggy. The crab was satisfyingly meaty too.

Cold sake to wash down one of the nicest Japanese meals we've had in ages.

Kin Shui Tei,

Tropicana Golf & Country Resort.

Tel: 7804-2079

Smokehouse @ Telawi, Bangsar

The Smokehouse's offshoot seems slightly out of place in Telawi. It offers Western fare and Thai favorites, but the Thai options are more extensive.

Smokehouse Salad. At only RM8, this turned out to be a smattering of garden-variety veggies in some sort of vinaigrette. Still, a healthy choice.

Flower-shaped dumplings stuffed with chicken and nuts. You'll find a better version of this at Isthmus (is that restaurant still around though?).

Otak-otak. Kinda average. Maybe we ordered the wrong items; it might be worth returning to check out the steaks and seafood.

Richland Est Chardonnay and Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Smokehouse,

Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar.

Tel: 2288-1510

Damansara Village Steamboat

I'm generally not a fan of steamboat, but this place is pretty worthwhile.

The Pulau Ketam seafood is superbly fresh. We particularly love the prawns and crabs, which are sweet, juicy and meaty. Definitely worth returning for.

Prices may seem slightly high, but the variety and portion sizes make up for it.

Some side dishes are also worth ordering. The village chicken is lip-smackingly good, thanks to the silky smooth skin.

Paper-wrapped chicken is the only letdown. Not tender or flavorful enough.

Damansara Village Steamboat,

Damansara Kim.

Tel: 7803-1832

Oriental Pearl @ Bukit Jalil

Tai Thong's so-called "Unbelievable Promotions" piqued our curiosity, so we headed to their outlet in Bukit Jalil's golf resort to check it out.

The set dinner packages for this offer basically cost around RM 20 per person, with a fairly wide range of dishes to choose from. Nothing thrilling though, just regular stuff such as chicken soup.

The crispy roast duck was terrible. Dry, overcooked and stale-tasting.

The steamed grass carp with minced ginger was OK. Reasonably fresh.

Braised beancurd with mixed seafood and mushrooms. A "safe" dish.

Hunan-style fried mantis prawns. The description sounded interesting, but the prawns themselves were instantly forgettable. More batter than prawn meat.

Sauteed broccoli with Chinese wine. We were skeptical about the wine content.

Mango pudding dessert to wrap up a lacklustre dinner.

The verdict: an affordable promo with plenty of food choices, but portion sizes are not filling enough and none of the dishes will excite the tastebuds.

Oriental Pearl,

Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resort.