Chicken, Seafood and Pasta @ Tony Roma's, The Gardens

Ribs, Seafood and Steak sums up the the signature specialties of Tony Roma's, one of the popular casual dining American chain which has found their way into our shores for a few years and have since expanded to outlets around the nation.

Famous for their baby rack ribs in their home country, Tony Roma's here, with adherence and respect to the local culture, is a halal (or known as kosher in other parts of the world) and therefore, it is a pork-free restaurant and the commonly favored pork ribs are substituted with beef ribs instead.
Yet the restaurant remains popular among the food-loving local Malaysians, and they are ready to accept anything new with open arms and mind, though halal food is not uncommon in the country.
It is no doubt Tony Roma's has also gained their place in the hearts of Malaysians, who are after all, ardent fans of food, a fact evidently backed by the endless eateries found in almost corner of the country.

It is definitely not my first visit to this chain restaurant, though I fail to recall the last time I was in any of their outlets for a meal which is definitely a sign of the long gap in time since my last visit.
They may be known for their ribs, but that is not the only specialty they have here as they proudly boast of an extensive selection under the seafood section, a fact which is just right for the seafood loving me.

I must say it is a good place for friends to gather, families to spend quality time together and of course, for celebrations too.

Tropical Smoothie is an eclectic yet enticing mix of orange juice, banana and kiwi blended with ice cream to give it that creamy froth of a taste, leaving behind a light hint of citrusy scent and aftertaste.
The fresh fruits and whipped cream topping polished this drink off nicely, enhancing the zesty taste of the drink.

Like most American casual dining, there is always a range of appetizers to select from for one to brush up the palates to be ready for the mains, and Tony Roma's very own trio combination of Red Hot Buffalo Wings, Potato Skins and their signature Onion Loaf (Half) form the Roma's Sampler.
It is probably one of the more popular choices too, where one need not sweat on which appetizer to have as there is a variety of three to save you that time in making the choice.



The accompanying dressing works perfectly well to complement the trio combination respectively; from the Bleu cheese dressing for the buffalo wings, sour cream for the potato skins and the TR's original BBQ sauce which TRfor the Onion Loaf.

(Potato Skins)


(Hot Red Buffalo Wings)


(TR Signature Onion Loaf)


The signature Onion Loaf is indeed a delightful and unique specialty, though slightly oily, but the compensating taste of the thickly sliced onion wrapped with the well-battered flour forming the outer skin, and spiraling like the twist of a bun is more than enough to capture one's interest.
Peel away at the layers, dip it into the bbq sauce and be ready for an interesting taste journey!

A fan of greens will never settle without any form of salad, and while there is a list of salads to choose from, Caesar Salad is definitely a conventional yet comforting one to have to nibble at while waiting for the mains to arrive.



Crunchy Romaine lettuce leaves tossed in with the classic dressing topped with croutons and Asiago cheese. To make it even more appetizing, throw in the addition of salmon.
Well, technically, I was expecting smoked salmon slices but it was grilled salmon steak fillet which appeared to accompany salad, making this salad worth every cent.




Chicken Alfredo Florentine
Grilled chicken breast, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach tossed in a lemon alfredo sauce and served over linguine. Topped with shaved Asiago cheese and fresh chopped parsley.



Shrimp and Salmon Piccata is a lovely combination, mixing both of my favorites; a well grilled portion of salmon steak with juicy shrimps sitting on top of the fillet drizzled with lemon caper sauce, along with sides of rice and fresh broccoli.
It makes it easier for me to have the best of both worlds, for those who simply cannot decide (like yours truly) and be satisfied by the appetizing combo to fulfill that seafood craving.


One definitely cannot go wrong with both salmon or fish, with shrimps, I say, that's for sure.

We are definitely obsessed with salmon, as another plateful of salmon appeared on the table.
For an interesting and flavorful twist to the grilled taste of salmon fillet, the Avocado and Mandarin Orange Salmon is the answer to living it up a little.



The colorful sight and mash of the exciting tastes of mandarin oranges and cut avocados, enhanced with the extra zest of grape juice to dress up the avocados just please the taste buds, besides the visual attraction of the blend. Throw in the freshly cut tomatoes, red onions and cilantro, and I'm sold!

Oh yes, not just salmon, we are also big on shrimps, obvious with this Shrimp Scampi Pasta which tosses fresh juicy shrimps, lightly sauteed with garlic, fresh basil and tomato pesto beforehand.
If you sensed something else in the mix, that is probably that light bit of chipotle in there to add to the  satisfying mass of linguine.
Shaved Asiago cheese (TR is big on this cheese eh?) completes this for the pasta lovers.





A Birthday treat for the celebrant accompanied by the lovely singing of the servers, makes this lava molten cake topped with ice cream a memorable one for my daddy!



The food, service and ambiance in this Tony Roma's outlet in The Gardens makes this a winning combination to court more patrons to their outlet, besides the obvious strategic location along the connecting passageway between Mid Valley mall and The Gardens.

Besides who need more reason to enjoy a good meal to treat oneself, or even to go for the special occasion with family and friends?
Or do we even need the reason of a special occasion to enjoy Tony Roma's?

Next UP! Spicy Pomelo Salad

Malaysians are a spicy lot, and I mean it with a zest! If you have noticed, most of the local Malaysian cuisines have been heavily influenced with the use of spices and can range from mild to the type that can send one jumping off the chair; or shooting off to the skies (literally so).
It is also a blessing that our cuisines have assimilated into the variety of flavors borne from the intermarrying trends of the multi-racial culture we have in the country; yet at the same time uniquely distinguished to reflect each of their own identity.
That being said, it does not mean that all Malaysians are immune to the spicy tastes in the flavors of their food; there are always exceptions (like myself, humbly so), and it is only fair to say that hot and spicy is no longer an exotic trend in the country but rather, a norm infused with the everyday dishes served at the table.
Some, as I know, don't go by without one spicy food (at minimum) a day and some even proclaim that they breathe 'spicy food', such was the importance of these spicy food in the local cuisines here.

With such a huge population lusting after the spicy cuisines, it is not surprising to see many eateries popping up to serve their very own homemade dishes to tempt the cravings of the hungry patrons, and especially popular is the cuisine from our neighboring country; Thailand. It is really a familiar face to spot in our local eateries; Thai themed restaurants are just making their homes here, with the warm welcome from our fellow countrymen and it is no wonder too, with their tantalizingly tasty (and spicy) food which just warms our souls (oh ya, warm to the max!)

Spotted a side stall or a rather humble abode of this Thai restaurant; which was running more on a fast food mode of operation and just my kind of place for lunch with my parents while beating the crazy crowd at the ever busy Gardens mall on a typical weekend.






Tomyam noodles - choice of hor fun (smooth flat rice noodles)





Fiery colored and the hor fun was smooth; paired with the flavorful tastes from the tomyam soup and the generous servings of fresh shrimps, squids and oyster mushrooms, this was a delightful bowl of comfort - especially on rainy days.

Green curry with roasted chicken rice



Fried Fish cakes


The highlight of the post is this following dish which took me by surprise; as I was quite intrigued by the sound of it when I saw it on the menu.
While most Thai restaurants serve the signature mango salad and raw papaya salad, I was surprised that this outlet offers one more on the list; pomelo salad.



While it was rather pricey, the taste from this refreshing mix of the citrus fruit with fried shallots and grounded nuts with lime was just appetizing! Somehow I love the combination :-)
(Forgive the sudden appearance of the prawn; it was from the tomyam soup and it just ended up looking so forlorn there. It may have lost its way and ended up in the wrong place. Hey prawn, go back to your bowl of tomyam soup so you may swim, you're not supposed to be on land, let alone next to a hill!)

I would love to try to make this at home someday; while I can't really cook yet (yes, still), salads are still manageable - so share with me any good (and please make them easy) recipes for salads ;-)

This made me crave for pomelo, and sent me pomelo hunting for weeks!~
I have had my pomelo fix, thank goodness though I would never refuse a good share of pomelo fruit again if any!

Shakes, crushes and hot from the kitchen

A place for chilling out, with a good cuppa; be it tea or coffee or juices in a cosy and warm ambiance is all the rage is about these days for almost everyone of all ages.

This left little to wonder on the reasons behind the rising number of quaint little cafes popping up all over the country (or anywhere in the world) - to serve the very purpose to satisfy the cravings of the many leisure hunters or just the typical folks looking forward to a place to unwind and relax after a long day at work.

While many cafes are competing to outdo each other with their interior design, menus, privileges, etc, there are still those few evergreen cafes which withstood the test of time and trend and remains on the spot of the list of undying cafes in the midst of the rapid development. 

I have my list of my personal favorites, of course, which remains in my stash of local haunts and chains, which is always shared and revealed in my blogs *winks*

One such place, in my list, perfect for whole day dining and just hanging out, is this cafe which hailed from the Land of Down Under; Dome Cafe.

Originally from Perth, this was a cosy little place which opened their doors in our humble turf here in the tropical country in Malaysia way back in the year 1995; making it almost a decade since their first presence here in our region. Well, it was in Perth where I rekindled my love for this cafe for their gorgeous pastries were just too tasty and there is just something about the ambiance that makes me feel at home.

(Think, a good book with a good muffin and cup of tea or juice - since I don't do coffee, lol)

I have even sat in a quiet corner to finish up some work and had my late lunch at the same time; rather rare for me, as I never did like the idea of eating alone but that idea just did not bother me when I was here.

I am not sponsored by Dome's in any way, to write this post, and I am not going to continue to sing my praises in a form of advertisement on this post either or it is going to end up sounding so commercialized when I am supposed to share on the food, and oh well, a little of my personal sentiments and memories of this Australian cafe.

There's all-day breakfast menu if you are a big fan of big breakfasts; loaded with all ham, cheese, eggs, bacon and pancakes. Or there are also sandwiches to bite from; or a more filling option with their fillers.

If you are into usual treats from the kitchen, well, there are options from pasta to cutlets and even fusion served hot right from their kitchen; such as this,
Spicy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

Medium-sized chunks of chicken tossed with sliced button mushrooms served with their, oh, mushroom sauce which was a tad bit spicy and you can opt for either linguine or spaghetti. In this case, it was obviously spaghetti. Quite a handful, I must say, of the portion.

If rice is more of your thing, there's a few options and the Catch of the Day, with the sight of creamy hollandaise sauce with prawns and the buttered rice, topped with sauteed vegetables and a fish fillet grilled then served with cajun spices might just do the trick to tempt your palates.



If food isn't really on your mind, then the drinks might be of your interest.
If you are a non-caffeine lover like us, then you can try the options from their juicy treats.

Apple Crush
One of my personal favorites whenever I am here; loved the icy taste with the sweetness from the red apples, not to mention the fragrant taste of the apples?



Or for a smooth and creamy health boost, the Banana Shake sounds interesting?
(It depends if you are really, a banana fan, for it is really all bananas in this drink... :-)


What is your idea of a simple and relaxing meal?
What is your favorite place to chill out?

Healthy and tasty dishes at Purple Cane Tea Restaurant, The Gardens

After a month of being idle from my food blog (I was away on business and picking up new things at work), I am finally back with photos and posts from places I have tried while I was on my business trip :-)

One interesting restaurant which I was introduced to was this Purple Cane Tea Restaurant located at the lower ground floor of The Gardens.
Now, honestly, when I first heard of this restaurant, I was like, isn't Purple Cane famous for its tea merchandise? Are you sure they serve cuisines for dinner, instead of finger food to go with their tea?
I was assured that they definitely do serve more than just tea and thus began my first visit to this enchanting restaurant.


The interior was tastefully furnished with simple finishings of wood and shelves to store their main merchandise; tea which they proudly displayed in most of the sections of the restaurant.



The cuisines prepared from their menu claimed that they were concocted using their own brand of tea; and incorporated to shape that unique taste in their food.
That definitely got my attention immediately!

Even their rice is specially made with tea; and there is no white rice available but rather, Green Tea rice (MYR1.30) to go with your dishes.

The taste of the rice was nothing exotic nor exceptionally unusual, and I must say it was distinctly pleasant in its own flavor. The light taste of the green tea did lend a rather unique and exquisite taste to the usual white rice we have at home.
Something which is new yet interesting, and I must say that they have definitely revolutionized the concept of white rice :)
The rice came served in metal bowls like these.


Now on to the dishes we ordered:

Steamed sliced fish mashed Ginger in tea sauce (MYR22.00)



This got my vote for one of the most tantalizing dish to my taste buds. It was nothing short of simple; although it did sounded like our usual homecooked dish.
I love the strong combination of the mashed ginger which was served rather generously; and the slices of fish were steamed with the tea sauce which just created a wonderful match.

Braised beancurd and golden pumpkin in tea sauce (MYR15.00)


The dish arrived in a striking hue of golden yellow; a clear indication of the golden pumpkin used along with the braised beancurd served with diced mushrooms and ham and green peas.
Taste wise, it was just as impeccable as it looked, and the pumpkin just lent its natural sweetness to enhance the overall taste of the dish.


Braised broccoli with mushrooms in tea sauce (MYR15.00)


Yes, another dish which used their signature tea sauce in the making.
As you can see, there are even traces of the black/roasted tea leaves sitting on top of the mushrooms.


Fried Chicken with honey and tea (MYR18.00)


There was still room for dessert, or everyone was just excited to try their offerings on the menu and so, this was ordered:
Rice Balls with peanut (MYR5.00) (4 pieces)





The sticky peanut paste inside.
Is it me, or this looks more like sesame paste??



Total bill came up to about MYR82.15, for 4-5 pax, which was on the higher end of the price and I must say that the prices here do lean towards the higher side based on the portions and sizing of the dishes.
However, the dishes here do earn that extra credit for their healthy factor and also less oily, and unique ingredient in using tea in their preparation of their cuisines.
Perhaps that is the factor to the higher prices?

I am not sure, but I can say that I did enjoy the food here and also the quiet environment.
Service wise, it could be improved in terms of the attentiveness to the customer, in my own personal experience, that is, not sure about others :)
Overall, I would not say that I won't be back, because the healthy factor is an attraction and my parents did enjoy the food as well ;)

Taiwanese flavors at Foong Lye Fusion (蓬莱茶房)

Recently I was on the hunt for Taiwanese food, or more specifically this particular restaurant which I have tried in Queensbay Mall Penang and I tried to find them in KL; which I believed ought to have more outlets compared to this northern island.
I thought I saw that it was supposed to have an outlet in The Gardens, but well, guess I was wrong, because I just could not find it and it was a little frustrating especially during the peak lunch hours and I just popped into this one; Foong Lye Fusion, which was also another Taiwanese eatery chain as well.

Now, I have heard of this restaurant for a long time now; from most of the prominent KL bloggers whom I follow and I just never did seem to get the chance to visit the place (I am way behind all the bloggers, to be frank :P ), so I guess it was pure coincidence (or an opportunity perhaps?) that I finally stepped into this restaurant after so long.

Located on the 3rd Floor in The Gardens, this restaurant was packed and I even had to wait in queue; since I was there during the peak hours. So, yes, for the first time, I had to sit in line to wait for my turn.
They gave us a number and also a menu and a piece of paper for us to write down our orders while waiting for our turns; which was quite an efficient move, in my opinion.
I was surprised when they even served us mini cups of plum juice while waiting! Good service, and very thoughtful of them :-)
(Sorry, I forgot the pics of the juice and even of the restaurant, as I was just so focused on waiting and figuring out whether the restaurant I was looking for exist in that mall!)

We were finally ushered to our table after about, say, half an hour of waiting? I guess that would be considered a very positive case already since we were in a group of six?

Iced Lemon Tea


Choices are rather limited as compared to other Taiwanese restaurants that I have been to, but they are still quite alright. Most of their food are meat-related anyway, and definitely non-halal!
Although we have pre-ordered while waiting outside the restaurant, we still had to wait for quite some time before our food arrives.

We ordered this for starters, and because my mum is definitely a big fan of it!

Sweet Potato Balls (MYR5.30)

Served in a dainty little basket-like tray, their presentation certainly was quite up to the standard as well.

The golden potato balls are beautifully fried and tempts even the most uninterested.
Oh ya, there are little toothpicks provided to poke the potato balls with.


Sweet sticky potato paste inside the potato balls.

For the main courses, there are set meals or ala carte orders to choose from the menu.
The set meals range from MYR13.80-MYR28++; which can be quite pricey as well.

Spare Ribs with minced pork rice set (MYR19.80)

I must say that their food presentation is quite impressive, with their bento box for the main course and then a crescent-shaped plate for the sides.

The sides: Stir-fried long beans, deep fried meat ball and hard boiled egg with soy sauce.

The contents of the meat ball


The main course; minced pork rice and the spare ribs on the right


The spare ribs

The minced pork rice



Taiwan Sausage with glutinous rice




Taiwan Burger 
This is quite unique; whereby a flat piece of steamed bread which tastes like mantou folds over finely grounded nuts with sugar (something like Muar Chee?) and pork.





There is also a set which comes with the Taiwan Burger; whereby there is an additional bowl of Treasure Soup.
Taiwan Burger Set with soup


The soup is meant for the adventurous as it contains pig's intestines along with barley, lotus seeds and a variety of other herbs.



The burger with the set came with additional vegetables with the pork inside it.



Last but not least, the Steamed Fish with Pineapple rice set (MYR19.80)


This was quite unique; but I found the pineapples a little too salty as it was overwhelmed with the soy sauce serving in the steamed fish.
The fish was also a little overcooked; in my opinion, as I am really picky on the taste of my steamed fish since I am a fan.


The set also came with a minced pork rice



Overall, the food and the ambiance were quite alright, and I believed it would be better if you were to come during non-peak hours. Prices can be quite steep too, in my opinion but the food portion and presentation did make up for it, if not all.

Only drawback is that they only accept cash terms and no credit cards, so do make sure you bring enough cash when dining here especially when you come in large groups.