There's a pocket-friendly option at Ginza Tenkuni, St Regis Kuala Lumpur
Never underestimate the power of a good business lunch – it can either break or seal the deal. To impress your lunch date, seek out these restaurants that offer a variety of dishes that appeal to the fast or delicate diner.
Elegant Inn Hong Kong Cuisine, Menara Hap Seng
What: Executive Business Lunch set
When: Until Aug 26
How much: RM100 nett
Reservations: (03) 2070 9399
This standalone restaurant in the heart of the city has a legion of loyal fans and it’s easy to understand why. Top-rated Cantonese cuisine is consistently delivered with flair and, in celebration of its 10th anniversary, there is a special executive lunch set to take advantage of. For just RM100 nett for a minimum of two pax, take a break from workday stress to indulge in a soothingly luxe lunch. Start with a trio of dim sum followed by your choice of soup (giant seafood dumpling in cordycep flower soup or braised golden seafood soup with twin fish maw and Japanese dried scallops) before moving on to mains. Select from prime pork belly in dark prune vinaigrette with homemade fish curd, lotus leaf rice or simmered vermicelli with grouper fillet in superior broth. End the meal more than pleasantly with double-boiled natural peach amber in fresh almond cream and bird’s nest osmanthus cake.
Ginza Tenkuni, St Regis Kuala Lumpur
What: Ran Tempura Set Menu
When: Lunch and dinner
How much: RM250 nett
Reservations: (03) 2727 1111
If the infamously high prices of the Japanese restaurants at St Regis Kuala Lumpur have deterred you from giving them a try thus far, you can be comforted and encouraged by the fact that there’s an affordable(ish) option at Ginza Tenkuni now. The Ran menu (which means “orchid” in Japanese) offers diners a palate and pocket-friendly menu for both lunch and dinner. Edo-style tempura specialist Kenichi Ishikawa will serve up in glorious succession an appetiser, salad, two prawns, a type of seafood, three vegetables and his signature kakiage, before finishing with dessert. You can still enjoy the whole experience of dining at the glorious 300-year-old hinoki wood counter and being served in discreetly elegant style amid the restaurant’s luxe interiors without having to worry about getting a call from your bank after the meal. Now, if only Taka by Sushi Saito would do the same soon.
Cilantro Restaurant & Wine Bar
What: Executive Friday Lunch
When: Ongoing, every Friday
How much: RM188 nett per person
Reservations: (03) 2179 8082
You can’t call yourself a true foodie-about-town if you don’t have a preferred table at Cilantro or if restaurant manager Gatot Puji Raharjo (just Puji to regulars) doesn’t recognise you. Gourmets know how to always have a standing reservation on Fridays at the city’s sleekest dining room. The kitchen, run by chef extraordinaire Takashi Kimura, serves up a fresh, new pocket-friendly menu every Friday. For Aug 3, Chef-san will be serving his famous cold capellini, this time accompanied by mizu nasu and sea urchin, followed by Hokkaido seafood and fennel potage. Choose between Tsukiji Market fish or grilled wagyu and braised tail with green sanshou pepper for the mains, while dessert is azuki bostock with hojicha glacé. Coffee and tea comes with Cilantro’s compliments, as does a glass of sparkling wine. Real insiders know to take the rest of the day off as corkage is also waived for BYO bottles of wine and champagne. We can’t think of a better way to kick-start the weekend.
This article first appeared on July 30, 2018 in The Edge Malaysia.
