Blue Reef @ Straits Quay, Penang.

Blue Reef first made its name at Casa Permai 2, Tanjung Bungah before sealing a move to the latest seaside complex mall, Straits Quay.
My ears have been receiving words regarding the awesomeness of the restaurant which has the slogan, "The Best Fish & Chips In Town".
Two days ago, i have finally stepped into this restaurant along with my other half.
Initially, there was only a couple of customers but then the place was stormed by clans of white-collar workers.
The ambiance was okay during my visit.
According to my other half who has been there for a couple of times, the place is always crowded and noisy when it comes to weekends especially dinner time.
It also appears that they don't take any reservation during weekends.
Tables are distributed on a first come, first serve basis on Sats and Suns.

We both were greeted and treated so nicely by the crew there.
The black hardcover menu which has its logo and address engraved on it is simple, and the simple is definitely nice too.
Meanwhile, they are launching a weekday lunch promotion which you are entitled to enjoy the soup of the day with garlic bread plus a refreshing glass of iced lemon tea with just an additional RM1 with an order of any main course.
Of course, we took the offer.

Our iced lemon tea, nothing worth to be mentioned except the bloody low price.
Do take note that free flow of sky juice is available upon request.

The soup of the day was the Pumpkin Soup, i guess.
We were very much surprised as the soup was served in a big portion which can easily feed two.
The soup warmed our hearts as smileys were manually drawn on them by an unknown liquid.
It was a wonderfully comforting soup to enjoy as a result of the pumpkin's sweetness, tastiness.
The great thing was that there was no lump at all, the soup was extremely smooth.
Furthermore, the actual price is around RM8, what a steal we have got ourselves here!

One of our main courses was the Fish & Chips Mahi-Mahi.
Under the category of Fish & Chips, you are to choose a species of fish.
Besides, it is your decision whether you want your fish coated in bread crumbs or traditionally beer battered.
I went for the cheapest one, Mahi-Mahi (RM16) which is a common surface fish that is found in off shore environments of tropical and subtropical areas of the world and i have chosen bread crumbs.
The rough-textured fish was dry and crispy on the outside.
However, the flesh was fresh, firm and succulent, in other words, magnificent.
French Fries lied beneath the flat and curvy fish which has a sliced lemon sitting on it.
A mountain of salad with a unique dressing was served along.
Other than those basic condiments, a generous amount of mouth-watering Tartar sauce and malt vinegar were provided.
For your information, vinegar is widely used as a major condiment for Fish & Chips across the globe but it is kind of rare here.
I personally found that the malt vinegar aided me in not getting bored with big sized fish and the combination of fish, vinegar and Tartar sauce was a pretty good call.

Next, it was the Smoked Salmon Linguini (RM22).
Liguini, or more accurately known as liguine can be defined as pasta in a long slender flat strips.
The linguine was cooked to al dente, literally to stick to teeth.
Of course, it was spectacular as well as the pasta sauce.
The pale-looking sauce was creamy and cheesy.
In order to create contrast, the white, sticky sauce was purposely made to taste plain.
This certainly perfect matched the super appetizing smoked salmon by setting off its intense smokey taste.
Just stuff some linguine along with the salmon into your mouth and let the good time begin.
No doubt, you will be impressed like i was.

At last, this was my first visit here but i guarantee that it won't be the last.
I see it as a quality dining spot which offers reasonably priced food and that is the reason i will visit it again and again.
Two thumbs up, from me!

Address :
3A-G-20 Straits Quay,
Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang,
10470 Penang.

Operation Hours :
11am - 10pm

Contact no. :

016 - 4059182

Email :

bluereef.fnc@gmail.com

Website:
[click here]

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Caffe Strada @ Krystal Point, Penang.

Strada Caffe or Caffe Strada has been on my hunting list for a long while due to its strategic location and its attractive exterior.
It is situated at Krystal Point and shops like La Mei Zi (辣妹子), Domino's Pizza and Korea Palace are its friendly neighbours.
The cafe can be spotted easily on the way from Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway to the busy Bayan Baru Roundabout.
Hundred metres before the roundabout, the place is on your right hand side.
Do take note that the cafe has no relation to Strada at Pulau Tikus.
My strong desire to try it out dominated my mind and without any research, i purchased the voucher deals from Ezivoucher.

The cafe is separated into two parts: smoking (outdoor) and non-smoking (indoor) areas.
It is indisputably a flawless spot for enjoying soccer games.

Indoor.

Outdoor which is full of western atmosphere.

Surprisingly, my other half and i were the only customers and the time was 7pm which is a golden family dinner time.
A waitress came to attend us and the reasons why the cafe was so empty revealed themselves one after another.
Hmm, i could design a more impressive menu myself and even my PIXMA offers a much better printing quality.

With the vouchers, there were 3 options of main courses provided and they were Spaghetti Bolognese, Chicken Fillet Rice and Honey Black Pepper Grilled Chicken.
We picked the spaghetti and grilled chicken.
Besides, iced lemon tea, soup of the day and dessert were included in the voucher.
I don't know why, the waiters and waitress never smiled.
You know what? They never spilt out a 'thank you'.
When i say never, i really mean NEVER.
Even the guy who enquired me for my voucher codes and who looks like the supervisor or manager, no 'thank you', no 'sorry' and no 'smiley face' from him too.
Our iced lemon tea which was severely diluted was the first to arrive.

The spicy tomato soup was quite alright.
A twist between sour and spicy taste was a good shot and it made the soup pretty appetizing.
Countable pieces of mushroom and crab rolls were dipped inside the orange red solution.

Next, it was the Spaghetti Bolognese which tasted so-so.
The unique thing was the spaghetti which was small in diameter, in other words, thin and it was smooth.
However, firm spaghetti is nothing without a proper yummy sauce.
The Bolognese sauce with minced meat was normal, got nothing special.
Oh ya, a slice of garlic bread was served along.

Regarding the Honey Black Pepper Grilled Chicken, i personally felt that the meat was hard to cut out.
We believed that it was because of the marination of the honey black pepper gravy.
The honeyed black peppery taste was odd but i had no problem going with it.
It was challenging to describe what my taste buds felt, the best is imagining that you are having black pepper chicken chop which has a layer of honey on top of it.
In conclusion, the taste was just okay and so did the portion.

Lastly, a glass bowl which accommodates a few cubes of watermelon was served as the dessert.
What comment can i make on this naturally glucose-rich fruit?

Overall, the course meal definitely worth for the price we have paid which was RM9.90.
I am glad that i did not step into this cafe before purchasing the vouchers.
Phew, i nearly made the move, so close.
A friend of mine highly recommended me the Seafood Chowder in Bread Bowl and i initially intended to order that.
At last, i did not as a result of the unpleasant encounters.
With such price, i can't complain more, can i?
Here is a reminder, i '3.5-starred' the ambiance as the environment was super silent when i was there.

Address :
Block 1-01-12, 13 &14, Krystal Point Corp Park,
Lebuh Bkt Kecil 6, Krystal Point II,
11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang
[google map]

Operation hours :
12pm – 12am

Contact no. :
04 - 6436643 / 012 - 3171609

Email :
StradaDeStrada@gmail.com

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Chicago Rib House 1st Anniv Promo @ Gurney Plaza, Penang.

For your information, Chicago Rib House was originally located at Autocity for a year plus before eventually moving to Gurney Plaza.
Time flies and now, they are celebrating its one year old birthday by offering 50% off two of the restaurant's signature dishes, Carlsberg beer as well as imported Hoegaarden beer.
However, this awesome promotion is only valid from 11 to 15 May 2011.
Grab yours now!

To ease my worries over seat availability, i called and made a reservation a night before.
However, when i was there, i was told that they can't locate my name and phone number in the list of reservations.
Excuse me? The miss even repeated my name and number correctly while we were on the phone.
The poor thing was that i forgotten to request for her name.
Out of my expectation, the receptionists sounded like i never made any reservation but pretending like i did.
Later, they decided to give me an outdoor table.
As the weather was extremely warm and i hate people staring at me while i am eating, i attempted to give up and seek for another restaurant.
In addition, i have requested for an indoor table when placing my so-called 'reservation' and the girl said no problem.
While i was leaving, one of them 'apologized' by saying 'i am sorry, WE ARE TOO BUSY'.
I got really fed up and after some arguments, i was finally seated inside the restaurant.
Surprisingly, the tables inside were set up but there was plenty of empty space which could approximately accommodate at least two more tables.

The outdoor dining area which is exposed to the public.

The classy interior.

A brief history of Chicago Rib House.

Other than the four kinds of basic condiments, you could always demand for Tabasco sauce.
Oh ya, drinking water is free of charge.
From now onwards, the service was okay.

Their famous St Louis Pork Ribs and Grilled Blackened Catch which have price tags of RM30.90 and RM18.90 respectively were on half-price.
I have previously tried the ribs and i am not fond of it.
Hence, i went for the grilled fish and so did my other half.
Apart from the price, the only difference between non-promotional and promotional Grilled Blackened Catch is that you are to choose two sidelines from the list of options.
For promotional ones, the two sidelines are fixed and they are Coleslaw and French Fries.
With a waiting time of 10 minutes, our food was served hot.
I, who is not a salad person got no comment for the salad.
The addictive Fries were potatoish / potatoey, just like those you could find at Nando's.
I believe that the Fries were homemade ones cause potato skin were still deposited on the bodies.
The fish may not look good but trust me, you are gonna be amazed with your very first bite.
Judging from its appearance, it was dry but actually it wasn't.
Seriously, it looked like a tarred fish fillet due to the black unknown seasoning or sauce.
The flesh was succulent, smooth, firm and saturated with the taste of the seasoning which diffused itself into the flesh in the grilling process.
All i could say is that the fish tasted a bit like black pepper with the perfect amount of saltiness.
I have never tasted such extraordinary thing in my life before i stepped into Chicago Rib House and this fish was ordered during all my previous visits.
The best part was the edge on the fish which was super crispy.
Two thumbs up for the Grilled Blackened Catch!

A comparison between promotional and non-promotional one which was taken exactly a month ago.

The reasonably priced Brownie (RM6.90) is one of my all-time favourites.
Beneath the large scoop of vanilla ice cream was the rectangular dense and rich chocolate cake.
The texture of the Brownie was like a cross between cake and cookie.
In other words, you could feel the soft and crunchy texture simultaneously.
The Brownie was so hot until the ice cream melted in no time.
Furthermore, some of the chocolate inside the cake was still in liquid state.
No doubt, the combination of cold ice cream and warm chocolate cake will get your taste buds tingled.

The meal was fantastic but the reservation problem made the experience a not-so-pleasant one.
Despite the unpleasant encounter, i am sure that i will revisit the restaurant.
The quality of the food served is simply top class.
Click the poster below for more info regarding the short term promotion.

Address :
Ground Floor, Gurney Plaza (on same row with Starbucks).

Operation hours :

11 AM to 11 PM

Contact no. :
604 - 2290763

Fax no. :
604 - 2290985

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Delicious Cafe @ Straits Quay, Penang.

Click here to check out my latest Delicious Cafe review!
Greetings and felicitations!
There are an infinite number of amazing-but-true-facts around us.
The very best example is that it is anatomically impracticable to lick your own elbow.
You are trying it, aren't you?
However, you may defy that if you are double jointed or you possess a exceptionally long tongue or a chameleon-like ballistic tongue.
Here is another one, i guess everyone knows about the old aphorism "like father, like son" but is this saying true?
It tends to be true, only in some cases.
The best instance i could think of is the illustrious E&O projects.
First, the achievement of the colonial-style sea confronting hotel, Eastern & Oriental Hotel was succeeded by its subsidiary, Delicious Cafe which now has a total of 5 outlets across Malaysia.
Straits Quay which was established at the end of last year followed the trend and now, it is reckoned as one of the coolest high key hangout spots in Penang island.
Penang is not as prosperous as KL and eventually, quite a number of restaurants which could be found in the capital of Malaysia can't be located here.
Nevertheless, we do have Charlie Brown Cafe and the first Delicious Cafe in Penang which has just opened its door four days ago.
Ladies and gentlemen, please accept my apology for the low-quality pictures taken as i was there at night and it was dim inside the cafe.
Their exterior looks plain and i found it challenging to spot the words 'delicious' from some distance.

The whole interior is done in a contemporary style and it is nature themed or heaven themed.
No doubt, white colour looks dominate the elegant cafe with an abundance of white bird cages which are trapping the blue light suspending at every corner.
Are the cages symbolizing purity, peace and freedom?
The place is as big as a castle and it is divided into three sections: lounging area, dining area and private rooms.
Comfortable couches and low height coffee tables are made available in the lounging area and you are only allowed to have drinks and desserts in that particular area.
You may sit under the white holy tree when you are queueing to be seated.
There is also an outdoor dining area which also serves as a smoking area.

The queueing region.

The dining area.

The relaxing lounging area & private room.

Alluring bakes & cakes were displayed right at the front door.

The outdoor dining area.

My other half and i were originally seated in the lounging area but our decision to try the pie forced us to shift to the dining area.
At the first sight, the completely white menu was plain and dull but actually it was not.
There are engravings on the menu cover which form a repetition of flower leaf pattern.
We were encountering omnivore's dilemma as a vast array of food which comprises burgers, sandwiches, grazing, desserts and pastries was offered.
It was pretty difficult to choose with only the complicated food names and limited descriptions provided.
For your information, there is not even a single picture in the menu booklet.
Besides, some of the food listed are ranked as vegetarian friendly.
The staff was so friendly, helpful and he even crouched down when taking our orders.
He gave us a list of recommendations where we picked two from.
Both of them turned out to be super satisfying.
Regarding drinks, we went for cold drinking water which was free of charge.
I have got to give them a thumb up in term of service.
There was no need to summon the service crew for water refilling, they were wandering here and there, standing by to offer their service with a jug of water in their hands.

We did really adore the traditionally paired set of condiments there.
The salt and pepper mills found here are may be regarded as rare objects in Penang.
You will have to grind the salt cubes and peppercorn yourself by twisting the grinder.
As a result, freshly ground black pepper is created.

The staff claimed that the Macadamia Cheesecake (RM13.90) is one of the cafe's best-sellers.
With no hesitation, we bought ourselves one too.
We did not wait long for our food and the cake was the first to arrive.

Out of our expectation, the portion was big and it was cup-shaped with thick solidified caramel sitting on its head.
In addition, there was plentiful macadamia nuts above the pale yellowish cake.
Those nuts were not original ones cause they were already been caramelized.
With reference to the pictures below, there was a thin brown layer beneath everything which i believe it was made from chopped macadamia nuts.

The smooth and slightly tarty cake melted right away when it got involved with my saliva.
This not only flooded my taste buds with pure splendour but also left me longing for more.
Just enjoy the cake along with some caramel and nuts which are crunchy and buttery.
The combination will absolutely produce a decadent piece of heaven.

Here came our Chicken & Leek Pie (RM20.90).
The golden brown pie was accompanied by some salad and a ceramic 'wishing lamp' of unidentified cream sauce which was suspected to be cream of mushroom soup.
Other than that, the top part of the pie can be opened and inside the pie was a huge, solid and compact mash of chicken meat.
The light brown pie shell was super thin and crispy.
Speaking of the chicken meat, it was tender and delicate, not to mention its juiciness which was still there despite being oven baked.
The cream sauce simply perfect matched the pie and so did black pepper.

Overall, every extra penny deserves its value.
I found the prices quite reasonable for such truly scrumptious homemade food in such lovely dining environment.
Just, i think that it is necessary for them to install some curtains and floor mats for sound absorption.
The place was full of noises and you know what, one of my macadamia nuts fell onto my ceramic plate and it resulted in a loud cracking sound.
But, i will be back, for sure.

Address :
3C-G-3 & 3A, Ground Floor, Straits Quay.

Operation hours :

10 am to 12 am [weekdays]

9 am to 12 am [weekends & public holidays]

Contact no. :
604 - 8998555

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