Porto Romano, Mon’t Kiara, Kuala Lumpur

If you are looking to feast on fusion-Mediterranean fare, this is it. With a name that suggests a certain authenticity, and a menu to show for it, you will not be disappointed with your experience at Porto Romano.

Tucked away at the most unassuming of locations, the ambience that greeted us was that of old-fashioned charm, with a bar doubling as their centre piece and various works of eclectic art adorning the walls.

Our reservations brought us upstairs to a more spacious area with al fresco dining options available for those who like the outdoors.

There are several large oblong tables, reminiscent of Da Vinci's Last Supper, so you can go ahead and book the place for big family get-togethers or even corporate gatherings.

The extensive menu available here is unpretentious and packed with humble street staples such as tapas, pizza and pasta as well as the more bourgeois selections such as lamb shank, and slipper lobster.

Now, on to the savoury dishes…

Dish #1: Pizza Pesto & Chicken (RM45)

Tomato sauce makes way for pesto sauce in this to-die-for pizza. A Porto Romano original.

Mien: The pizza was rather bland as there wasn’t much pesto. The chicken pieces were too chunky and tasteless, and overpowered the taste of the pesto. The pesto itself was good, hence, with more pesto, the pizza MIGHT have tasted better.

Shiv: They could have been more generous with the pesto layer, as the chicken pieces were too chunky and dry, and the pizza ended up being slightly bland and chewy. Needed a lot of help from the chili flakes and their special hot sauce, which was very flavourful I might add.

Gaj: Unimpressed and not a great way to start the meal. The chicken was sparse and chunky. Smaller cubes would have been better.

Kav: Hardly to-die-for… was a little bland and way too dry. They could have been a little more generous with the pesto.

Dish #2: Mediterranean Style Baked Fish – Barramundi Whole (RM45)

Barramundi is baked with sprinkling of olive oil & salt.

Mien: ABSOLUTELY EXQUISITE!!! Loved it!!! A very very simple dish, however, the FRESH fish carried the whole dish! AMAZING!

Shiv: Best dish of the night. It was fantastic in its simplicity. The fish was super duper fresh, and flavoured minimalistically so as to let the natural flavours of the fish carry the entire dish. Absolute magic!

Gaj: OMG! Love this dish, it was baked to perfection! This is how fish should be cooked, so simple, yet so amazing.

Kav: Love the fact that they barely seasoned the fish and yet it was delectable. Absolutely fresh and cooked just right with all its natural flavours and juices intact. They made an ordinary tasting fish extra-extraordinary. Bravo!!!

Dish #3: Pasta Nera con Calamari – Squid Ink Pasta (RM35)

Try our freshly made fettucine flavoured with squid ink and cooked with calamari rings. A Porto Romano specialty.

Mien: Surprisingly, I like this dish. Loved the flavour of the sauce. Went really well with the squid ink fettucine.

Shiv: Nice, but I expected a much stronger seafood flavour to come through, as I felt that the sweetness from the tomatoes overpowered the piquancy of the seafood flavour a little. Enjoyed it nevertheless.

Gaj: I actually enjoyed this dish despite the fact the I don’t eat squid. The accompanying sauce was simply delicious and I could have wiped the plate clean if they had served bread. Nice one!

Kav: My first experience eating squid ink pasta. Loved it!!! Usually dislike the rubbery texture of squid, however, this one was hardly rubbery and quite nice. The tangy flavour of the tomatoes combined with the seafood flavour was truly scrumptious.

Dish #4: Spaghetti con Canestrelli – Spaghetti with Fresh Scallops (RM34)

There are over 300 species of scallops worldwide. At Porto Romano, we use local Sun and Moon scallops (Amusium pleuronectes).

Mien: MEGA DISAPPOINTMENT, after all the delicious dishes. The scallops were stale and the pasta not flavoured well. Rather tasteless, I must say!

Shiv: Disappointing, as the scallops used were not as fresh, and the pasta was under-flavoured. Also, I don’t quite like this species of scallops, as they’re not as meaty and juicy.

Gaj: Soo upsetting as I LOVE scallops, but these scallops were old and had a funky smell to it. It totally ruined the pasta for me. Highly disappointing as scallops are easy to get right and they failed to do so. Epic fail!

Kav: POOR!!! The last thing you would expect from a classy restaurant is stale scallops. However, we were in for a rude awakening as the scallops were rubbery and did not have its usual bouncy texture. The stale scallops permeated the entire pasta, making it smell and taste bad.

No meal is complete without dessert, so here we go…

Dessert #1: Tiramisu (RM15)

Our version of Tiramisu using the best coffee and almond liqueur is sure to make you return to Porto Romano for more! Our signature dessert.

Mien: YUMMY IN MY TUMMY! Really good, although the alcohol was not ‘taste-able’. Just the right mix of coffee, mascaporne and sponge.

Shiv: A good rendition of this classic. Ultra smooth, with the perfect marriage of coffee and mascaporne. However, I initially thought it was a teetotaler version as the almond liqueur used was scarce and I tasted only hints of it when my spoon hit the bottom of the glass.

Gaj: The tiramisu was good and the liqueur was not overwhelming, which is a typical problem in most places.  Will definitely order it again!

Kav: Excellently done with a good balance of the sponge fingers and mascaporne.  My only bone to pick with this dessert is that it was a tad bit too sweet and they could have been a bit more generous with the almond liqueur (being the alcohol lover that I am).

Dessert #2: Panna Cotta – Cream Pudding (RM10)

Served with crushed walnuts and caramel.

Mien: One word……………. MEDICINE!

Shiv: Fail! Something was amiss here, as the texture was not as smooth as I would have liked, and there was an artificial flavour coming from the sauce coating the panna cotta. Not recommended.

Gaj: OMG, this was soo bad. Tasted like medicine and was just plain nasty!

Kav: Isn’t panna cotta an Italian dessert???!!! Then why is it that Italian restaurants in Malaysia hardly ever get it right!!! Had a chemical-like taste and the texture was not the usual ‘melt in your mouth’ goodness. BAD BAD BAD!

Dessert #3: Zabaglione Cassata Terrine (RM12)

There are many versions of this classic Italian layered dessert. This version uses marsala wine and almond flakes. Served with espresso sauce.

Mien: This was divine!! The best Porto has to offer… The coffee-mousse-y thingy and the gelato-like thingy… a godly combination!!!

Shiv: The best dessert of the night! Unrelenting to the dessert spoon, but otherwise on the palate. The superb combo of espresso cream, marsala wine and ice cream was just surreal. Porto Romano, you have made a casatta fan of me.

Gaj: This is very deserving of a  ‘AMAZEBALLS’. It is a perfect version of a cassata and I could have one of this every day, that’s how good it is!

Kav: It was like I had died and gone to heaven!!!! Just yummy…The coffee flavour with the ice cream like texture of the Zabaglione was like nothing I have ever tasted before. The crunchy almond flakes just set the whole dish off.

And finally, some cocktails for the road…

Cocktail #1: Red Sangrías (RM32.90)

Mien: One of the better sangrías in KL.

Shiv: Very good. Definitely one of the better sangrías I've tasted. The acidity of the citrus flavours paired well with the medium-bodied wine. Loved that they used fresh fruit juice instead of the bottled crap. Highly recommended.

Verdict: WOK ON

PRICE: Reasonable. Desserts are some of the cheapest we’ve come across. However, cocktails are a tad overpriced. (Total = RM303.70 for 4 dishes, 3 desserts and 2 alcoholic beverages)

AMBIENCE: Cozy, romantic and artsy. Outdoor dining available and the upstairs section seats large crowds.

SERVICE: Bad. They could not cope with the growing crowd as the night passed by. We had to request for cleanup services, water and more orders way too many times.

FOOD: Tasty selection mostly, with fusion cuisine being the name of the game here. We will be back for more!

PORTO ROMANO

K-1, MON’T KIARA BANYAN,

28 JALAN KIARA, MONT KIARA,

50480 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603-6207 8171

Email: enquiry@portoromano.my

Website: http://www.portoromano.my

Opening Hours:

11.00am – 12.00 midnight daily (later hours possible upon request)

Simply Mel’s, Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur

As it was a cold, rainy Friday evening, we decided to try some Malacca Portuguese cuisine at Simply Mel’s, Bangsar South. As it was touted to be really good, we thought what better way to spend a chilly night than by sampling some warm spicy food!

The ambience of the place was pleasant and cozy, with a bar towards the rear of the restaurant and a lounge with sofas to chill at the entrance.

Kav had Nasi Goreng Kampong style, served with belachan fried chicken, pineapple onion salad and fried egg. Kav requested for the pineapple onion salad to be replaced with kangkung belachan. (RM14.90)

Kav: I love nasi goreng kampong and have tried quite a number. This one was really bland. The saving grace was the fried chicken, as it was cooked well and therefore tender with all its juices intact. The kangkung belachan, also another one of my favourites, was average.

Gaj: I thought this dish was alright, felt like it could have used more belachan to make it spicier and give it more ‘oomph’.   A side serving of chili padi would have made it better.

Shiv: The chicken was spiced well before frying, but otherwise, this dish lacked flavour. The ikan bilis which is usually the highlight of nasi goreng kampong was scarce, if any at all. Would not order this again.

Mien: The fried rice was bland on its own. However, with the combination of the fried chicken, it was good. The kangkung belachan was alright.

Shiv had Mel’s Nasi Lemak Serai Chicken, coconut rice with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaf chicken with ikan bilis, egg, cucumber, kangkung belachan and ‘tambrinhyu sambal’. (RM14.90)

Kav: The sambal could have been more savoury and spicy. Loved the chicken as it was done just right – a little sour and savoury mix. Overall, a mediocre dish.

Gaj: The chicken was tender and the serai sauce was good. Again, I felt like the accompanying sambal could have been spicier. But then again, I enjoy my food a tad spicier than most.

Shiv: Loved the tomyami-ness of the chicken! However, the special ‘tambrinhyu sambal’ was sweet, which I really disliked! Sadly, a below average rendition of this classic Malaysian favourite.

Mien: The best thing amongst all the dishes we ordered. The chicken was good.

Mien had Saucy Spinach Noodles, wok-fried flat yellow mee with big prawn, crabmeat, chicken, fishcake, egg and beansprouts. (RM16.90)

Kav: Simply blah!!!! There was just nothing to lift this dish.

Gaj: I felt this dish was bland generally. Perhaps for those who enjoy less spicy dishes.

Shiv: Painfully plain and totally tasteless! Even some sambal belachan on the side could not prevent this not-so-humble bowl of noodles from delivering the culinary coup de grâce of the night for me.

Mien: Bland… alright….

We also had a side order of Mel’s sa Pesce Assa, a.k.a. Mel’s baked fish, a choice of seabass or stingray smothered in aromatic lemongrass and kaffir lime leaf sauce, wrapped in banana leaf and baked (seasonal price/100gms). We chose the stingray.

Kav: The gravy was again, not savoury and a little bland, and to make matters worse, the fish was stale and dry!!! Unacceptable!!! SIMPLY BAD!!!

Gaj: The stingray was not fresh, it was tough and did not fall of the bone as it should have. The sauce was not spicy enough to compensate for the lacklustre fish. Epic fail!

Shiv: I’ve tried better baked fish at hawker stalls, so it’s a shame that a place as reputable as this got it so wrong. Stale, dried-out and sweet baked fish is not the way to attract hungry humans, Mel!

Mien: Distasteful! Fish… stale… BAD!

We decided to share 3 desserts, the first being Sago Biji Gula Melaka, sago pearls in salted coconut milk with palm sugar. (RM6.90)

*Mel’s boasts of using the best quality gula Melaka, slow cooking it in pandan leaf with no added sugar.

Kav: The sago itself was really chewy and starchy. As such, I felt like I was eating two separate ingredients because it didn’t mix well.

Gaj: I did not enjoy this dish as the sago pearls were too clumped up. It was difficult to eat as some bites were too clumpy and others less so.

Shiv: This is one of my ultimate favourites of the local dessert variety, and Mel’s managed to botch it up, yet again! Separating the glutinous sago proved to be a Herculean effort, and as a result, the dessert just didn't come together. Maybe next time I'll carry one of those hand-held blender thingies with me... ;)

Mien: Sago was so starchy and tasted vile. Did not go well with the coconut milk and gula Melaka.

The second dessert we had was Durian Santan, chilled fresh durian in Mel’s flavoured coconut milk. (RM18.90)

*Warning: Not for those who DON'T think durians are the food of the gods!

Kav: Loved this dessert. The Durians used were of good quality and they were bittersweet, just the way I like it. The combination of santan and durian was NUTS!!! My one problem with this dish is that there was too much salt. Nevertheless, it was SIMPLY AMAZING!!!

Gaj: AMAZE-BALLS! The durian was creamy and yummy, just melt-in-your-mouth goodness. The coconut milk was a tad too salty, but the durian was too yummy for me to care too much about the saltiness of the coconut milk. Will definitely order it again!!!

Shiv: This was obviously the silver lining of an otherwise dismal dining experience at Mel’s. The durian was of the good variety, and there was an ample serving of it. The salty santan was the only drawback of this otherwise sublime dish.

Mien: Alright… I found it tooooooooooooo salty...

The ice cream lovers, Kav and Mien namely, had to have an ice cream before we left. So, we shared a cup of Last Polka Brown Butter and Almond ice cream. (RM9.20)

Kav: Dislike the chemical taste of the almond.

Gaj: Not a big fan as the almond had a chemical taste to it.

Shiv: Definitely not one of the better Last Polka flavours. Almond desserts somehow always end up tasting just a little chemical-ly, so I won’t fault the ladies behind Last Polka. I recommend trying the Salted Gula Melaka (RM7.20) flavour instead – it is divine!

Mien: Hmmm… questionable!

Verdict: WOK OFF!

PRICE: Reasonable.

AMBIENCE: Comfortable, suitable for family outings or a place to chill after work. Alfresco dining is available here. (Smokers can jump up and down in excitement now!)

SERVICE: Good. Food arrived promptly and the waiters were polite. The friendly owner, Mel, who has admirable PR skills, came around to talk to the patrons after dinner.

FOOD: A tad disappointing, but we may go back for the desserts.

SIMPLY MEL’S

UNIT 1-1A, 1^st FLOOR, THE SPHERE,

AVENUE 1, BANGSAR SOUTH,
NO. 8, JALAN KERINCHI
59200 KUALA LUMPUR

Tel: +603 2241 4525

Email: inquiries@simplymels.com

Website: http://www.simplymels.com/

Opening Hours:

10am to 10pm, daily

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