Island Bistro

Finding something exciting to eat at the newly opened Pavilion is not a chore as there are so many choices available. Part of the Tangs Department Store which has returned to our shores, Island Bistro is located just in front of the pedestrian walkway to KL Convention Centre. Once the walkway which is equipped with an escalator is open, access will be easier for those who work at the offices within the KLCC area.

Located just at the side of the Island Shop, the bistro is split into two areas – the air conditioned area and the outdoor al-fresco area. Dine at the al-fresco area as it is breezy and well protected from the rain by a glass roof. Service is prompt even though one is dining outside. The menu offers a variety of popular Singapore and regional dishes given a slight twist. For instance, who would have imagined Roti John, which originates from Singapore, to be paired with fresh crabmeat and prawns. Other intriguing menu items are Assam Laksa served with chee cheong fun rolls, Tofu Panggang – grilled tofu topped with century egg slices, yau char kuai and prawn paste and even Fried Fu Chuk with a Laksa dip. All the main meals are Asian but the kids meals served have Western items to keep the small tykes happy.

Although Tofu Panggang and Crab Bisque flavoured with Lemongrass and coconut milk sounded tempting, we tried the Seafood Kerabu (RM12). Tossed with a beansprout and pepper shreds, the salad was served with generous portions of deep fried soft shell crab, fish and calamari. However the deep fried items were slightly soggy and looked pre-fried as it was not crisp enough. The sambal sauce which tasted mild and sweet didn’t seem to pair well with the salad either.

A better choice was the Black Pepper Crab Tung Hoon (RM16) with fried bean thread noodles sprinkled with crushed black pepper and topped with a deep fried soft shell crab. Slightly spicy with the black pepper, the noodles were delicious. However, the deep fried soft shell crab wasn’t crispy. Another speciality is the Singapore Laksa Lemak (RM22). Given a luxurious twist, this version is served with crayfish, prawns, quail eggs and fishcake. Creamy and artery clogging with the large amount of coconut milk used, the laksa is sinful. If you prefer, the bistro also offers a low fat version. Served with chewy rice noodles, slurp all the noodles down especially when coated with the thick and decadent curry broth. For those who want rice, Hainanese Chicken Rice and Fried Rice items are also in the menu.

For desserts, a selection of cakes and local desserts are available. Although the red rubies looked tempting with their bright jewel red tapioca flour coated water chestnuts, we went for the more traditional Sago Pudding Melaka (RM6). The sago pudding was achingly sweet from the thick palm sugar syrup. It would have been much better if the syrup could were served.

Address Lot C3.10.00 Level 3 Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur Train Bukit Bintang (Monorail) Tel 03-2145 1886 Open 10am to 10pm Cuisine Type Asian (Halal) Price Range RM30 to RM50 Credit Cards Mastercard, Visa Smoking Yes Food 3/5 Service 3/5 Order this Black Pepper Crab Fried Tung Hoon, Singapore Laksa Lemak Crayfish Skip This N/A