Best@Golden Triangle: Born&Bred: Reasonably-priced European cuisine served with panoramic city view By Kevin Khye-Ming Eichenberger kevin.eichenberger@thestar.com.my w ithout a signboard advertising its presence, and with a single freight elevator for access, Roofino Skydining and Bar blurs the line between a speakeasy and an elegant fine dining establishment.
After daytime business hours, when the offices are emptied out, the lobby of the KL Trillion building on Jalan Tun Razak is quiet and empty.
Only a standing sign indicates the presence of something other than offices within the 34-storey tower.
A uniformed guard at the reception desk appears accustomed to confused visitors wandering in off the street and makes a cursory nod in the direction of a freight elevator even before any words are exchanged. What was once a flat rooftop of reinforced concrete is now a two-storey high house of glass and steel, with the sprawl of Kuala Lumpur’s skyline interrupted only by steel beams and the sight of people lounging on an encircling deck. As a demure hostess checks her ledger for a dinner reservation, a determined diner will have to resist the temptation to wander through the lounge – the view, the inviting furniture, the chillhop tunes, and the familiar blue light flowing from the long bar will cause a delay in dinner plans in favour of a drink and a meditative survey of an urban landscape stretching to the horizon. The wide indoor dining area and the alfresco section on the deck are spacious enough to comfortably seat around 200 diners in total.
In a designed contrast to the lounge, where blue light dominates the interior, the indoor dining section is washed in gentle lighting of a more practical quality – served by fixtures seemingly transported from a luxury hotel to stud the double-height ceiling – while the exterior exudes a deep blue glow facilitated by an outdoor bar.
The menu is distinctly Western, with Italian dishes authentically titled; Europhiles would be pleased to find an affordably-priced spread featuring classic dishes such as Frutti di Mare, steaks, pizza, salads drizzled with balsamic vinegar – among various other expected offerings of the region. RATE EAT! Frutti di Mare A plate of spaghetti prepared al dente and overflowing with the “fruit of the sea” – shellfish (mussels and clams) splayed open, cut pieces of octopus, prawns with heads still attached to retain their succulence, and a dash of dried chilli flakes to provide a spicy twist on a classic dish inspired by coastal Italy.
Black Angus Beef Tenderloin with Torched Signature Butter on Angel Hair Pasta A hefty cut of mildly seared Angus beef tenderloin resting on capellini (angel hair pasta), with a decadent crust formed by torched Signature butter (arguably the world’s tastiest butter).
Served with black pepper sauce, a side of vegetables, and parsley, with the accompaniment of a tall glass of refreshing orange juice.
Mango Mirror cake A delectably rich mango mirror cake, delicately topped with a thin wafer of white chocolate embedded into a generous dollop of mango puree – served in colourful contrast with a decorative garnish of cold fruit and a warm welcome message spelled out in chocolate sauce. Classical Crêpe Suzette A classic French dessert – Crêpe Suzette, soaked in orange juice and accompanied by a tableside preparation of flaming Grand Marnier.
While the flame removes the alcohol content, the lingering taste of Grand Marnier in the tangy sauce, along with the bites of thinly sliced cold strawberries and tangerine segments, can leave one food drunk.
Opening Hours: 12.00pm – 1.00am Phone No: 012-216 1634 Address: 34th Floor, KL Trillion, Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/roofinokl/.
