Urban @Istana Hotel

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Another day out with my buddy, Pei San. This time we explored Urban at Hotel Istana. This restaurant serves contemporary cuisine which means Contemporary cuisine approaches the ingredient with the utmost respect. One of the characteristics of this style of cooking is to take each ingredient and respect the integrity of that ingredient as much as possible. This means that the ingredients that are used have to be of the highest possible quality that can be acquired. Freshness is paramount. Food as living, organic matter contains good flavor based upon how the life in the product is treated. The method that was used to raise the ingredient is also important.
Squid Salad @RM28.00++
Outlook: 2/5
Creativity: 3/5
Taste: 1/5
Price: 2/5
Overall: 2/5 - The squid is not as crispy as it may look. Not just that, you hardly taste the squid itself too. The flourish taste is somehow stronger than the squid itself. It was a pretty bad salad.
Lobster Soup @RM38.00++
Outlook: 3/5
Creativity: 4/5
Taste: 4/5
Price: 2/5
Overall: 3/5 - The appearance may looks deceiving but after the first sip of it you can taste the strong aromatic lobster taste delightfully roaming all around your mouth. Without a doubt, this is one of the best lobster soup I have tasted so far.

Macaroni Carbonara @RM36.00++
Outlook: 4/5
Creativity: 4/5
Taste: 4/5
Price: 3/5
Overall: 3/5 - The moment it served in front of me, I did have the feeling that the portion is a little too small. However after a few bites, I am half full already. It is a really filling meal. As for taste, without a doubt the creamy and cheesy taste of the carbonara definitely enlighten me. Every bite leaves me a smile on my face. 
Cod Fish @RM63.00++
Outlook: 4/5
Creativity: 4/5
Taste: 2/5
Price: 3/5
Overall: 3/5 - It was supposed to be a good dish because of the delightful gravy to entice the taste. However, the cod fish itself did not taste fresh at all. The fishy taste is awfully disgusting. It somehow affecting my appetite.
Mango Tartin @RM25.00++
Outlook: 3/5
Creativity: 4/5
Taste: 4/5
Price: 3/5
Overall: 3/5 - I love this dessert so much. It has somehow redeemed back my lost appetite after the disappointing cod fish. I love the hot crispy crust combined with the amazingly sweet mango which comes with the chilling vanilla ice cream. The combination has the same idea like the Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream but the experience is totally different. This dessert deserved a full mark if they serve a bigger scoop of vanilla ice cream. As what you can see from the photo above, the ice cream size is pathetically tiny!
Creme Brulee @RM27.00++
Outlook: 4/5
Creativity: 3/5
Taste: 2/5
Price: 3/5
Overall: 3/5 - Outlook does deceiving. The taste is not as what I have expected from the outlook. There is no vanilla bean inside. All their vanilla beans seems like being sprinkled last minute on the top. What is inside was just pure tasteless cream. The worst creme brulee I have tasted so far.

Overall, I have to agree that their service was very good and professional. However, their food quality is far below my expectation. I do not really recommend this restaurant.
Total Damage: RM295.15 (2 pax)
Service: 4/5
Ambiance: 3/5
Food Serving Speed: Moderate
Will I Revisit?: No

 Urban
Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur
73, Jalan Raja Chulan,
50200 KL
Tel: 03-21419988
Business Hours: 12.00pm - 2.30pm; 6.30pm - 10.30pm (Sunday off)
Location: Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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