Over the last few years, my birthday has become a somewhat grand affair. Besides being a month-long merriment (self-declared, obviously), they have served as annual reminders of immense gratitude and renewed purpose - to revel in the joy of simply being alive.
And, this year's was no different. The celebration kicked off with a staycation at The Majestic KL, followed by a letter I wrote to my younger self to never forget where it all began, the sweetest birthday surprise at work, and an exquisite dinner at my favourite Middle Eastern restaurant.
Yesterday evening, one of my dearest friends on the planet made dinner reservations at a newly opened restaurant in town as a birthday treat, and she knows me well enough to pick a cuisine I'd most definitely love (if my annual trip to Bangkok and fondness for Indonesia are anything to go by).
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The Majapahit is a gorgeous new restaurant with plenty of winning points, its stunning decor being a massive part of it. The place is bathed in earthy hues with pops of colour, ceiling-to-floor glass panels, and surprisingly comfortable rattan furniture. The high ceiling was an excellent bonus, which meant terrific sound distribution (an appeal to my slightly misanthrope tendencies).
The prompt service here deserves a mention. The servers were attentive, polite, and the food arrived rather quickly - which was both good and bad. Good because we were ravenous; bad because the food was prepared beforehand, lacking warmth upon arrival.
Here's what we ordered:
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| SEAFOOD PAD THAI (Front) This noodle dish was decent. Perhaps we were nitpicking, but we thought it lacked the well-loved Thai flavour nuances - a blend of savoury, sweet, and sour in every forkful. COCONUT BUTTER CHICKEN (Back) The chicken cubes were tender and crispy, coated with a creamy sauce spiked with a tinge of heat from the abundance of capsicums and onions. |
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| VIETNAMESE GRILLED SUGARCANE PRAWNS (Front) | BALINESE FISH SATAY (Back) The 'meats' were well-seasoned and flavourful with delightful accompanying dips. Shame that they weren't grilled on the spot and served piping hot. |
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| TAB THIM KROB We ended the night on a sweet note, and this hits the spot for the both of us. |
The current menu is still a work in progress, which warrants a revisit a couple of months down the road. Presently, the all-day Happy Hour promotions (half a pint of Kronenbourg goes for RM11.00 - an absolute steal!), inviting ambience, and fair selection of finger food makes The Majapahit a fine after-work spot.
