by Located in Old Malaya – the century-old heritage building that harkens back to the British colonization of Malaya, Mari Ristorante & Bar is the new addition to the sprawling stretch of renowned restaurants which are frequently visited by connoisseurs and foodies alike.
Helmed by Chef Cristian Grandi, the master behind the triumphant story of the much-lauded Luce Osteria Contemporanea (which you can read our review here), Mari Ristorante & Bar is a quaint dining sanctuary woven with whiffs of Italian cuisine with an Asian twist. The dashing chef has brought together the seem-to-be-contrasting Asian ingredients and Italian cuisine in a harmonious and palatable way in his repertoire of innovative dishes.
The dazzlingly dimly-lit restaurant has a chic interior yet heart-warming ambiance that quickly captivated our hearts from the first glance. The first floor with a lush background of the KL Tower is equally charming while diners can also take in the magnificent view of this iconic tower at the restaurant’s patio.
We were introduced to the restaurant’s top 3 dishes that would never fail to impress diners! Of course, we did not hesitate to revel in these lip-smacking treats.
1/ Tonarelli Al Granchio
The signature dish Tonarelli Al Granchio perfectly showcases the amalgamation of Italian cuisine with Asian ingredients. This house-made Tonarelli is cooked until it is al dente (firm to the bite) or your preferred doneness. We couldn’t wait to chow down on the dish as its tangy aroma was irresistible and the enticing soft-shell crab perked on top of the dish was eye-pleasing. The sumptuous delight was packed with briny flavors from the jumbo lump crab meat and the crab bisque which we were told by the chef that it was reduced for at least 6 hours! We were thrilled to try the unlike-any-other combination of salted egg yolk and Sardinia’s bottarga and our palate was satiated with this delectable savory goodness. Definitely a must-try!
2/ Filetto d'Agnello
Featuring the most priced and tender portion of a lamb (loin), Filletto d’Agnello is truly a delight to the palates. For this dish, the Chef recommends the doneness at rare or medium-rare to achieve a tender-to-the-bite and juicy texture. Grilled to perfection, the lamb loins are served with crunchy green beans and mashed sweet roasted potatoes that complimented the juicy lamb loin perfectly with its natural sweetness. Not to forget, the house-made butter mint sauce drizzled atop really brings all the ingredients together, resulting in a unified taste that diners cannot forgo!
3/ Mustaffa Pizza
Light yet satisfying! These are the best words to describe the signature Mustaffa Pizza. What’s special? The dough is hand-tossed and made from scratch upon order only. That’s not it, the toppings that go onto this pizza are also carefully selected for a heavenly bite filled with umami goodness. Starting with whipping cream as a base, mozzarella cheese next and following by smoked salmon, green zucchini and topped with salmon roe before serving. Every bite of this pizza is a pleasant surprise especially when the salmon roe pops and releases a hint of freshness and slight saltiness to enhance the pizza itself. No wonder it is a favourite among diners!
>> Click here to view this Mustaffa Pizza
TABLEAPP ELITE Members can redeem these signature dishes for free. Find out more about ELITE Membership here.
Mari Ristorante & Bar
Location: No. 2, Lorong Raja Chulan, 50250 Kuala Lumpur
