Fried, pan seared, grilled, raw – you name it, the ocean is full of delicious ingredients that can be prepared in a variety of ways. The options are pretty much endless for seafood lovers.
And if you belong to this group of foodies, guess what? There’s a shining star in the Klang Valley’s gastronomic scene that you’ve just got to try out!
Situated in the well-travelled Telawi 3 area of Bangsar, BAIT is KL’s original seafood and oyster bar, tucked away amid the many restaurants of the gourmet hotspot. The restaurant’s pink neon sign, which blinks a tempting announcement of fresh oysters, instantly draws attention to its straightforward, unadorned décor of wooden paneling and naked lightbulbs strung from latticed metal frames.
The restaurant has been dazzling patrons with delectable ocean fare and more for nearly six years. The best part about this place is that super fresh, carefully-chosen ingredients are used in recipes that are continually being created. We were given the opportunity to sample their newly-expanded menu, which features chef’s specials and a lot more small meals that are perfect for snacking on and sharing with friends, while taking in the laid-back atmosphere of the establishment.
So, let’s dig in!
Oyster
A must-try if you visit this restaurant is their oysters. We heard they have pretty good and fresh oysters – and of course, we had to try them. We went with 1/2 dozen, which were served on beds of ice, lemon slices and their special sauce, which was white wine, garlic and cream. The oysters were really fresh. Adding the lemon juice and special sauce really elevated our oyster experience. They were delicious!
Mac N Cheese
Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food. But this isn’t JUST mac and cheese. At Bait, you can check out one of their appetizers, the grilled mac and cheese. Coming in cutlets, this appetizer is golden crispy on the outside and super, super cheesy on the inside. The serving of two wasn’t enough though – hopefully, they’ll up the portion in future. Also, the cheesy cutlets are served with tomato ketchup, giving a hint of acidity in each bite.
Grilled Caesar Salad
A fancy way of having your salad! We also think it’s a clever way to get kids or non-vege fans to eat their greens. Unlike the regular Caesar salad, this is grilled, giving you perfectly charred veggies and a smoky aftertaste. Plus, the croutons and bacon gave a salty and crispy taste, making the salad extra yummy. Enjoying the salad is hassle-free, because the staff will help you cut your salad into bite sizes.
Chef’s Special Menu
As we mentioned, BAIT has a new menu which features three dishes, specially curated by their chef. We got to sample two of them, beginning with Dover’s Sole. Featuring a pan fried whole Dover Sole, the first dish comes with a generous serving of clams and mussels. Topped with Capers Butter Sauce, you’ll get a savoury, buttery and refreshing taste in each bite. The fish was fresh and really crispy, and although it looked really flat, it was quite meaty and filling.
Next, we tried the Mushroom Risotto. This dish features wild forest mushrooms and fresh black truffles served with risotto. Absolutely creamy and perfectly cooked! However, we recommend sharing this dish (probably about 3-4 pax, if you’re a small eater) since the portion is quite large and filling. We also suggest pairing the risotto with another dish of a different flavour or texture for a breather from the mushroom flavour. Take note: there’s no spiciness or crunchy texture in this dish.
Fish And Chips
BAIT’s signature dish celebrates the timeless classic with a burst of modern flavour. You get to pick from three types of fish, but we were recommended going with the butterfish, which was tender and piping hot. We loved how the batter was golden and crispy, and not too thick. Perfectly coated to give you that crunch and fish meat in each bite. This dish is served with mushy peas, mixed salad, fries and, of course, a must have – tartar sauce.
Dessert
If you’re a regular reader, you’d know that we never leave a dining establishment without trying the desserts. We saw some cakes on BAIT’s menu and decided to go with two different treats.
The first dessert was Burnt Cheesecake. Ah, if only you could see our ACTUAL reaction. This cheesecake was absolutely amazing! It was super cheesy and creamy, and has the perfect amount of sweetness. The burnt part right on the top was perfectly done. This cake really gave our meal a perfect ending.
But that’s not all. We also tried the gluten-free tiramisu. To be honest, we were a bit sceptical with this one, since it’s gluten-free, and assumed that the texture and taste would be different from a regular tiramisu. Guess what? We couldn’t tell the difference! This tiramisu has a strong coffee flavour (really good coffee taste!). It was also rich and creamy. But unlike regular tiramisu, this one has got almond chunks as toppings. So, we got this rich and creamy texture along with some crunchiness in every bite. Simply delicious!
We had a terrific time at BAIT. We loved the ambience and the friendly staff who attended to our needs. The food was super delicious – so, definitely a great place to enjoy a great lunch!
