Few things symbolise comfort food like a large bowl of pasta, or good pizza. Admit it – there’s just something about Italian food! If you’re craving authentic Italian cuisine, there are many excellent restaurants in Malaysia to select from – but there’s a new kid on the block that stands out from the rest!
We were at the newly-reopened Renaissance Kuala Lumpur recently to check out their curated lunch set menu, which is everything Italian. And no, it wasn’t all just pasta and pizzas.
What used to be an all-day dining café has now evolved into a distinctive restaurant that aims to bring the nuances of Italy’s coastal dining scene to life. The Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, well known for the beauty of its coastline, vibrant culture and rich dining experience. All this inspired the essence of Evolution’s new chapter.
For lunch and dinner, Evolution serves a handpicked menu that is centered on staple Italian selections that appeal to curious taste buds, like homemade pasta, coastal dishes, aperitivo and spritz – echoing the Amalfi Coast. The menu reflects the chefs’ homegrown take on Italian cuisine, with authenticity being the greatest ingredient.
After marveling over the restaurant’s new look, we dug into its new offerings. Here’s what we sampled:
The Portata Principale lunch set is priced at RM98, where you get to choose one main course and the rest is from the buffet. For mains, we chose the Linguini Pasta and Grilled Australian Lamb Cutlet.
What makes the pasta special is that it is handmade. You can tell from the texture and taste that it’s really authentic. The linguini is drenched with a spicy tomato base, which is pleasantly mild. To compliment the pasta, there’s also a seared king salmon. We loved the crispiness of the skin and it was definitely fresh.
The Australian Lamb Cutlet was next, along with a side of braised Italian summer vegetables in Pomodoro sauce. The lamb cutlet was cooked medium rare and it was wonderfully juicy. Both mains were delicious – so much so that we wish the portions weren’t so small. Also, the lamb cutlet seemed rather lonely without its traditional side of mashed potato.
Together with this set, you get to enjoy an unlimited serving of appetizers, soups and desserts.
There were two soups served – mushroom and minestrone. Both were flavourful, if slightly salty. Next, we had some appetizers. Our top three favourites were the panzerotti, mozzarella sticks and mushroom truffle arancini. A panzerotti is a savory turnover that has a lot in common with the karipap. A common street food item in Italy, it’s crunchy on the outside and delicious on the inside. Fillings can differ – the ones we had included potato and bits of meat. The mozzarella sticks, meanwhile, were simple amazing. They were golden and crispy on the outside, but on the inside, they were melted gooey cheese. Lovely! Last but not least, the mushroom truffle arancini. The aromas of truffle and strong cheese gave the golden and crispy arancini balls an extra special kick.
There was also a variety of salads served – potato salad, beetroot salad, roasted cherry tomato salad and the classic DIY salad. They were all fresh and delicious. We think having a variety of salads, instead of just one, is a clever idea. That way you have more options for a healthier lunch.
Next, we had desserts – and they were to die for. With so much variety, we were definitely spoilt for choice. Some of our favourites were the cheesecake, raspberry cake, mango passion mousse, mango panna cotta, chocolate cake, and coffee crème brule.
All the treats were super rich, creamy and sweet enough for dessert lovers to enjoy. We loved how they were bite sized, which means you can eat many of them! There was also assorted gelato in flavours of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and lime sorbet. For something sweet and classic, you can opt for chocolate and vanilla, and for something refreshing, go for the strawberry and lime sorbet.
Besides the amazing Italian dishes, Evolution’s interior is truly impressive. With an elevated look, the restaurant beckons to diners in search of a casual urban setting with its touches of vibrant colours and neat, contemporary appointments. With a seating capacity of over 150 persons, Evolution has an open-kitchen concept to encourage interactions and theatrics from the chefs for a tasteful balance of liveliness amongst guests.
Head to Evolution at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur and experience one-of-a-kind Italian cuisine!
