PJ’s Bar and Grill @ New World Petaling Jaya Hotel

Latest Rooftop Dining in Petaling Jaya!

With a stunning view that stretches over our cosmopolitan city to mesmerize diners, PJ’s Bar & Grill is potentially a favorite hotspot for many to coome. The latest rooftop dining in Petaling Jaya, PJ’s Bar & Grill is located at PJ’s newest hotel – New World Petaling Jaya Hotel.

The restaurant is located on level 30 of the hotel, strategically set in Paradigm Mall in Kelana Jaya, in the middle of prime location for PJ. Being the tallest building in that area without any other high rise building to block its view, PJ’s Bar & Grill boast of a 360-degree view that will have many diners opting to snatch up its alfresco area to enjoy the beautiful cityscape view meeting the backdrop of nature.

A cocktail or an aperitif in hand is all one needs to complete this gorgeous scenic view in the evenings when the sun sets and the sky turns into a kaleidoscope of colours.

There hotel’s infinity pool is located next to the restaurant and echoes much gorgeousness at sight. Tempting us with its reflections of the sky, one is tempted to book a stay at the hotel to use this pool!

The restaurant’s indoor dining area is set spaciously with simple and minimalize design. Allowing natural lights from all the glass wall panels and a peak of the cityscape, dining indoors is just as lovely as its viewing deck area in different ways.

The bar offers plenty of beverages from cocktails, aperitifs, beers and wines to non-alcoholic drinks to keep every thirsty traveler happy.

PJ’s Bar and Grill is helmed by Executive Chef Alexander Chong and his culinary team. With over 20 years of culinary experience in internationally acclaim restaurants, Chef Chong brings forth his repertoire of Western and Asian cuisines in the menu of the restaurant.

As the name says, the menu is filled with small bites, soups, seafood and meat with a solid list of desserts thrown in for good measure. If you fancy live cooking, another focal point of PJ’s Bar & Grill is its indoor open grill, serving up the city’s freshest ‘Catch of the Day’.

Our mocktails of Hibiscus Cooler was nicely thirst-quenching for the evening to go with our meal.

For starter, Chef Chong whipped up his specialty of Crispy Fried Fish Skins with Salted Egg to tease our appetite for more to come. These crispy unctuous fish skins are super addictive with salty egg sinfulness and fragrant aromatics that will have you reaching out unconsciously.

Under Bites, we tucked into Beef Tartaré (RM28), classic French appetizer of chopped raw beef cubes seasoned with mustard aioli, served with sprouts, chili and capers as well as toasted garlic bread.  Add a little of everything to the beef tartare on toast and you get a delicious hit of flavours with a little heat and tangy.

House cured Marinated Salmon (RM28) was a classic crowd pleaser. Slices of sublime salmon with its smoky salty notes goes well with a salad of rocket leaves, thinly sliced onions, capers and a creamy sauce.

The Chowder (RM16), served in a pretty royal blue enamel pot, was lusciously thick with unctuous seafood essence. There were also pieces of chopped seafood in the chowder, finished with sprigs of dill and herb oil. Each spoonful is decadent and the portion was just right as it was very rich.

More from Bites, the Chicken Wings (RM26) came in a sticky sweet and spicy BBQ sauce. Sides of celery and blue cheese dressing completed the dish to echo the classic buffalo wings that we all enjoy.

For mains, it’s a feast of the grill! Savor Jumbo Satay of Chicken (RM28), Beef (RM38) or King Prawns (RM88). These were marinated and nicely chargrilled till cooked. The accompaniments of a spicy BBQ sauce and Chimichurri sauce jazzed up the meat and seafood skewers nicely.

For sharing, the PJ’s Party Platter (RM38) makes a hearty plate of various bites. From breaded Crabcakes and crispy Fried Soft-Shell Crab to hot Steak Fries and crispy Wonton Chips with various sauces, this platter is perfect with cold beer, cocktails and wine. The presentation also makes a wow factor at sight too.

To wrap up the evening on a sweet note, we opted for Classic Vanilla Crème Brûlée (RM28) and Citrus Baba (RM28).

Stunning night view from PJ's Bar and Grill

For dining enquiries or reservations at PJ’s Bar & Grill, please call (603) 7682 0000, e-mail marketing.petalingjaya@newworldhotels.com or visit petalingjaya.newworldhotels.com.

PJ’s BAR AND GRILL

Level 30, New World Hotel Petaling Jaya

Paradigm, 1 Jalan SS7/26A,

Kelana Jaya,

47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Website: www.petalingjaya.newworldhotels.com/en/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NewWorldPetalingJaya/

Business Hours:

11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily

YG Republique - Samgeori Butcher Korean BBQ @ TREC KL

K-Seoul Food!

With so many Korean restaurants on our shore, Malaysians are indeed blessed with these additions to our melting pot of available cuisines. Adding to the list, YG Republique is one Korean restaurant not to be missed. Under the umbrella of YG Foods, K-food and lifestyle celebrity Noh Hee Young heads the establishment of YG Republique that integrates Korean cuisine and entertainment at its best.

Located at TREC KL, Korean enthusiasts are treated to a modern Korean experience at YG Republique with an option of dining at Samgeori Butcher’s 삼거리 푸주간 or K-Pub. Featuring the finest premium cuts of pork & beef, Samgeori Butcher’s satiates foodies with classic Korean barbeque completed with other classic dishes while K-Pub aim to please those who wishes to unwind at a watering hole with Korean pub grub food.

With Korean entertainment of K-Pop celebrities thrown in for good measure, YG Republique certainly elevates the whole dining experience with Korean culture and lifestyle. Samgeori Butcher’s dining room, designed with modern urban industrial ambiance, features traces of famous K-Pop celebrities and their entourage who have visited this pork charcuterie. Spacious and colorful, the restaurant is modern and pleasantly comfortable with good ventilation.

At Samgeori Butcher’s, one can even catch a glimpse of their meat aging room where all their premium cuts of Spanish Black Iberico pork are cured in Cypress pine boxes. Their menu offers classic Korean BBQ as well as other ala carte dishes like, Jjigaes, stews, rice and noodles. The K-Pub has its own bar food menu which features Korean Fried Chicken, Tteokbokki, Korean Pancakes and other Korean snacks to go with drinks. Diners can also order from either menu at both outlets.

While waiting for our orders to arrive, the obligatory Banchan makes its appearance. These side dishes vary in all Korean restaurants and often makes a pulling factor for Korean foodies.

Samgeori’s banchan is rather generous as we enjoyed about ten types of side dishes such as Kimchi, White Kimchi, Pickled Radish, Mu Saengchae, Ueong Jorim, Korean Lettuce Salad and more. The White Kimchi is unusual and deliciously refreshing and addictive.

If you’re as fickle as me or rather as adventurous, go for the Butcher’s Sampler (420g – for 2 pax at RM170 | 600gm – for 3 to 4 pax at RM210). We had the smaller portion since we wanted to try other dishes as well.

The Butcher’s Sampler comes wrapped and served on a board. Featuring Spanish Iberico Pork of all 3 cuts of pork neck, pork belly & jaw.

As the acoustic of sizzling comes to sound, the air is also filled with luscious aroma of the pork being barbequed at sight. The meat is grlled without any seasoning so one taste the natural flavours of the Iberico pig. There’s plenty of dishes with bold and robust flavours to accompany these tender and juicy pieces of pork. Samgeori also has its own special sauces, garlic mustard and chili in soy sauce with onions, to accentuate the flavours of the swine.

Besides the delectable Korean bbq, we tucked into YG Special – Budae Jjigae (RM60). Also known as Army Stew, it’s a hodgepodge of ingredients that may sound odd but is delicious and piquant. This Korean famous army stew comes with with pork, ham, sausage, kimchi, ramen, rice cakes, vegetables and cheese in a savory and spicy broth. Utter comfort food with humble ingredients perfect, especially on cool nights, for those who enjoy soupy food with a spicy kick.

As we waited for our Budae Jjigae to cooked on the portable stove, we tucked into Spicy Squid and Pork Belly Bulgogi (RM35). Power packed with moreish and piquant flavours, the squid, pork and cabbage combo goes so well with steamed rice.

Besides Samgeori Butcher’s menu, we also sampled a few dishes from K-Pub’s menu. ‘Chimaek’ seemed to be the wave now and K-Pub’s Garlic Sauce Fried Chicken RM52 (M size) is pretty lip-smacking yum. Crispy, juicy and nicely seasoned, the fried chicken is also topped with bits of chili and aromatics. Now hand me a beer please…

The Assorted Dried Snacks (RM60) is pretty interesting and had my curiosity peaked. It consisted of various snacks imported from Korea that makes great drink pairing. There’s some shredded Dried Squid, Smoked Fish and Dried Fish and Rice Cracker balls served with a side of what seemed to be mayo in soy sauce. The snacks are salty enough without the sauce. I can see why this dish would be great to be chase down with some cold beer, soju or makgeolli.

Reasons to visit YG Republique? Good classic Korean food with a hip ambiance and a watering hole to unwind… oh and who knows which famous K-Pop celebrity you might just see there…

YG REPUBLIQUE – SAMGEORI BUTCHER

HG-01 & HG-02 Hive, TREC,

438, Jalan Tun Razak,

Kuala Lumpur.

opening hours | Lunch 12pm – 3pm; dinner 6pm – 2am

Tel: 03-2110 4104

Website: www.ygrepublique.com.my

Facebook: www.facebook.com/YGREPUBLIQUEKL/

Business Hours:

SamGeori Butcher: 12 pm – 3 pm (Lunch)
 6 pm – 2 am (Dinner)

K-Pub: 6 pm – 3 am