Tucked in a cosy corner of Damansara Heights are two crown jewels. The first is a place called Klimt’s; the second, its owner and chef, Rose Weiss. Klimt’s could be a little neighbourhood restaurant just off the Phiharmonikerstrasse in Vienna. The décor is unpretentious wood panelling and simple linen-covered tables. Overhead ceiling fans whirl lazily. The walls bear prints of Augustav Klimt’s most famous paintings and a number of delicate miniatures portraying Austrian nobles, all smiling as though they had just eaten some of Rose’s wonderful dishes.

One of Kuala Lumpur’s very best chefs, Rose is unquestionably queen of her kitchen. Each and every dish is prepared personally and she uses only the freshest of local produce. A whirlwind of activity, she also manages to doff her apron and cap for frequent visits to the dining room. There she chats happily with her customers, many of whom she knows by name and preferences. Rose estimates that she has about a hundred “regulars.”

Under her guidance, our meal started with a variety of appetizers. The Chicken Liver Pate with Marsala wine and French sage is the best I’ve tasted in a long time. Another treat, of which Rose is justifiably proud, is Baked Escargots in walnut-herb butter and melted mozzarella cheese. Two of the soups followed, a hearty Hungarian Gulash Soup redolent with spicy beef chunks, paprika and onions, and a Viennese Mushroom Soup made of wild mushrooms topped with a paprika-garlic cream. For the real fans of Austrian style cuisine, there are even Pickled Bismarck Herrings with fresh dill-gherkin mustard sauce.

Although Klimt’s is small with a maximum seating capacity of seventy, its menu is vast and features the very best of hearty Austrian cuisine. This is the food that built Arnold Schwarzenegger’s muscles. We left ourselves in Rose’s hands for the main courses as well. Happily she chose one of her own specialties, Poached Dory Fillet. The delicately cooked fillets topped with fresh dill cream and tiger prawns are served with Herbed Potatoes and salad. We then had a wonderfully tender Saddle of Venison Pot Roast served with pan-fried bread dumplings and garnished with juniper berry mushroom sauce. Our third entrée was a Roasted Rack of Lamb with herb sauce which gave new meaning to the phrase, “melt in your mouth.”

It was impossible to choose among Rose’s many delicious desserts and so she did it for us. Her Tiramisu, a delicate confection of Italian Mascarpone cheese and ladyfingers, is the perfect consummation to a hearty meal such as we had enjoyed. Also delicious is the Warm Apple Strudel which is freshly made each day. A special treat is Mohr im Hend, an old-fashioned Viennese treat of warm chocolate and hazelnut soufflé served with chocolate sauce and cream. Klimt’s has an extensive wine list but you might, however, want to try the Paulaner Hefe-Weisbier, a mellow white beer which is the perfect accompaniment to Austrian cuisine. Don’t miss out on this one. Klimt’s is a treat.

Fact File :
Klimt’s Restaurant
No. 6 – 5, Jalan Batai,
Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03.2092 1978

Business Hours: Monday to Friday: 12pm – 2:30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Saturday: 6pm – 11pm, Sunday: Closed

For more reviews visit: www.DineMalaysia.com