There's something different in town. Aria’s Whisky Bar offers a choice of over 80 labels of single malt, 30 of which are available by the glass. We learned more about that after getting down to the business of why we had really come. Aria is the most recent addition to the Opus family and we were there to enjoy the same thing that has made its sister-restaurant so popular; traditional Italian food.
We began with their very popular clams in white wine sauce and the crowd-pleasing mixed mushroom surprise, which is served in paper and unwrapped at your table. The crispy breaded camembert cheese is deliciously warm and hearty and this alone is worth returning for.
The smoked duck in the linguine aglio-olio tasted less like duck and more like bacon, which added a nice saltiness to the al dente pasta. Our mains were the grilled spring chicken, one of their most frequently ordered dishes, and the prime rib. While the prime rib looks enormous on the plate, a voracious appetite could clean the bone. Alternatively it is pleasantly shared between two or more people who want to sample other dishes. Like the linguine.
The desserts were, pardon the pun, a treat. The light and crispy apple strudel was served with a dollop of tiramisu ice-cream. The chocolate lava cake came with ice-cream as well – Aria’s own exquisite blend of vanilla and lemon that left the palate keenly receptive to another bite of the rich, moist cake.
Before leaving we had to take a look at the whisky bar upstairs. The space is both comfortable and stately, with lit display cases showcasing dozens of bottles aged 10, 12, 18, 25 years. They are mainly from Scotland, but I am shown a bottle of award-winning Yamazaki single malt whisky.
The bar offers regular promotions and Aria is planning the start of a whisky club with additional promotions and tastings for members. .e ambience made me ask, jokingly whether there were cigars available as well. And there were. A whole range of them including Cohiba Siglo Vs.
Whether you come for the whisky, the cigars, the surroundings or the crispy breaded camembert cheese, Aria will have you returning for an encore.
For more information, visit Aria on www.dinemalaysia.com
Source: The Expat April 2011
This article has been edited for Expatgomalaysia.com
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