There’s a new contender for the championship of cuisine in Kuala Lumpur and his name is Tony Roma. Specialising in ribs, seafood and steak, the international chain recently opened its first restaurant in Malaysia at the Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall. My first visit was an altogether delightful experience.

Adam Mah, the genial General Manager of the new franchise, immediately set about organising a food feast for me. “Let’s start with a cocktail,” he suggested, then proceeded to order not one, but four drinks! I watched them being built – there is no other word – with awe; a “World Famous” Strawberry Romarita redolent with fruit, a sweet, fresh-tasting Pina Mango Swirl, a tart Mojito with fresh mint and lime, and finally a Pina Colada Virgin tasting of pure crushed pineapple. Nothing for it but to try them all. Ah, the things I do to please people! Each drink was fabulous, but I restrained myself. A word of caution about the cocktails at Tony Roma’sthey’re powerful, and you need to leave lots of room for the feast to follow.

Our first appetiser was a large Chicken Club Salad, fresh leaf lettuce garnished with grilled chicken, chopped eggs, turkey ham, tomato pesto, beef bacon, and grated cheddar cheese with a spicy salad dressing. Next came one of their most popular, Kick’n Shrimp, lightly fried prawns seasoned with white and black sesame seed, served with a creamy sauce giving them a flavour reminiscent of Asian cuisine. Adam then presented a dish of which he is justifiably proud, Tony Roma’s Onion Loaf. The onions are lightly breaded, deep-fried and then pressed into a ring mold. The golden result is served with tangy Buffalo Wings and a spinach dip. By this time, I was beginning to flag, but determined to soldier on and do my duty.

Tony Roma’s signature dish is Bountiful Beef Ribs, well-worth the trip to Sunway Pyramid all by themselves. Succulent and tender, they melt in your mouth. I smothered mine in Blue Ridge Smoky BBQ Sauce adding a taste of dark, rich Hickory wood. The ribs come with crisp French fries and a small bowl of chili beans. I then tried Grilled Mahi Mahi, a fish imported from New Zealand, which is firm-fleshed and delicious. Char-grilled and topped with scampi butter and tomato pesto sauce, the fillets are accompanied by generous portions of tamarind rice and crunchy broccoli. Ah! Grilled Chicken Spinach Stack! Two tender chicken breasts fresh from the open grill covered with a rich blend of four cheeses, artichoke hearts and creamy spinach. The result is lightly baked and served with rice and fresh vegetables. This is a dish to be eaten slowly and savoured.

It doesn’t seem possible, but I actually had a little room for dessert. TR’s Chocolate Avalanche is so good that if everyone on earth could eat it at the same time, the result would probably be world peace. Molten chocolate cake is smothered in vanilla ice cream and topped with hot chocolate fudge and Oreo crumbles. After one mouthful I could only sigh and wish that I had not previously sampled absolutely everything on the table.

The flagship Tony Roma’s at Sunway Pyramid opened on November 9, and it is the first of four planned for Kuala Lumpur. Its hours are from 11:00 am to late evening; all major credit cards are accepted. Reservations are recommended in the evening except on weekends when line-ups can occur. Call 03 7492 1188.

Source: The Expat Magazine

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This article has been edited for ExpatGoMalaysia.com