Time for full disclosure: I spent nearly 10 years working in restaurants back in the States and have also trained as a chef, so it’s safe to say I really enjoy a good dining experience. What I experienced when I visited the upscale Mezze bistro, nestled in an unassuming neighborhood along Jalan Kasah, was sublime. From the moment I walked in through the front door – it’s a sliding door, of all things – I felt I was in for a special night.

A quick scan through the eclectic menu only fanned the flames of anticipation, and the dishes lived up to my expectation. The quality of food that Mezze sources is top-notch, and it’s reflected in the finished product. Every plate inspired admiration, from the popular (and often off-menu) Creamy Artichoke Dip to the Spicy Asian Buffalo-style Chicken Wings, their heat tamed by a generous coating of honey and sesame.

Pork lovers will find their nirvana as Mezze expertly serves up such tantalizing morsels as thin-sliced chorizo sausage and mortadello for starters and takes it all the way to hearty spicy sausages served with mashed potatoes and an assortment of delicious mustards. Even their signature burger augments the house-ground beef with a generous portion of BBQ pulled pork.

Through it all, everything about Mezze exudes quality and refinement. Want a bottle of Château Margaux? Some fine French truffle salt to adorn your grilled tenderloin? A breathtaking 30-year-old single malt to sip after dinner? A plate of imported cheeses? Mezze has it all. With perhaps the most extensive twin lists of fine wines and single-malt Scotches in Malaysia, this popular neighborhood bistro is a thin slice of heaven for anyone who fancies himself a connoisseur… food, wine, great jazz music, life in general… it doesn’t matter. If you have a passion for the finer things in life, you will feel blissfully at home as you settle into your seat at Mezze.

It’s an intimate space, seating perhaps only 40 or so in the cozy and warmly decorated dining room. A full house is not uncommon here, and reservations are definitely suggested for dinner. Apart from the menu, which Mezze’s Chef Renou Yves Pierre augments with regular changes and specials, one critical note sets Mezze apart from so many other restaurants in KL: The service throughout the evening was exemplary and gracious as we sat and enjoyed a leisurely multi-course meal. The sommelier, Sebastien, was masterful at selecting and serving a brilliant Pinot Noir from France’s acclaimed Burgundy region to complement our meal.

Upstairs, Mezze really shows another side. The expansive bar is adorned with a spectacular display of single-malt and blended Scotches, dozens and dozens of bottles with their lyrical amber contents catching every twinkle of light, beckoning aficionados to sample a dram or two. Opposite the bar, a caged wine rack running nearly the length of the room holds hundreds of bottles of wine, from a humble, casual Argentinian red to an exquisitely complex Château Lafite Rothschild. Live jazz music on Fridays and Saturdays only adds to the ambiance. It can get a bit smoky (yep, fine cigars are on offer, too), but when inside Mezze, you feel removed from any specific locale. You could be in an upscale grill in Barcelona, a corner bar in Manhattan, or a jazz club in Buenos Aires. Taking it all in, it was easy to think that Mezze is destined to become a fixture on KL’s upscale dining scene… actually, as I stole a lingering glance around the restaurant and bar, all full of obviously happy patrons, I realized Mezze has already arrived.

Fact File :
Mezze Bistro • Wines • Lounge
132 Jalan Kasah, Medan Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03.2095 0122
www.mezze.my
Email: [email protected]

Price:
Most mains RM25-75++

Business Hours:
Mondays-Thursdays 3.00pm to 1.00am
Fridays-Saturdays 12.00pm to 1.00am
(Upstairs Lounge opens at 4.00pm)
Closed Sundays
Car jockey service available evenings from
6.00pm onwards

For more restaurant reviews visit:
www.DineMalaysia.com

This article was written by Chad Merchant for Senses of Malaysia.
Source: The Expat July 2012
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