It may be located slap-bang in the heart of KL, but Xenri still retains the calm, peaceful serenity that makes Japanese restaurants so beloved, boasting a view of the garden and serving delicately-prepared food as the sunlight streams in the tall windows.
Xenri is a well-established brand – they now have four restaurants worldwide – but each restaurant retains a charm and attention to detail that patrons love. This particular branch focuses on the Japanese practice of kaiseki, in which a Japanese meal is eaten course by course, and diners at Xenri spend a long luxurious evening or lazy lunch enjoying a variety of Japanese dishes in one of the intimate private dining rooms or in the main restaurant, (seating capacity is 110).
The choice of food on offer is impressive, and Xenri are offering some excellent ‘entry level’ kaiseki meals for those with lower budgets or without the experience to know what to order.
Choose, as I did, the Sashimi Set, and be guided from appetizer to meaty, bread-crumbed oysters, then onto a homemade egg custard before turning your attention to a sashimi platter that looks too good to eat. All set menus – the Salmon Steak set is a must-order for salmon aficionados while the Vegetarian set caters for those avoiding meat – come with rice, soup, pickles and a dessert, and my meal ended with a rich chocolate brownie drizzled with chocolate sauce, although traditional desserts are also available. The food at Xenri retains the freshness and lightness of traditional Japanese cuisine, but their fare is enhanced by the careful preparation, the creativity of the chefs and the beautiful presentation that serve to make Xenri a good choice for impressing a client or a visitor.
The a la carte menu is comprehensive, while the value bento boxes are perfect for a quick lunch. Alcohol is served, as are fresh juices, but many diners choose to sip on the constantly-refilled cups of tea as they admire the sleek décor of this welcoming, comfortable restaurant.
Fact File :
Xenri D’Garden Terrace
Lot 2-04
Level 2
Podium Block of Menara Hap Seng
Jalan P.Ramlee
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03.2078 6688
Price:
Lunch Bento Boxes: RM24-70++ (no drinks)
Dinner Course-by-Course Sets: RM38-RM500++ (depending on ingredients)
Business Hours: Daily: 12pm-3pm, 6pm-11pm
For more restaurant reviews visit: www.DineMalaysia.com
Source: The Expat April 2012
Get your free print subscription and free delivery of The Expat magazine.
"ExpatGo welcomes and encourages comments, input, and divergent opinions. However, we kindly request that you use suitable language in your comments, and refrain from any sort of personal attack, hate speech, or disparaging rhetoric. Comments not in line with this are subject to removal from the site. "
