RAINFOREST SPORTS BAR
C4.07, Level 4, Pavilion KL,
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2163 0163
Business hours: 11.00am-1.00am weekdays,
11.00am-2.00am weekends
THE Rainforest Sports Bar at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur delivers an ambitious array of gourmet fare for the discerning pub diner that goes beyond your average bar snack.
But it still ticks all the boxes for the avid sporting fan, retaining the essential projector screen for live sports telecasts, pool table, a stage for live bands and a nightly resident DJ, to create a great night out.
It’s this winning combination that draws a regular crowd to the Rainforest Sports Bar, said Rotol Food-Chain general manager Anil Sharma.
“Rainforest Sports Bar is a fantastic place to chill out and unwind,” he said.
“We get a lot of people coming here from nearby offices after work who want to relax. The sports bar theme makes it a nice place to hang out and watch the games. It’s a fun place to be.”
Juicy bites: One of the new additions to Rainforest’s relaunched menu is the mushroom-stuffed chicken parmigiana served with potato au-gratin and seasonal vegetables.The Rainforest Sports Bar was opened in April 2008 as a subsidiary of Rotol Food-Chain, which also owns the Chakri Palace Thai restaurants, the Rainforest Bistro at Sunway Pyramid and the Rainforest Cafe at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The outlet’s trendy decor invites a fun time even before a crowd is drawn, with quirky touches like a checkered floor print and novelty light frames (mounted with miniature bowling pins and shuttlecocks) evoking a sporty and easygoing atmosphere.
The food is as pleasing to the tastebuds as the venue is to the eye, with a number of quality Western and Asian-style mains on offer alongside traditional bar grub like burgers and pizzas.
First on the menu was one of the restaurant’s signature dishes, mushroom soup, served with a pie-like crust baked on top by Rainforest’s in-house pastry chef.
New creation: Pan-seared salmon fillet on a bed of mashed potato pesto, seasonal vegetables and orange glaze sauce.The flaky golden brown crust casing complimented the thick, creamy soup nicely for a hearty and filling starter dish.
Another highlight was the pan-seared salmon fillet with mashed potato pesto and seasonal vegetables, served with an orange glaze reduction (RM32,90++).
The pan-seared cooking process retained the salmon’s natural juices nicely while creating a crispy crust on one side for a pleasing variety of textures in the meal.
The accompanying orange sauce lifted the salmon beyond its natural oiliness and saltiness for a fresh taste that was sticky and sweet without being overbearing.
Next on the menu was an impressive spread of sizzling lamb cutlets served with seasonal vegetables and potato rosti.
It made a smoky entrance onto the table with a theatrical flourish as the waiter poured a syrupy cranberry and mint sauce over the dishes’ searing hot plate.
Bite into it: Rainforest’s huge vegetarian sandwich with homemade veggie patty, thousand island and barbeque sauce, smoked capsicum, pickled ginger and roasted brinjal on panini bread, served with salad and potato wedges.Other Rainforest favourites, such as the mushroom-stuffed chicken parmigiana with potato au-gratin and the monstrously-proportioned vegetarian sandwich with seasoned potato wedges (RM18++) were also well executed.
These dishes were finished off with two heavenly desserts: the “chocolate sensation” self-saucing pudding with raspberry syrup and vanilla ice cream and the unique green tea creme brulee fusion with pistachios, both priced at RM14++.
The creations are part of head chef Wan’Chai’s new menu, with a wider range of options including sandwiches, soups, and quesadillas now available.
All meals at the Rainforest Sports Bar are Halal and contain no MSG, no preservatives and no food colouring. The chain also prides itself on using heart-friendly, low cholesterol cooking oil.
The venue offers Happy Hour drink specials from 3pm until 9pm and has a daily “Express Lunch” promotion, where guests can enjoy a soup, set main meal and a dessert from RM16++ between 11.30am to 3pm.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by Star Metro.
