Ciao Ristorante
20A, Jalan Kampung Pandan,
off Jalan Tun Razak,
55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-9285 4827,
Business hours: 12noon – 2.30pm (lunch),
6.00pm – 10.30pm (dinner).Email: info@ciao.com.my,
website: www.ciao.com.my.
WHAT do you get when you combine good food and a stunning location?
The answer is Ciao Ristorante, Kuala Lumpur.
Newly relocated to Jalan Kampung Pandan (off Jalan Tun Razak), the restaurant resembles a rustic Italian country house with a cosy garden and man-made lake overlooking the Royal Selangor Golf Club, with ample parking facilities that can fit 120 cars.
The word going around is that this restaurant is “the place” for a wedding venue.
The back of Ciao, which has a stunning view of the golf course, is equipped with a canopy that is surrounded by a transparent roof extension and is also connected to the indoor part of the restaurant by a covered walkway.
Ceiling fans keep the area cool and comfortable.
The area can seat 280 people comfortably.
“Our concept is a typical Italian restaurant with an upmarket dining experience. We also try to accommodate special requests from our customers for dishes that are not in the menu. People should know that pasta is also made fresh in our kitchen in addition to dried ready-made pasta,” said Ciao manager Ettore Altamura.
Incepted in 1992, Ciao is the oldest Italian restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.
So cheesy: Strozzapretti con Salsiccia e panna – artisan pasta with cream and goat cheese and goat sausage.
Their food philosophy remains the same, serving authentic Italian food in its own simple way that has characterised Ciao for almost two decades.
With this new venue (they were previously located along Jalan Tun Razak), Ciao offers a bigger set-up for garden weddings.
“We also have facilities for smaller events or seminars. Our private room has a high ceiling and generous layout which can accommodate about 60 to 80 guests and the adjacent veranda bar is ideal for welcome drinks.”
The pizzas at Ciao range in price from RM26 to RM42.
The Ciao Pizza, which is the most expensive, is delectably topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, aged Cecina air dried beef, porcini mushroom, rocket salad and Scamorza cheese drizzled with truffle oil.
Wholesome affair: Antipasti Platter – Cecina beef ham, scallops, buffalo caprese, mixed grilled vegetables and calamari.
Our tasting menu at Ciao comprised the Antipasti Platter — Cecina beef ham, scallops, buffalo caprese, mixed grilled vegetables and calamari (serves two for RM72, half portion is RM40), Strozzapretti con Salsiccia e panna — pasta with cream and goat cheese and goat sausage (RM38), Filetto di Manzo al pepe verde — grilled Australian beef tenderloin with green peppercorn cream, served with roasted potatoes, baby carrots and baby French beans (RM72), Grigliata di Pesce — a mixture of grilled seabass, king prawns, scallops, squid with lemon oil dressing and tomato avocado salsa (RM62) and for dessert — the quintessential Cannoli (RM20).
I found texture of the Cecina beef ham light and chewy with just the right amount of salt. The buffalo mozzarella cheese had a light and fresh taste, which complemented the rest of the seafood.
You won’t see the Strozzapretti in their menu as it is artisan pasta, which is quite rare.
The beef was prepared medium rare, which resulted in a juicy, succulent cut that was savoury and decadent with the peppercorn sauce.
Seafood lovers will enjoy the Grigliata di Pesce as it stands true to the saying “less is more” without drowning in sauces.
As said in the Godfather, “leave the gun, take the cannoli”, it was just too sinful to resist.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
