THE VERTE,
Lot 5823, 3rd Mile, Jalan Pantai,
Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan.
Tel: 016-920 2360
Business hours: 3pm to 11pm (Tuesday to Sunday),
10am to 2pm (Sunday). Closed on Monday.
IT MAY be possible to miss The Verte, a café housed in a nondescript whitewashed bungalow, when driving along Port Dickson’s third mile stretch.
Slow down along this stretch and you will be pleasantly surprised to find a welcome hideaway for locals and out-of-towners looking for a good meal, creative cocktails and a place to watch the sun dip into the Straits of Malacca.
The Verte is an ideal spot for a casual tête à tête, networking session or just to wind down after a hectic work day.
Though still the new kid on the block, The Verte, a casual dining café, is located right next door to Avillion Port Dickson.
Ensconced within a lush garden, the restaurant named after the French word for the colour green, is a refreshing breath of fresh air on this popular coastal stretch.
Spacious and with several sections that include The Lookout (an outdoor space with glorious sea-views), The Bar and a communal dining area, The Verte is an ideal spot for a casual tête à tête, networking session or just to wind down after a hectic work day.
Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks feature on the drinks list at The Verte in Port Dickson.
The menu, while not extensive, offers variety and will not burn a hole through your pocket.
The first thing that caught my eye when perusing the menu was the Sunday brunch offerings, available from 10am to 2pm every Sunday, with delightful options like Smoked Salmon Rosti (avocado, baby spinach and smoked salmon layered on potato rosti and topped with a poached egg and citrus hollandaise) and Signature Baked Eggs, a dish of eggs served with smoked beans, tomato concasse and basil from The Verte’s herb garden.
Making a promise to return one day for the brunch options, I turned my attention to dishes whipped up by The Verte’s sous chef Mohd Fadzir Al Junid during a recent visit.
First up was English Lamb Stew in Hot Pot (RM38), accompanied by homemade sourdough bread to soak up the flavoursome goodness.
The English Lamb Stew in Hot Pot.
Slow-cooked for an hour and a half with vegetables and herbs, the meat was melt-in-the-mouth tender and the thick broth rich and flavourful.
The lamb is on the main menu alongside Thai Green Chicken Curry (RM32), Barbecued ‘Prime’ Beef Kebab (RM38), Poached Salmon Chili Salsa (RM38) and Pan Roasted Lemongrass Duck Breast (RM38).
Next was the beef kebab, succulent chunks of meat grilled to perfection and served with blue cheese butter, which Mohd Fadzir said complemented the meat.
From the Lite Bites section of the menu, came Vietnamese Stuffed Chicken Wings (RM20), de-boned wings stuffed with a filling of prawn and chicken meat, vermicelli noodles and herbs.
Some of the other options on the snack menu are Truffle Fries (RM10), Chicken Pop Corn (RM15) and Tomato Bruschetta with Parmesan (RM15).
Mohd Fadzir explained that the menu consisted of fusion fare, a combination of Asian and Western favourites.
“Our menu offers spicy Asian favourites as well as Western flavours so diners have the best of both worlds. Because The Verte is more of a café, we’ve kept the menu fairly light, with choices that range from sandwiches and salads to heartier fare,” he said.
Desserts here are limited, with only three options available – Lemon-In-A-Glass, a creamy citrus pudding (RM15), Mochachino Cream Cheese (RM15) and Sticky Hazelnut Chocolate Pudding (RM15).
A return visit is definitely on the cards, for the food and also to lounge in The Verte’s relaxing environs.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.