ATHENA MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT & BAR,
Lot C3.05, 3rd Floor,
Pavilion, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2141 5131
Business hours: Mon to Thu 11.00am to 12.30am;
Fri 11am to 1.30am,Saturday 10.30am to 1.30am,
Sunday 10.30am to 12.30am.
MEDITERRANEAN food is often defined by the distinct dishes that make up the different countries surrounding the sun-soaked region.
Some of the culinary flavours that have influenced Mediterranean fare are Italian, Spanish, Greek, Moroccan and Egyptian.
Unique twist:Spicy Straw berries dessert that is slightly spicy and sourish in taste.
While seafood is integral in the Mediterranean menu, the land’s bounty also provides for lovely harvest of vegetables and herbs. You would also be spoilt for choice when it comes to the different types of meat dishes.
If you enjoy Mediterranean fare, then check out the Athena Mediterranean Food & Bar at Pavilion KL.
The restaurant is under the Spice International Group and has been opened for over three years now since January 2008.
Spice International Group Ranjinder Hans said their menu focused on three main cuisines — Spanish, Italian and Turkish.
“We have our lunch crowd comprising shoppers and office workers, as well as dinner crowd and the people-watching crowd who just chill out at the alfresco tables or by the bar,” she said.
Mixed Bruschetta Platter: This can be shared between two or three persons,featuring toasted bread with toppings like prawns, tuna fish,tomato salsa, creamy mushrooms and roasted capsicum.
The menu has quite a fair bit of items that include appetisers, soups, main courses, pastas, sandwiches and desserts.
The starter of Mixed Bruschetta Platter can be shared between two and three people, as there are at least 10 toasted pieces of mini breads with different toppings like prawns, tuna fish, tomato salsa, creamy mushrooms and roasted sliced capsicums.
For soup, seafood lovers should like the Athena’s Seafood Di Mare that contains items like mussel, prawns and fish as its name suggests.
Restaurant head chef A.V.Subramanian, 26, from India said fresh Romanian tomatoes, which are less sour in taste, are blended to make the tomato soup and flavoured with fresh herbs like basil and dill.
The main courses Pasta Aglio Olio Prawn, Seafood Paella and Lamb Shank are among the outlet’s signature dishes as indicated by the letter ‘a’ to represent the restaurant’s name.
For the pasta (of your choice,) grilled Pacific deep sea prawns are tossed in and cooked with fresh garlic and olive oil.
Subramanian said the paella is made of risotto rice, a dish that I thought was wet.
However, Subramaniam said it was what the majority customers wanted based on feedback.
Like most paella, seafood items like prawns, dory fish, mussels and squids are thrown in.
The lamb shank is enjoyed for its flavourful meat, served with a stew of potatoes, carrots and baguette.
“The shank has to be first marinated in spices for two hours and then braised in the oven for another three hours. Fresh rosemary is then added together with our homemade barbeque sauce,” Subramaniam said.
Ranjinder said the restaurant’s chefs were from India and hence, would prescribe to more liberal use of spices to flavour the dishes.
When it comes to desserts, Athena’s Spicy Strawberries gets the popular vote.
The strawberries are marinated in balsamic vinegar to lend a slight spiciness. A scoop of ice-cream is then served with mascarpone cheese enhance by more strawberries.
“A little tobasco sauce is also added. The spicy and sourish taste will balance off any sweetness,” said Subramanian.
The restaurant’s happy hours are from 3pm to 9pm daily.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.