The 2nd Floor

First published in Options, The Edge Malaysia, 5 Feb 2018

http://optionstheedge.com/topic/food/food-review-2nd-floor-grub-ahong-and-friends

The self-descriptive “2^nd Floor” is actually on the 1^st floor. The restaurant is separated into cheerful, brightly-coloured outdoor seating and the cosy intimacy of a small indoor section, with a few tables and a bar to the side. The restaurant occupies one-half of the floor, the other half being a dimly-lit, partitioned off Wine Room.

Entrees and Drinks outnumber the small selection of modestly-priced Mains and Pastas, with a separate section for Pork.  The dishes display a culinary depth that’s more than casual, with a selection curated around premium ingredients, and an eye towards tweaking popular dishes.

Thus, the 2^nd Floor Salad (Rm22) borrows from a Caesar salad, with Romaine lettuce, bacon bits and a poached egg, but with grilled lettuce, and a vinaigrette dressing - substantial and different without being unconventional, while the Mushroom Soup (Rm16) is light and thin, redolent with truffle oil, and adds pieces of crab meat for good measure.

The same approach works for the Grilled Iberico (Rm55), 200g of marinated pork seared outside, succulent inside.  Mild yet meaty, caramelized apples, potatoes and a sharp horseradish provide matching supplements for a lip-smacking meal.

The attention to detail extends to the Charred Norwegian Cod (Rm38), a crispy-skinned, thick cod piece on a bed of barley pearls flavoured with charred aubergine, bacon and chicken crackling, to yield a harmonious whole with complementary textures.  

The standard is maintained with Molten Lava Cake (Rm20), a viscous, rich mix well-presented with white vanilla ice cream and red cut strawberries.  

2^nd Floor provides for the discerning diner, with modest pricing (no individual item tops Rm100), an unpretentious ambiance, and a selection of well-thought out, carefully prepared dishes for a cosy, yet intimate dinner.  Starting in December, the restaurant extends its opening hours to include mid-day meals.

The 2^nd Floor,

46A, Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail,

60000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 019-9148832

Business Hours:  Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-12am.  Closed on Mondays