La Cucina & The Lounge @ Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar Hotel

Recently, a dining invitation came in from a newly opened upscale business hotel located in the heart of the commercial and entertainment hub of Bangsar. At Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar, we were greeted warmly at the lobby level where all the F&B outlets are situated. We then headed to the hotel's main F&B attraction, La Cucina, the newly launched urbane dining specialty restaurant with an eclectic Italian and Mediterranean inspired cuisine.

La Cucina Mediterranean Kitchen 

Inspired by the warm hospitality of small countryside homes along the beautiful Mediterranean coast, the 60-seat La Cucina features a flamboyant cooking suite at the centre of the restaurant under warm orange hues. The L-shaped 4-seats sofas and home-style table settings made us felt as if we were dining at home for a sumptuous family meal.

The open kitchen concept was fascinating to the diners as we are enthralled by the process in which the executive chef Michel Camy from France and sous chef Aidiyusman Mohamad Yushoff churn out Mediterranean cuisine using traditional recipes and modern interpretations.

Here I placed high expectations on the quality of the food as everything was cooked a la minute. I was impressed when the pizza we ordered was made from scratch in front of us, and indeed it didn't disappoint me at all.

Here great food comes hand in hand with fine wine. You can pick your favourite from the wine cooler, same goes to the salad selections which are readily available at the salad bar counter.

 Mediterranean Salad Bar (Choose from the display counter @ RM34++ for 2)

• Overnight marinated baby octopus, grilled corn, garbanzo beans, feta in herb dressing 
• Oven-baked sardine with barley, cous-cous, roasted macadamia, and calamata olives, anchovy dressing
• Roasted mixed root vegetables with candied walnuts and Parmesan tuile 
• Grilled quail with golden quinoa, Italian parsley and pistachio 
• Country-style beans salad with cherry tomatoes, pistachio and shaved Parmesan
• Smoked duck with garbanzo beans and figs
• Chicken salad with balsamico 
• Maguro tuna salad

 

The gastronomical journey begins with a complimentary house bread basket with a variety of classic dips including olive oil and tapenade. Among the fluffy, freshly-made breads, the biggest applause went to the cheese focaccia as a pleasant palate opener.

PASTA

Linguine Prawn @ RM38

To offer the best of a sublime dining experience, you can find a wide array of eclectic dishes here. Tossed in lemon butter with sage, roasted spiced walnuts and pecorino, the pasta showcased a fresh and light flavour, combined with layers of texture from  the crunchy walnuts to the bouncy prawns.

Smoked Duck Spaghetti @ RM 34.00

Lightly tossed with creamy sauce and good dose of herbs, the flavours of the al dente spaghetti was perfectly balanced. The slightly salty, tender slivers of smoked duckwent perfectly together with the bouncy spaghetti, whetting our appetite for more delights to come. 

Penne "Frutti Di Mare" @ RM38

If you are a fan of seafood, this would be perfect, with its serving of penne and generous portions of seafood medley, simmered in a light shellfish broth with plum tomatoes and fresh herbs.

Interestingly, La Cucina uses the traditional, gigantic black pepper grinder that wows many diners.

MAINS

Red Mullet Fillet @ RM51

As you venture into the platter of lightly seared fish, you would find oceanic freshness tucked inside the soft flesh, just waiting to be savoured. Be sure to try the saffron-infused seafood bisque for a different taste.

Braised Australian Grain-Fed Beef Cheek @ RM59

The braised beef cheek simply melted in the mouth, with the tender meat just dripping with rich taste of the brown sauce. It was enhanced with a serving of parmesan polenta and olive tapenade.

FROM THE WOOD FIRE OVEN

Vegetarian Pizza @ RM24

Another highlight of La Cucina is the traditional wood fire pizza in which you can create your own pizza by choosing the base and any 4 toppings. This vegetarian pizza was nicely crowned with plum tomatoes, fresh swiss brown mushrooms, organic spanich, pomegrate and shaved pecorino that gave distinctive tangy and savory flavours.

Sliced Turkey Pizza @ RM30

Sitting on the crisp and thin base were the generous amount of sliced turkey with spicy capsicum compote, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, basil and mozzarella. The recipe was simple, but very satisfying when served hot from the oven. 

DESSERT // DOLCE

Dessert Bar (Choose from the display counter @ RM28++ for 2)

Crème Brulee -- Apple Pie -- Cinnamon Cheese Cake -- Mix Berries Crumble -- Crostada -- Cardamom Chocolate Cream Brulee -- Tiramisu -- Carrot Cake --  Baklava -- Semolina Cinnamon Sugar -- Orange Olive Oil Cake with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling

Mixed Fruits Pavlova

No fine meal is complete without a sweet at the end. The Mediterranean desserts created by the resident patissier here were lovely and unforgettable, ranging from the traditional Baklava to the crowd's favourite Tiramisu.

Whether you opt for any of the desserts, be sure to make your finale to the meal
a cup of coffee sipped while you continue and enjoy. 

Special thanks to Sous Chef Aidiyusman Mohamad Yushoff for the sumptuous treat!

If you plan to stay longer after dinner, feel free to head to 

The Lounge, located adjacent to La Cucina, for some drinks.

Pullman Connection (Signature Mojito!), Cosmopolitan, Cucumber Martini

The Lounge features a wide array of cocktails and mocktails, 

specially prepared by the barista up to your preference. 

Vodka Iced Tea, Mojito

Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar also features an all-day-dining (ala carte and buffet) restaurant, Link and a coffee shop Le Petit Cafe at the lobby level. The hotel is ideally located at the centre connecting to all major parts of the city. If you're in the vicinity of Bangsar, be it for business or leisure, do drop by for a satisfying gastronomical experience.

La Cucina and The Lounge

Lobby Level

Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar Hotel
1, Jalan Pantai Jaya,
Tower 3,
59200 Kuala Lumpur.
GPS: N 3° 6' 58.51'' E 101° 39' 49.45
Business Hours: 11am - 3pm // 6.30pm - 10.30pm daily