The apartment

Just in case you hadn’t noticed, the traffic volume around the KLCC area this weekend was heavier than usual. I'm referring to the two-legged traffic and that’s no thanks to the World Gas Conference 2012 that saw delegates from around the globe. The conference which commenced on 4 June culminated on 8 June with a special music and light extravaganza in the park dubbed as the KL International Music and Light Festival.

Not wanting to miss the action, my other half suggested that we take the boys to watch Madagascar 3 (as promised to them that we would) at TGV Suria and time the show to coincide with the show later in the evening.

As we are not what you would call the seasoned revellers, we considered Dome, Chili’s and Ben’s to have our dinner at and enjoy the show without having to compete with the mass for legroom and air to breath. Chinoz did not feature in the mix as it was temporarily shut down for renovation. 


Dome was swiftly omitted because of the ground level disadvantage it possessed. When you are seating down eating you will basically see the bums of the spectators which is not what you are there for. 


I wasn't sure about Chili's or Ben's either because apart from the commanding view overlooking the man-made lake where the stage was located, I didn't think the thick glass panels would provide for a good audio experience.


The decision hung mid-air but not for long before my other half said she's decided on The Apartment.

The vista was great from where we were seated (Apple iPhone 4s)

"But the place is for grown-ups," I retorted even though I have not set my foot there. For some unknown reasons, I had this impression that The Apartment was a favourite watering hole for the white collars on this side of town and therefore didn't think that it would be a family-friendly joint. 


Boy was I in for a pleasant surprise. There was plenty of drinking action alright on the ground floor but the floor above was a decent dining area decorated to look like... emm, an apartment. A bookshelf adorned one side of the wall while miniature chandeliers provided the soft lighting throughout the room. 

The interior felt cosy and homely (Apple iPhone 4s)

Due to the size of our party, we were able to sample the menu on a broader scale and more importantly, I managed to steal a bite from almost everyone around the table so here goes a quick sum-up. Do try the duck confit. The meat was so tender and void of the smell normally associated with the bird. The mashed potatoes were creamy and yummy. My little one enjoyed his spaghetti marinara even though they were all mussels and not prawns as what we had requested for. The dish looked a little on the dry side and you know looks can be deceiving. The meat came off the shells easily, a sign that they were properly cooked. My only problem with it was the tiny morsels stuck between my teeth.

The strawberry peach pavlova is a must-try for those who love meringue with whipped cream and fruits. Go for the cheese platter but bring grapes and extra saltines, if yours was a big group that is, from home. The grapes were frozen to the core so they weren't kind to the teeth while the biscuits were just enough for toddlers.

The pavlova was pretty good looking as well (Apple iPhone 4s)

My elder son asked for the peking duck crepe roll which came in a generous portion. One just need to be content with the sugary crepe. The baked tilapia was filleted much to my other half's chagrin but it did not disappoint her entirely as the fish was extremely delicious. The leafs and the bitter fruit that were part of the chicken and grapefruit salad were at room temperature so they must have been lying on the kitchen preparation table for some time. The chicken bits were shredded too thinly and the chef could have been more charitable with the bloody red pulps on the plate.

The chicken and grapefruit salad was alright (Apple iPhone 4s)

Just as the show was starting to pick up steam, the restaurant's crew opened the door that led to the balcony to allow eager patrons to watch the music and light show a little closer.  Save for the imposing laser works flashing the sponsor logos and country flags of the delegates, I don't know which part of the night constitute the light half of the festival. After a few numbers and tired looking faces from around the table, we decided to call it a day. No one was desperate to wait for the purported fireworks to come on.