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2012-07-18
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Al Pasha is a restaurant serving Silk Road Cuisine (新彊菜) and was quite a fantastic place for an out-of-ordinary dinner gathering. I went there on a weekday evening with my hubby and 2 other couples. We initially were a bit doubtful if it was the right place for the occasion because one of us doesn’t fancy lamb. But luckily, the restaurant offers a large variety of dishes including poultry, beef, veggies, pastry etc. on top of the wide selection of lamb courses. The restaurant was filled with
The restaurant was filled with ancient decorations and the lighting was dimed, all set to the right ambiance. An open-kitchen was on the side of the dinning area where the chef made roasting dishes. We were seated at a round table at the corner next to the open kitchen and the balcony which fits us perfectly for chit-chatting than a rectangle one.
The menu offers a large range of dishes which really stimulate the taste bud, but the actual favors didn’t come with surprises, probably being adjusted to cater to a wider market of average customers. Nonetheless, the quality of food was good on a whole. What special were the utensils, as well as the plates and platters which were all very stylish with a Middle East touch, which made the meal much enjoyable. In any case, the restaurant really stands out from other local Chinese or Western restaurants which sure makes it worth a trial!
Each table was provided with free Roast Bun with Olive Pate and Chicken Pate (小饟包配橄欖醬及雞肝) at the start of the meal. And since we have a King Parrot Group membership card and some coupons, we’ve got a complimentary Pastry snack selection and a bottle of red wine besides the 15% discount. With a minimum charge of $250 per person, we had eventually ordered more dishes than our stomach can normally hold to satisfy our curiosity and in order to make it worth the money.
Lemon Tea from Middle East 中東檸檬茶 ($40) Rating:
- It was recommended by the attendant. It tasted like sweet lemon juice being warmed up. The tea pot and little cup also served as a decoration on our table, matching the atmosphere perfectly!
Horse Sausage Salad 伊犁薰馬腸沙律 ($82) Rating: - Sure no one could tell it’s made from horse meat as it just tastes like pork sausage. The green was nevertheless very fresh and crispy.
Roast Lamb & Roast Beef Shish 烤羊肉串/烤牛肉串 ($50 for 2 skewers) Rating:
- It was roast to the perfection and still moist inside, but the spice was on the light side. It would be even more authentic if more spices/herbs such as cumin seeds were sprinkled on top.
Baby Lamb Portion with Potatoes & Vegetables 烤乳羊 ($230) Rating:
- The meat texture is very tender and moist with light savory favor, wrapped with a thin layer of crispy roasted fats. This is one of the best dishes of the night.
Traditional Xinjiang Roast Spring Chicken 新彊古法烤春雞 ($115) Rating: - Just taste like any regular roast spring chicken dishes just that it was glazed with honey. Okay to try only if you have no better choice.
Baby Cattle with Beer, Xinjiang Style 新彊啤酒小黃牛 ($128) Rating:
- Brewed with carrot and tomatoes. Nothing special about this dish and couldn’t taste the beer at all. The meat was a bit chewy without much seasoning. The only thing unique was the metal container it served with. Not recommended.
Deep Fried Prawns with Salt & Pepper 鹽酥蝦 ($148) Rating: - In fact, all of us doubt whether there is seafood at Xinjiang. It came in 6 large prawns and was one of the best dishes of the evening. The shell was very crispy and tasty that could be eaten like potatoes chips!
Fried Clams with Vermicelli and Spice 香辣粉絲炒蜆 ($95) Rating: - This was a hot and spicy dish with big clams cooked in chili sauce made out of chili, bean spouts and bell peppers. The sauce became much spicier when kept boiling with the burner. The special favor stood out even more with plain rice as the mouth won’t be just burnt by the chili.
Walnut egg roll 桃仁蛋卷 – dessert ($55) Rating: - The egg pastry was soft and light, with roasted walnut crunches rolled inside. Not fattening or overly sweet at all. It ended our meal perfectly!
The belly dancing was quite enjoyable by itself, just that the music was a bit too loud that we can’t talk at all during the performance. Overall, the food was good and priced reasonably for such a stylish restaurant with entertainment. I could see that most of the guests enjoy the dinner from their happy face. The ambiance was quite unique and attendants are generally friendly and attentive. It's sure a good choice for special occasions and friends gatherings
Other Info. :
- Reservation required
- Belly dacing at 7:45 p.m., 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. for 10-15 minutes
- Special price for drinks during Happy Hour (before 8:00 p.m.)
(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)
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