This article is part of my Ramadan 2019 compilation.
Special thanks to Cititel Penang for extending this food review invitation.
Main Street Cafe is the all-day dining restaurant of Cititel Penang. Like its counterpart in The Wembley, Main Street Cafe is open around the clock. The eatery serves themed buffet lunch and dinner on selected days of the week. To cater for night owls, Main Street Cafe also serves Porridge Buffet Supper on Friday and Saturday.
This evening, Cititel Penang is showcasing the upcoming Masakan Citarasa Malaysia Buffet. This festive dinner menu will be served from 19 May 2019 to 23 May 2019, and from 26 May 2019 to 30 May 2019.
The main highlight this evening is Lamb Kuzi. The mutton is marinated with spices, and then roasted on a rotisserie until it turns golden brown. Served alongside roast mutton is Nasi Briyani, which is cooked with meat stock, cashew nuts, raisins and spices.
Sup Gearbox is often seen during Ramadan. The soup is prepared from cattle bones and spices. Fried shallots and spring onions help to improve the overall taste. Sup Gearbox is customarily paired with Bengali Bread.
Ulam-ulaman are raw vegetables like ulam raja (king’s salad), kacang botol (winged beans) and bendi (okra). Sambal belacan (spicy shrimp paste) and sambal kicap (spicy soy sauce) serve as dipping sauces.
Grilled lamb and chicken sausages are served sizzling hot at the grilling station. The former goes remarkably well with mint sauce. I am also delighted by the flavorful chicken and beef satay. Marinated with turmeric, the skewered meats are best enjoyed with spicy peanut sauce.
Chicken Rendang is one of the most flavorful dishes in Malay cuisine. The dish is prepared by cooking chicken with coconut milk and spices for several hours until most liquid has evaporated. The resulting dish is known for its unparalleled savoriness.
Daging Masak Kicap is another classic Malay dish. Beef slices are cooked with dark soy sauce, which gives this dish the distinctive black color. The dish is heavily seasoned because it is meant to go with rice.
Salmon Head Curry is another delicacy that goes well with rice. Salmon is the fish of choice as Main Street Cafe serves salmon sashimi anyway. This is an ingenious way to use the fish head which would otherwise be discarded.
Stir-Fried Squid is cooked with salted egg paste, making this dish delectable to the last morsel. I also love the delightful crispiness that the squid presents in my mouth.
Soft Shell Crab Karaage is typically served in Japanese restaurants. The dish uses crabs that just molted their old shells but before the new ones harden. Aioli serves as the dipping sauce.
Speaking of Japanese cuisine, assorted sushi (寿司) and sashimi (刺身) are also served this evening. Sashimi choices are salmon, tuna, butterfish and octopus. Other chilled seafoods include prawns, oysters, mussels and scallops. Condiments like cocktail sauce and horseradish cream are provided.
Moving to desserts, I am fascinated by the variety of pastries like Black Forest Cake, Tiramisu, Chocolate Brownies, Meringue Tartlets and more. In line with the Ramadan theme, several types of Malay kuih are included too.
Cititel Penang’s Masakan Citarasa Malaysia Buffet is priced at RM85.00 net for adults, RM43.00 net for children, and RM60.00 net for senior citizens. In addition, the hotel is also serving Riang Ria Buffet Lunch on the first and second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri (4 June 2019 and 5 June 2019).
Name: Main Street Cafe
Address: 66, Jalan Penang, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-291-1128
Business hours: 24 hours
Website: https://www.cititelpenang.com/en/dining.html
Coordinates: 5.42156 N, 100.33247 E
Directions: Cititel Penang is a 16-floor building at Penang Road (Jalan Penang). Main Street Cafe is located at the far end from the main entrance. To park, drive past the lobby and up the ramp to Level 2. Parking is charged at RM4.00 per entry.
