New in town, the Alva KL is a sky dining and grill restaurant. Perched strategically on the 99th floor of the Ascott Star KLCC, it’d earned itself quite some regulars despite being two-month-old, among the residents—mostly families—in the area. We review Alva KL ahead.
Seated outdoors near the intimate bar, we’re blessed with the million-dollar view of KL, the KLCC, TRX tower and the KL tower in one frame, lighting up all at once when the night falls. Whetting my palate, I started with the Far East Journey cocktail—a pleasant blend of Irish whisky, chrysanthemum tea, port wine and a hint of asam boi—the most popular drink in the house, according to the bartender. The truffle chips, nachos, and tiger prawn poppers were nibbles (which we ended up gobbling down) offered to savour along with the drinks.
For sharing plates, we had the seared scallops and the “5-star” crispy salad. With crispy sides, the succulent scallop is pan-seared to perfection and topped with Japanese fish roe for an extra hint of umami. If you prefer a refreshing start instead, the salad is the go-to. Piled with prawns, the generous bowl is splodged with aromatic jackfruit dressing and topped with fresh star fruits, hence the name “5-star”. The fruits added the tropical flavours most Malaysians are familiar with, a rather fresh yet homey appetiser to start with.
As for the mains, we had the Garlic Prawn Pasta and the Spinach Risotto. The former is very much straightforward, flavour-packed nonetheless, while the latter is more exciting as the creamy Spinach Risotto was served along with Thai grilled cuttlefish. Risotto is by no means a complex dish but it’s rather challenging to score a goal, the well-seasoned and well-cooked dish, in our opinion, is one of those comfort dishes we would think of often enough to go back to again.
The good thing about a fusion restaurant is that you’ll be spoilt with selections. Those who fancy Westernised plates can opt for the Australian Lamb Short Ribs, whereas those who own an Asian palate should get their knives on the Atlantic Miso Cod, blanketed under the fragrant lotus leaf—think lotus leaf rice. With a sapid smoky undertone, the short ribs were served with fried pickled jalapeño, adding an earthy heat to the tender cuts. The cod, on the contrary, was buttery texture-wise with a subtle yet distinctive hint of lingering sweetness from the lotus leaf.
Delving into the dessert, we have the Above the Cloud Tiramisu and Starfruit Mille-Feuille, both classics to begin with. “No two Tiramisu taste quite the same”, true and definitely not one that tastes quite like this. Made with the essence of Ipoh coffee, this tiramisu has an accustomed taste that makes this a gratifying treat for us. As for the Mille-Feuille—rather saccharine for our liking, perfect for the sweet tooth though, was a delicate puff layered with toasted marshmallows and rich berry cream mascarpone, all stacked up under the starfruits, finishing off with a drizzle of salted caramel.
Save the best for the last? Yes indeed. Ending the night on a high note, quite literally, the bubbles Luc Belaire Rose and Luc Belaire Luxe were served. While the Rose has an ambrosial taste, featuring a mix of berries and toasted caramel; the Luxe is equally sweet, if not sweeter—expect a nectarine flavour on the palate with a long and lingering aftertaste. If sweet and fruity Rosé is up your alley, Alva KL is a spot you will need to put on your list as it’s the only restaurant in Malaysia that offers the Luc Belaire.
Judging from the crowd they got on a regular weekday, our advice is: make a reservation in advance.
Address: Level 99, Ascott Star KLCC,1, Lorong Yap Kwan Seng, Kampung Baru, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours:12.00 pm to 3.30 pm, 5.00 pm to 1.00 am