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| Spasso Milano, Pavilion |
Spasso Milano, Antipasti Lunch
Words by Naomi Martin
Photos by The Yum List (Monica Tindall)
As countless people enter the Pavilion Mall in the center of Kuala Lumpur to enjoy their day off, many are unaware of the spectacular food choices that await hungry bellies upstairs.
Situated on the sixth floor of the mall, Spasso Milano attracted its customers with its sophisticated interior design and the display of antipasti dishes. As soon as I entered the restaurant, the aromatic scents of freshly cooked food filled my nose, and it was hard to resist the temptation of gobbling anything I could get my hands on.
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| Honey Baked Ham and Mushroom Pizza |
The restaurant had a lunch special, available daily from 12 pm - 3 pm. There was an antipasti bar, comprised of the soup of the day, various grilled vegetables, and a do-it-yourself salad bar with different toppings and dressings. Along with access to the antipasti bar, you’re able to order one pizza, pasta or meat dish as your main course. The prices range from RM26.00 - 36.80 for your entire meal, which includes your antipasti dishes. However, one thing to keep in mind for Muslims is that a couple of dishes on the menu are non-halal. For example, the Amatriciana and Carbonara both contain pork.
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| Amatriciana |
The team sat in the back of the restaurant, with a complete view of the mouth-watering desserts. As soon as we settled down, we ordered our coffees, fresh juices, and then decided on our main course. Once this was done we hopped right back up to tackle the appetizers.
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| Fresh Juice and Coffee |
There was a wide selection of healthy vegetables to choose from, like the Potato Gnocchi, Creamy Peas, or the French Beans. Each appetizer was well balanced in the seasoning, which kept my taste buds craving for more. The peas and beans were both very juicy, and they burst with flavor in my mouth. Sure enough, even though I was fully aware of the future main dishes to come, I still got up to get seconds.
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| Antipasti Buffet |
The soups of the day were Pumpkin and Minestrone soup, which both came with a piece of Focaccia bread for dipping. The minestrone soup contained a significant amount of vegetables and seasons, and I was pleased that everything was in balance, no one flavor overpowering another. It was especially satisfying to eat the soup-soaked focaccia.
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| Pumpkin Soup |
I was finishing up my second round of appetizers, when we saw a waiter carrying a massive plate. It wasn’t until he got closer did we realize it was the Snapper Fish in Basil Aioli. I did not order this dish, but I should have. A tiny bite of the fish with the basil sauce blew me away. The fish had a crispy crust with a soft center, and was not too oily. The sauce added to the deliciousness - it was creamy, and had just enough basil to bring out all of the other flavors - certainly a must-have.
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| Snapper Fish |
Another stunning course was the Beef Piccata, a classic Italian dish. The beef was tender and chewy, but not to the point where it was tough to eat, but rather giving it more substance to last in the mouth for a few seconds before disappearing. It was drizzled in a rich gravy, bringing out the flavors of the rest of the dish.
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| Beef Piccata |
I was excited when the Carbonara pasta arrived, because this type of pasta is always delicious if it is well made. The pasta was cooked so it was still firm, or al dente, as the Italians call it. The carbonara sauce was rich and creamy, and the grilled shrimp and cucumbers were delicious additions to the pasta. This dish also contained pork bacon, giving a wonderful savory finish.
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| Carbonara |
The chefs at Spasso Milano decided to throw in a little surprise for us, and brought out a fine Caprese Salad. Everything worked well together; the tomatoes were sweet and juicy, the basil added a nice flavorful touch, and the house made creamy ricotta cheese with balsamic vinegar completed the dish. It was a great end to a fabulous line up of mains.
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| Caprese Salad - coming up on the new menu |
As most people would do, we hit the desserts next. There were cakes, brownies, and a popular Italian dessert, Panna Cotta. I was curious to know what the panna cotta tasted like, as I have never tried one before. Again, I was blown away by this new discovery. It was very sweet and rich, with a fruity topping.
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| Desserts |
Spasso Milano is one of the few restaurants in KL that I absolutely loved from start to finish. The antipasti lunch is open from 12pm - 3pm, so make sure that you have room in your calendar to pass a wonderful afternoon enjoying all on offer.
Reasons to visit: authentic Italian dishes; convenient mall location; quick service; excellent value lunch
Spasso Milano
Lot 6.44.00 & 6.45.00 Level 6 Pavilion
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
+6 03 2148 0688