Tamarind Brasserie

Special thanks to PARKROYAL Penang Resort for extending this food review invitation.

I have had several prior visits to PARKROYAL Penang Resort in my own capacity, but this is the first time I am officially invited to this 5-star resort. Featuring family-friendly swimming pools with water slides, daycare center, spa center and other amenities, this 309-room hotel in Batu Ferringhi is a popular choice for holidaymakers.

There are three major eateries at Parkroyal. Tamarind Brasserie is the primary one, serving buffet breakfast, à la carte meals around the clock and international buffet on selected days. Dining at Uncle Zack By The Beach, dinner guests have the privilege of enjoying scenic views of the sunset over the sea. Last but not least, Cool Bananas provides light snacks and drinks conveniently next to the swimming pools.

My review today is the Seafood & Lobster Buffet Dinner at Tamarind Brasserie. Taking advantage of the soothing oceanic breeze, Tamarind Brasserie affords al fresco dining with an open kitchen concept. Balinese fountains and lush greenery in the adjacent lawn contribute to the lovely ambience of this fine food establishment.

The à la carte menu at Tamarind Brasserie features a combination of local fare and international cuisine. The Seafood & Lobster Buffet Dinner adheres to the same philosophy. To further illustrate this point, the buffet counters are ornamented with traditional tiffin carriers and local foodstuffs like noodles.

Grilled Lobster is the main highlight this evening. Gargantuan-sized lobsters are halved in order to expose their tender flesh. Heated by a gas-fired barbecue stove, the lobsters are flavored with lemon butter and Cajun spices. As the lobsters are extremely fresh, the juicy meat is heavenly indeed.

Other delicacies from the grill and griddle are Angus strip loin beef, shrimp, cuttlefish, mussel, lamb rack and chicken thigh. Several types of condiments are provided to go with barbecued meat. I personally like the mushroom and black pepper sauces; both are made from beef stock.

Baked Salmon is another popular dish and a regular item on Tamarind Brasserie's buffet menu. Indeed, there are guests who patronize this restaurant every week just to savor this dish. The salmon is flavored by creamy pesto, which helps to enhance the already-sweet taste of its flesh. Roasted potatoes and puff pastry are also included.

Should you fancy chilled seafood, there are oysters and scallops to satiate your appetite. Served over ice, these delicacies are best enjoyed with a squeeze of lemon juice and light drizzles of Tabasco sauce.

An appetizing platter of smoked salmon is almost impossible to resist. So are Japanese delicacies such as salmon sashimi (サーモン刺身), octopus (タコ) and unagi (鰻, freshwater eel).

Still in the marine kingdom, Pan-Fried Fish Fillet is served with almond pesto sauce. The cod is tender and readily absorbs savory flavor of the creamy sauce.

Baked Lamb Ribs is another satisfying dish this evening. The savory gravy is infused with fungi goodness of morel mushrooms.

Taking a detour to local comfort food, Fried Noodle is popular among Malaysians from all walks of life.

As for dairy products, the buffet includes an assortment of cheese like cheddar, gouda and camembert and emmental. A variety of artisan bread is provided to enjoy with cheese. Should diners prefer, there are also grapes, apricots, pecans, almonds, crackers and similar items to go with cheese.

As for salad, I personally enjoy Tossed Cherry Tomatoes with Buffalo Mozzarella. Niçoise Salad is also delectable. This French-inspired salad is made from tuna, tomato, onion and vinaigrette dressing.

Thai Egg Salad is an intriguing dish indeed. The combination of fried egg and crunchy yardlong beans provides nice mouthfeel. To spice things up, the salad is enhanced by chopped chili peppers, onion and scallion.

Some guests may prefer to mix their own salads. The buffet includes a variety of vegetables, dressings and condiments. In particular, I enjoy hummus (حُمُّص‎) very much. This Middle Eastern dish is made from mashed chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil and sesame seeds.

Moving to the pastry section, the range of confectionery is splendid indeed. Mango crêpes, jellies, fruit cupcakes are just some of the many treats available.

Meanwhile, Red Velvet is presented in the likeness of macarons. Garnished with sesame crisp, this pastry reflects the refined presentation of many items in the desserts section.

At Tamarind Brasserie, there is no shortage of goodies to pacify one's sweet tooth. Also included are dozens of French pastry, mousse and tartlet varieties. My only concern lies with the crème brûlée, where I find the caramelized layer to lack brittleness, and the fact that the custard's taste has been overpowered by egg yolk.

Speaking of eggs, Tamarind Brasserie's menu also includes several types of eggless desserts. It is nice knowing that the restaurant also accommodates the needs of vegans and people having egg allergies.

The waffle section is located near the entrance. Waffle toppings include peanut butter, blueberry jam, sweet cream and several others.

As for fresh fruits, there are honey dew, nangka, orange, papaya, watermelon, pineapple, apple and banana.

Like Spice Market in Rasa Sayang, Tamarind Brasserie also provides a Kids Corner in order to present a family-friendly setting. The spotlight of the Kids Corner is cast on a 6-tier chocolate fountain. There are several types of tidbits to dip into the fountain.

The Seafood & Lobster Buffet Dinner is held every Saturday between 6:30pm and 10:30pm. The price is RM148.00 for adult and RM45.00 for child (10 to 14 years). Senior citizens (65 years or older) enjoy reduced price of RM112.00 while children below the age of 10 dine for free. These are net prices. Prior reservation is recommended in case of overwhelming response. It is important to note that Tamarind Brasserie is a halal-certified restaurant.

Name: Tamarind Brasserie
Address: PARKROYAL Penang Resort, Jalan Batu Ferringhi, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-881-1133
Business hours: 7:30am-11:00pm
Website: Click here
Coordinates: 5.47209 N, 100.24582 E
Directions: From Tanjung Bungah, travel west towards Batu Ferringhi. Parkroyal is approximately 5 kilometers from Tanjung Bungah's floating mosque, located on the right of the road. Tamarind Brasserie is located at the west wing of the hotel. There are parking spaces in front of the hotel.