Hard Rock Cafe

Special thanks to Hard Rock Hotel for extending this food review invitation.

This is my second visit to Hard Rock Cafe at Batu Ferringhi. Located at the west wing of Hard Rock Hotel, the café features a bust of Michael Jackson at its entrance. This popular restaurant chain is known for its rock and roll theme as well as American-sized American food.

Like the décor of all Hard Rock Cafe outlets, this Batu Ferringhi restaurant is characterized by red walls and wooden tables and chairs. The restaurant also possesses prized memorabilia from famous artistes in the rock and roll genre. These items were donated by celebrities themselves, or were acquired through charitable auctions. There are approximately 500 pieces through the entire hotel and 77,000 pieces worldwide.

It would be ironic for a rock and roll-themed restaurant not to have live music. To this end, Hard Rock Cafe commissions a resident band which performs every night - except on Tuesdays when a local band fills in. Above the stage is a fancy chandelier made from optical fibers. The chandelier traces Hard Rock Cafe's logo when it is viewed from a certain angle.

From 1 November 2016 to 23 December 2016, Hard Rock Cafe is rolling out the Holiday Rock Platter. There are 2 sizes: RM160.00 net for 2 persons, RM240.00 net for 3 persons. The 3-course meal comprises of starter (individual servings), main course (single platter) and dessert (individual servings). In reality, the suggested number of people is conservative. For example, the 2-person meal can easily feed 3 or 4 persons in most situations.

Shellfish Bisque With Sweet Basil Soup is the starter for this meal. Loaded with rich seafood goodness, the bisque is very thick and creamy. The soup may be salty as it cools down - not only because some moisture has evaporated, but also because the tongue becomes more sensitive to saltiness as the temperature drops. Garlic toast is included with the soup. Should guests prefer, House Salad is also available as the starter.

The main course consists of a platter of popular finger food from Hard Rock Cafe's regular menu and seasonal offerings. One of the restaurant's bestsellers is the Legendary Hollywood Burger, which features a 6-ounce Angus beef patty, brie cheese and coriander. Having said so, BBQ Beef Ribs steals the spotlight with its tender flesh that peels off the bones with little effort.

To spice things up, Piri Piri Chicken Wings carries mint-like freshness from bird's eye chili. Meanwhile, Baked Fish is white snapper seasoned with chermoula (شرمولة‎‎) sauce, a north African marinade made from herbs and lemon. Grilled Shrimp Skewer is glazed with galbi (갈비) sauce, a type of sweet-savory Korean soy sauce. Penne Arrabbiata is meant for those who prefer something more filling.

Other finger foods include Onion Rings and Cowboy Beans - both are bread-and-butter American comfort food. Guests with dietary restrictions may request for customized substitutions. For example, the beef-free version of Legendary Hollywood Burger uses an 8-ounce chicken patty instead. Meanwhile, BBQ Beef Ribs may be exchanged for Barbecue Chicken instead.

As for the dessert, Hot Fudge Brownie is the most popular choice. Resting on the warm, chocolate-rich treat is a scoop of vanilla ice cream from Häagen-Dazs. The brownie is baked every alternate day in Hard Rock Cafe's kitchen. Hard Rock Cafe operates as a separate entity from the hotel, therefore its kitchen is staffed separately from other eateries like Starz Diner and Pizzeria.

Instead of brownie, guests may opt for Fresh Apple Cobbler instead. The pie is baked till golden brown and is served warm. Blessed with aroma of cinnamon, this fruity cobbler carries mild tartness from apples. Häagen-Dazs ice cream serves as icing on the cake. Apple cobbler is noticeably more popular among American diners.

Like the other 3 outlets in Malaysia, Batu Ferringhi's Hard Rock Cafe is a pork-free restaurant. The food menu runs till 10:30pm, while the rest of the kitchen closes at 12:00am. Nevertheless, the drinks bar remains open until the restaurant's closing time.

Name: Hard Rock Cafe
Address: Hard Rock Hotel Penang, Jalan Batu Ferringhi, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-886-8050
Business hours: 11:30am-2:00am (Sunday-Thursday), 11:30am-2:30am (Friday-Saturday)
Website: http://penang.hardrockhotels.net/dining-nightlife/hard-rock-cafe-penang
Coordinates: 5.46747 N, 100.24171 E
Directions: From Tanjung Bungah, travel west towards Batu Ferringhi. Hard Rock Hotel is approximately 6 kilometers from Tanjung Bungah's floating mosque, located on the right of the road. Hard Rock Cafe is located on the Ground Floor, with a separate entrance to the right of the hotel lobby. There are parking spaces in front of the hotel.