Flamingo Café

Special thanks to Flamingo Hotel By The Beach, Penang for extending this food review invitation.

Flamingo Hotel By The Beach, Penang is located along the main road of Tanjung Bungah, near Dalat International School and somewhat opposite of Hana Cafe. Taking advantage of the cooling breeze from the sea, the main entrance is an al fresco lobby and Flamingo Theque.

The hotel's flagship restaurant is Flamingo Café. Located next to the swimming pool, the eatery presents a dining area with relaxing ambience. Every Sunday, the Sunday Mania Buffet is held here from 12:30pm to 2:30pm. This is precisely the purpose of my visit today.

Arranged just outside the ballroom are several food stalls that serve a variety of hawker-style food. For example, there is Kembung Goreng (fried mackerel) that is seasoned with spicy marinade. I think it is good to have grilled fish in addition to (or in lieu of) fried fish.

Murtabak, Roti Canai, Roti Boom and Roti Tisu are several Indian-Muslim comfort foods that are now enjoyed by Malaysians from all walks of life. The dough is stretched and then fried with palm oil on an iron griddle. In the case of Murtabak, the stretched dough is also filled with minced chicken, egg, onion and garlic. Dal (lentil curry) and pickled onions are provided as condiments.

Penang Asam Laksa is another iconic dish that the state is renowned for. Thick rice noodle is served in spicy broth derived from mackerel. The broth is also flavored with a variety of spices like tamarind (asam), galangal, lemongrass, chili peppers. Other common ingredients of asam laksa are pineapples, cucumber, onions, ginger flower, lettuce and mint.

As for Italian pasta, guests can choose among spaghetti, fettuccine and fusilli. Marinara sauce is prepared today. Pasta is cooked to order, so it is a good idea to place your order in advance.

The indoor section has a reasonable variety of ready-cooked food. For a taste of local spices, the Curry Fish is a good starting point. The pomfret is cooked in creamy, spicy curry with an infusion of sourness of tamarind (asam). The dish also contains okra (lady's finger) and eggplant (brinjal).

Meanwhile, Western-style cooking is represented by Charbroiled Australian Lamb Chop, French Style Pommes Au Gratin (gratinéed potatoes) and Baked Fish Fillet Belle Meunière.

As for finger food, there are a variety of deep-fried snacks such as chicken lor bak (卤肉), pandan chicken rolls, samosas and crackers.

Malay cuisine features a number of raw vegetable dishes such as Acar Timun & Nanas (cucumber and pineapple salad), Kerabu Mangga (spicy mango salad) and Ulam-Ulaman (raw vegetables).

There are also several types of ready-made salad. Should guests prefer to mix their own salad, French, Italian and Thousand Island dressings are provided too.

At the desserts counter, there is a reasonable range of cakes, French pastries, jellies and puddings. In addition, local delicacies such as Nyonya kuih, tau sar piah (豆沙饼), lepat pisang (banana wrap) and cream puffs are featured. Guests who prefer soup-based desserts may try the Bubur Pulut Hitam (black glutinous rice soup) and Bubur Kacang Hijau (green bean soup).

In effort to make the restaurant friendly to families with small children, Flamingo Café allocates a dedicated kids section in the buffet.

At this juvenile section of the buffet, the menu is customized to appeal to youngsters. Examples of dishes are pizzas, nuggets, donuts, sandwiches and French fries. There is even a dish of alphabet-shaped fried potatoes that most children will be fascinated with.

The Sunday Mania Buffet is priced at RM39.90 net for adults. Children (4-11 years) and senior citizens (60 years or above) enjoy reduced price of RM29.90 per person. Considering the variety of dishes available, this is one of the most affordable buffets in a hotel-restaurant setting. Last but not least, it is important to note that Flamingo Café is a halal-certified restaurant.

Name: Flamingo Café
Address: Flamingo Hotel, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-892-7111
Business hours: 7:00am-12:00am
Website: http://penang.flamingo.com.my/dining
Coordinates: 5.46741 N, 100.28886 E
Directions: Traveling westbound on Jalan Tanjung Bungah, drive past the pedestrian bridge near Dalat International School. Make a U-turn at the next traffic light-controlled junction and immediately turn left to Flamingo Hotel. Flamingo Café is one level below the lobby. The hotel provides complimentary outdoor and indoor parking.