Pony Tale

Special thanks to Pony Tale De' Cafe for extending this food review invitation.

Update: This business has ceased its operations.

Occupying a European-style cottage, Pony Tale De' Cafe is one of the most prominent buildings at Auto-City. A water fountain greets customers as they enter the front entrance. While most people opt to dine indoors, the restaurant also affords al fresco dining especially during the evening.

The dining hall of Pony Tale is comfortably spacious thanks to the tall ceiling that rises to the second floor. Colorful murals decorate certain sections of the wall, giving the place a welcoming appearance. To present a friendly setting for children, there are storybooks and other reading materials to keep the young ones entertained.

Pony Tale's latest Enticing World Set Lunch offers a choice of 6 dishes. Like the one before, this latest menu covers the culinary styles of several countries. This aligns with Pony Tale's philosophy of bringing the world's cuisine under one roof. Priced at RM15.80 onwards, this menu caters to the weekday lunch crowd.

The most familiar choice from the lunch menu is Malaysian Seafood Coconut Rice (RM24.80). Essentially nasi lemak, this is one of Malaysia's most iconic dishes. Rice is dyed blue using the extract of butterfly-pea flowers. Side dishes are sambal shrimps, crackers, hard-boiled eggs, peanuts, anchovies and cucumber.

Fresh seafood is Pony Tale's strongest suit, as evidenced by fresh shrimps used in this dish. Their delectable crunchiness pairs well with fiery sambal (chili paste) to build appetite. All things considered, this is certainly a recommended dish.

Thai Green Curry Shrimp With Osmanthus Rice (RM24.80) emphasizes the complex flavors typical in Siamese cuisine. Known as "kaeng khiao wan" (แกงเขียวหวาน) in Thailand, this curry is made from a blend of spices especially green chili peppers. In addition, coconut milk is responsible for giving the mouthwatering curry a sense of soothing creaminess.

The next dish is Italian Pesto Spaghetti With Grilled Salmon (RM31.80). The pasta is supposed to be served with pesto sauce but some ingredients are not available today. Therefore, Bolognese sauce is used instead. Nevertheless, I think the main appeal lies in the salmon fillet. Lightly grilled on both sides, the fillet retains much of its natural juices. Overall, this pasta dish is rather balanced and appeals to people who enjoy salmon.

Chicken Teriyaki With Osmanthus Rice (RM22.80) takes us on a trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. Deboned chicken thigh is gently grilled with sweet-savory teriyaki sauce. The taste of teriyaki is overpowering when eaten directly, but rice definitely helps to tone things down. Meanwhile on the side, assorted vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, snap pea and baby corn serve as counterbalance to the chicken's heavy seasoning.

Customers who prefer something lighter can go for the French Tuna & Cheese Croissant (RM15.80). The homemade croissant has flaky texture and buttery aroma, both of which are hallmarks of freshness. Cut into halves, the croissant is stuffed with tuna salad, cheddar cheese, tomato, cucumber and lettuce.

Mediterranean Chicken Tortilla With Penne (RM19.80) combines elements of Mexican and Italian cuisines. The former is represented by flour tortilla that is toasted on both sides to create the perfect degree of chewiness. The tortilla is folded over and is loaded with sautéed chicken and penne. In my opinion, the penne is too tough to be enjoyed properly. Otherwise, this would have been a fine dish.

Pony Tale's Enticing World Set Lunch is served on weekdays (except on public holidays) between 11:30am and 2:30pm. Each order includes a choice of either Americano or soup, plus a dessert.

Today's soup is Pony Wild Wild Mushroom Soup. Dessert may be cakes or jelly depending what's fresh from the pastry kitchen.

In lieu of Americano, customers can upgrade to premium drinks like Cappuccino and Caffe Latte for RM5.80 more. It is also worth noting that for every 6 orders from the Enticing World Set Lunch menu, the 7th order (of least value) is free.

Name: Pony Tale De' Cafe
Address: 1832-G1, Jalan Perusahaan, Auto-City, 13600 Juru, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-502-1631
Business hours: 9:00am-11:00pm (Sunday-Thursday), 9:00am-12:00am (Friday-Saturday)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ponytaleAC
Coordinates: 5.33707 N, 100.42914 E
Directions: From the North-South Expressway, take the Bukit Mertajam exit and head west. Turn right at the end of the road, and then take the next left turn to arrive at Auto-City. Pony Tale is located between Seoul Garden and Sushi King. There are plenty of parking spaces throughout Auto-City.