TOP View

Special thanks to The TOP for extending this food review invitation.

Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR) is the tallest building in Penang, dominating the skyline of George Town by a wide margin. At Level 59 of the skyscraper is TOP View Restaurant & Lounge, one of the many restaurants that are managed by The TOP. The easiest way to reach TOP View is by using an elevator next to Maybank on the Ground Floor. There is a concierge counter at the entrance.

Unlike Coco Cabana, there is no cover charge to patronize TOP View. TOP View serves Theme Buffet Dinner every Friday and Saturday. On other days of the week, the restaurant offers the Dinner Dégustation Menu between 6:30pm and 10:00pm.

Romantic tables for two are set up next to the glass windows. While dining, customers can enjoy panoramic views of George Town's night scenery. The actual restaurant setting is dimmer; extra brightness as seen here is only for the purpose of this evening's review.

While waiting for the course meal to begin, diners are served freshly baked muesli rolls from the oven. The breads are prepared from beurre de Charentes-Poitou (French butter). As for bread spreads, I enjoy the soothing aroma of basil butter and paprika butter.

The Chef Amuse Bouche this evening is inspired by mille-feuille. While the sweet pastry makes a good dessert, this amuse-bouche is made savory with alternating layers of cured salmon, charcoal bread and cream cheese. Topped with microgreen, dill, salmon roe and mango cream, this delicacy is pretty gratifying to my palate.

The Asian Peking Duck Platter is inspired by the famous poultry dish from Beijing, but is presented in a do-it-yourself manner. Succulent slices of roast duck are to be wrapped in wheat tortilla, using hoisin sauce and shredded vegetables for improved taste and mouthfeel respectively. Be sure to consume the tortilla while it is warm, otherwise the appetizer will become too doughy.

Next, Salade De Waldorf is served in deconstructed form. This is a move on the chef's part to demonstrate his plating skills. Comprising of apples, walnuts, cranberries and nutmeg slices, the waldorf salad is dressed with sweet mayonnaise. Basil leaves and charcoal crisps serve as garnishes. The salad can be consumed as it is, or reconstructed in the crispy parmesan bowl.

I am immensely impressed with the rich taste of Seafood Bisque. The serving size is just perfect to prevent my taste buds from being surfeited. At the center is a piece of sesame charcoal toast, delightfully topped with grilled octopus and scampi tail. The shrimp is grilled well enough to keep it fairly juicy. The toast also contains green pea paste, mango cream, salmon roe, radish and microgreen.

The Dinner Dégustation Menu offers 3 choices for the main dish. The first one is Herb Crusted Rack Of Lamb. The frenched lamb ribs are served with lamb jus, red wine sauce and carrots. Also included is pomme purée (mashed potato) with truffle butter, marinated cucumber and broccoli.

The poultry choice is Supreme Of Chicken With Jasmine Cream. Also known as suprême de volaille, the dish is made from tender chicken breast and looks similar to galantine. Flanking the chicken are shiitake mushrooms, broccoli florets and tortellini with tomato and crab fillings. Satisfying to the last morsel, this the best main dish in my opinion.

Baby Barramundi is the seafood option for the main dish. The grilled fillet is served over pomme purée and is garnished with green pea paste and fried ginger slivers. On the side are creamy beurre blanc (white butter sauce) and clams. I think the barramundi's flesh is tougher than what I was expecting. It would be nicer if the skin were made crispier too.

Moving on to the dessert, the Blueberry & Ricotta Cheese Gâteaux has a reasonably rich taste. Its plating incorporates blue colored tuile, cranberry sauce, red grapes and chocolate cake. In my opinion, the serving size is too small for me to enjoy the cheesecake thoroughly.

A cup of coffee or tea marks the conclusion of dinner. Also included with the meal is a glass of soft drink or iced lemon tea.

The Dinner Dégustation Menu is priced at RM98.00 net. There is also a special menu for children. This evening's menu is available until 15 September 2018, during which it will be replaced with a new one. Other meal offers at TOP View are Executive Set Lunch, Weekend Sunriser Breakfast, Sunday Buffet Brunch and Daily English Tea Set.

Name: TOP View Restaurant & Lounge
Address: The TOP Komtar Penang, 1, Jalan Penang, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-262-5960
Business hours: 10:00am-10:00pm (Monday-Friday), 8:00am-10:00pm (Saturday-Sunday)
Website: https://thetop.com.my/top-view-restaurant-lounge
Coordinates: 5.41441 N, 100.32971 E
Directions: TOP View is located at Level 59 of The TOP Komtar Penang. The restaurant is accessible by elevator from the Ground Level, right next to Maybank. As for parking, The TOP has a multistorey parking garage.