Sigi's Bar & Grill

Special thanks to Golden Sands Resort for extending this food review invitation.

Sigi's Bar & Grill is one of the two main eateries of Golden Sands Resort; the other is Garden Cafe. The beachfront restaurant affords scenic views of the sea, not to mention the perpetual oceanic breeze that comes with al fresco dining. Nevertheless, indoor dining is also possible at Sigi's.

This year is Golden Sands Resort's Oktoberfest debut. Held in the evening of 17 October 2018, the beer garden (biergarten) outside Sigi's is filled with rows of wooden tables and benches. Paying homage to Bavarian culture, the restaurant's crew members are dressed in traditional lederhosen and dirndl costumes for the occasion.

Starting at the carving station, Brathendl is customarily served during Oktoberfest. The spit-roasted whole chicken goes well with Dijon mustard and honey mustard. I think the former may be too pungent for most Malaysians.

Next, schnitzel was originally an Austrian dish but it is now popular in neighboring countries like Germany. The Crispy Chicken Schnitzel is thinned by pounding it with a meat tenderizer. The cutlet is then breaded and fried to give it a light crisp on the surface.

I am also infatuated with the exquisite German sausages this evening. Shown here are Veal Bratwurst and Beef Garlic Banger, both succulent to the last morsel. Also served is a popular street food called Currywurst. Currywurst is seasoned with spicy ketchup and is often enjoyed with French fries and mayonnaise.

The grilling station prepares more delicacies from the Deutschland, including the ever-popular Chicken Bratwurst and Wiener Würstchen (Vienna sausage). Each type of sausage is gratifying in its own right; I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed sausages so much.

Bratkartoffeln, commonly known as German Fries, is a dish of pan-fried potato slices cooked with turkey bacon, onions and scallions. Bratkartoffeln is often served alongside schnitzel or bratwurst.

Sauerkraut is another iconic German dish thanks to its distinctive sour taste. Before the advent of refrigeration, fermenting cabbage was the only way to preserve it through winter. In modern times, sauerkraut is typically eaten as a side dish.

Spätzle literally means "little sparrows". It consists of small pieces of dough made from eggs and flour. The Käsespätzle (cheese & herbs spätzle) is soft and creamy, delighting my cheese-loving palate.

Goulash is the national dish of Hungary. Originally eaten by shepherds, this savory stew has become popular throughout Central Europe. The Rindergulasch (beef goulash) contains beef chunks, potatoes, carrots, paprika and other spices.

Obatzda is a traditional Bavarian dish that is often served in beer gardens. The cheese delicacy is prepared from Camembert, butter, beer and paprika. Obatzda is typically eaten with crackers and pretzels.

As for salads, there are Kartoffelsalat (German potato salad), Rote Beete Salat (beetroot salad), Krautsalat (coleslaw) and Caesar Salad. I also enjoy the assorted cold cuts and cheese platter.

Kaiserschmarrn is a dish of Austrian origin. Its name translates to "Emperor's mess". This refers to the fact that the fried pancake is shredded before being served. The pancake batter consists of flour, eggs, butter and sugar. Icing sugar is sprinkled on top for extra sweetness. Kaiserschmarrn is commonly enjoyed with apple sauce.

Also hailing from Austria is Apple Strudel (apfelstrudel). Made from layered pastry, the strudel contains sweet apple filling and dusted with icing sugar. A scoop of vanilla ice cream makes this pastry the perfect dessert this evening.

Other sweet confections include Black Forest Cake (schwarzwälder kirschtorte), Pretzels (brezeln), Cheesecakes (käsekuchen), Cream Puffs (windbeutel), Fruit Tartlets and Petits Fours.

A beer garden is not be complete without an endless flow of beer. To this end, Bavarian beers such as Erdinger Weißbier, Erdinger Dunkel and Löwenbräu Original are poured by the bottle. As for souvenirs, guests may purchase commemorative beer steins for RM15.00 only.

Live music is an integral part of Oktoberfest celebration. Entertaining the crowd throughout the night is Frankenräuber, a 5-piece band from Germany. The evening is filled with catchy folk songs from the heartland of Bavaria and neighboring countries. The highlight of Frankenräuber's performance is with a 5-meter long alphorn. This musical instrument has become almost synonymous with the Alps.

Name: Sigi's Bar & Grill
Address: Golden Sands Resort, Jalan Batu Ferringhi, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-886-1852
Business hours: 11:00am-12:00am
Website: Click here
Coordinates: 5.47751 N, 100.25162 E
Directions: Driving from George Town and upon arriving Batu Ferringhi, Golden Sands Resort is located on the right at the first traffic junction. Sigi's Bar & Grill is located towards the far side of the resort, after the pools and facing the beach.