Main Street Cafe

This article is part of my Christmas 2018 compilation.

Special thanks to Cititel Penang for extending this food review invitation.

Cititel Penang, the sister property of The Wembley, is next in line to showcase its Christmas-themed buffet. The meal is held at Main Street Cafe, right next to Zhonghua Gourmet. In the festive spirit of Christmas, the restaurant has put up a mock fireplace at the entrance.

Starting at the carvery, Roast Turkey and Roast Lamb Leg steal the spotlight right off the bat. The meats are cooked to perfection, making them truly tender and juicy. Also appealing are chestnut stuffings made from chicken and turkey. The stuffings are baked in an oven and then browned on a grill. Giblet gravy and cranberry sauce serve as condiments.

Next, Braised Red Cabbage looks strikingly similar to German rotkraut. The tartness of apples lends flavor to the cabbage. However, I feel that the sharp taste may be overpowering for some people.

Chicken Katsu consists of deep-fried chicken cutlets with crispy breading. The cutlets are sliced and garnished elegantly. This poultry dish goes well with thick tonkatsu sauce.

Wok-fried Prawn is one of the local favorites. The shrimps are coated with savory paste made from salted egg yolks, while curry leaves contribute their appetizing aroma. Other interesting Asian dishes include Beef Teriyaki and Yaki Tori.

The salad bar provides fresh produce such as mesclun mix, broccoli, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers. The kitchen has also prepared a handful of dressings including French, Thousand Island and vinaigrette. Diners who appreciate the Mediterranean style of healthy eating can add olive oil and balsamic vinegar too.

At the chilled seafood section, there are marine delicacies such as oysters, scallops, bay mussels and shrimps. Lemon wedges are particularly important especially for raw oysters.

Moving on to Japanese food, the assortment of sushi (寿司) mostly consists of nigiri (握り) and maki (巻き) types. Sushi is customarily eaten with condiments like wasabi (山葵), soy sauce (醬油) and pickled ginger (ガリ). As for sashimi (刺身), raw slices of salmon, tuna, butterfish and octopus allow diners to eat to their heart's content.

Christmas pastries are an integral aspect of yuletide meals. The centerpiece display is the gingerbread house, which is ostentatiously decorated with candy and icing.

Other traditional confectioneries are Yule Log, Christmas Stollen, Christmas Pudding and Fruitcake.

Diners may also give in to sugar cravings with sweet treats like red velvet cake, cheesecake, gingerbread man, éclairs, apple tarts, brownies and cookies.

The mere sight of glazed doughnuts and macarons is simply irresistible! Also present this evening are green tea mousse, tiramisu and crème brûlée in shot glasses, whereas omochi (お餅) is presented on porcelain spoons. Finally, the chocolate fondue is perfect for cocoa lovers.

Cititel Penang is offering 4 Christmas-themed buffet meals starting 23 December 2018. There are special prices for children and senior citizens. To bring the festive mood to life, Christmas carols will be performed on Christmas Eve from 8:45pm.

Furthermore, Cititel Penang is also serving more buffet sessions around New Year. To stretch your dollar, consider joining the Magical's New Year's Eve Buffet Dinner; for every 5 paying adults, the 6th person's meal is on the house!

Name: Main Street Cafe
Address: 66, Jalan Penang, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-291-1128
Business hours: 24 hours
Website: http://www.cititelpenang.com/en/dining.html
Coordinates: 5.42156 N, 100.33247 E
Directions: Cititel Penang is a 16-floor building at Penang Road (Jalan Penang). Main Street Cafe is located at the far end from the main entrance. To park, drive past the lobby and up the ramp to Level 2. Parking is charged at RM4.00 per entry.