The Spice

Special thanks to Royale Chulan Penang for extending this food review invitation.

In response to popular demand, Royale Chulan Penang is bringing back the Friday Poolside BBQ! The buffet dinner is held from 6:30pm to 10:00pm every Friday next to the swimming pool at Level 2. Besides al fresco dining, customers can also be seated in The Spice if they prefer air conditioning.

The main attraction this evening is the Royale Spiced Marinated Roast Lamb. The whole lamb is cooked on a spit over burning charcoal, imparting a hint of smokiness in the process. The lamb is best enjoyed with mint peppercorn sauce.

Diners can request for succulent slices of Roast Prime Beef Ribs at the carvery. If you appreciate juicy beef with a pink center, you're in luck! The beef goes perfectly well with black pepper sauce.

Other grilled items are Spiced Paprika Slipper Lobsters, Teriyaki White Prawns, Garlic Soy Sauce Calamari, Marinated Minute Steak and Paprika Chicken Wings. Additional crowd favorites include Beef Jumbo Sausage, Tandoori Chicken Sausage and Satay (beef and chicken).

Condiments that are available today are barbecue, mushroom, black pepper and mint sauces just to name a few. In addition, garlic mashed potatoes are prepared too.

Dill-Cured Salmon Fillet has an interesting presentation. Although the whole fish is presented, the salmon is actually sliced and filleted so that it can be cured more thoroughly. The dish is flavored with creamy lemon dill sauce. Unfortunately, I feel the salmon is too salty for me.

As for Boxing Chicken, meat is pushed down to the fatter end of chicken drumettes so that they look like boxing hands. The drumettes are then coated with crumbs and fried to golden perfection. Boston barbecue sauce serves as the dipping sauce.

Creole Jambalaya is a Louisiana-style rice dish topped with scrumptious prawns and mussels. The rice is cooked with seasonings and broth, resulting in mouthwatering flavors.

Tarragon-Marinated Wild Mushrooms are served with chopped vegetables and goat cheese. I appreciate the strong earthy flavors of shiitake mushrooms.

The à la minute counter can prepare pasta with carbonara sauce, pomodoro (tomato) sauce or aglio olio. Sambal sotong is also an option if you are up for it. As for something local, Hokkien Mee (prawn noodle soup) is available too.

The salad section presents BBQ Chipotle Chicken Salad, Tuna Flakes & Bean Salad, Shrimp Salad, Tomato & Basil Salad, Asian Coleslaw and Cold Cuts. Customers may also mix their own salads using raw ingredients and salad dressings.

Other appetizers include Quinoa Salad, Greek Salad, Fruit Cocktail Salad, Mango Papaya Salad and a platter of gourmet cheese. Furthermore, customers can make Sotong Kangkung using boiled cuttlefish, water spinach and thick shrimp sauce.

Moving to the dessert counter, diners are treated to sweet confections like Green Tea Cake, Macarons, Walnut Tartlets, Lemon Tartlets, Fruit Jelly and Mango Pudding.

Other delectable desserts include Baked Cheesecake, Pavlova, Cream Choux Ring, Crème Caramel, Chocolate Mousse, Coffee Mousse, Sago Gula Melaka and Pengat Keladi Sago.

Each table of 2 diners is served the Chef Seafood Surprise, which is Pan-Fried Grouper this evening. Meanwhile, every group of 4 diners is also given a serving of "Lucky Pot". The seafood dish comprises of prawns, flower crabs and scallops.

The Friday Poolside BBQ is priced at RM98.00 net for adults, and RM50.00 net for children and senior citizens. This buffet replaces The Asian Mash-Up at Sri Tanjung Cafe. Other ongoing buffets at Royale Chulan Penang are Saturday Seafood Buffet and Sunday High Tea Buffet.

Name: The Spice
Address: 1 & 2, Pengkalan Weld, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-259-8888
Business hours: 12:00pm-2:30pm, 6:30pm-10:00pm
Website: https://www.royalechulan.com/Penang/Dining.aspx
Coordinates: 5.41703 N, 100.34363 E
Directions: From the ferry terminal at George Town, turn right and drive along Weld Quay (Pengkalan Weld). Royale Chulan Penang is located shortly on the left. There is a small lane right after the hotel, which leads to the main entrance and multi-level car park. Guests who dine in The Spice can get their parking tickets validated for a flat rate of RM5.00 per entry.