Despite staying so close to SS2 and having my dinner there at least once a week, Buonasera Italian Restuarant somehow escaped my radar for the past year or so that they have been in operation. But as luck was on my side, a couple of weeks ago I went there on a food review session thanks to the invitation from the friendly owner Ms Zee Cheng.
Prociutto Melon, yum yum
The restaurant is located along a the row of shops at SS2 that is closest to LDP, which also means that parking is slightly easier compared to other spots around the area. Though “slightly” is a very relative word.
The interior is simple and clean though decoration could be slightly better as I personally find the faux vines around the edges ceiling a rather ill adviced concept. However, overall it is still an environment that is comfortable and conducive for a lunch/dinner date that is not too flashy.
Spaghetti Seafood
Unlike most other Italian restaurants, Buonasera joins the likes of Bermuda & Onions and Bruno’s as the few that are not halal. Which means that you get real bacon, and even some pork dishes. That realisation pretty much made my day already.
I usually let the host decides the selection of dishes on invited reviews, but this time Eiling and I made a little special request and asked for at least a dish involving pork. *smirk*
The first dish that was the Prosciutto Melon (RM 28.90), Italian speciality ham that is cured and served with rock melon, not unlike my first experience of it at Bermuda & Onion. The deliciously salty ham and the sweetness of melon works well in this classic combination, though the melon used were just a tad too ripe.
Caesar Salad with bacon, Australian Chilled Angus Sirloin
Next up was the Seafood Spaghetti (RM 38.90) with quite a generous portion of very fresh prawns, mussles, and squid. While I’m normally not a big fan of cream sauce, I must say that I really enjoyed this dish. It wasn’t overly rich nor over powering. Just very sumptuous and flavorful.
The Caesar salad (RM 19.90) isn’t the typical salad for skinny girls who wants to get skinnier. The dish comes with plenty of pork bacon, cheese, hard boiled egg, crutons, and of course, fresh vegetable. On top of that, you get four slices of garlic bread too. The bacon was really yummy!
The final main dish was the Angus Sirloin (RM 49.90) that comes with a bowl of deep fried rosemary potato chunks that Eiling just can’t stop eating. I find that the steak itself was pretty commendable considering the price point.
Tiramisu, Chocolate Pot, and Enzo’s Famous Mixed Berry Zabaglione
The nicely decorated and pretty good tasting Tiramisu (RM 14.90) was supposed to be our only dessert, but due to the interesting chemistry that Chef Enzo brewed up with Eiling, we ended up with a bit more than we could handle.
The good chef, who started working in the kitchen since 16 (exactly how many years ago is a mystery), prepared another two desserts as our stomachs were already filled up to the brim. We had Enzo’s Chocolate Pot (RM 14.90), with vanilla ice cream and chocolate that isn’t too sweet; and finally his signature dessert, Mixed Berry Zabaglione (RM 16.90) which is a home made mixed berry sorbet with Italian egg custard. The sourness of the sorbet and the rich custard (egg yolk, sugar, Marsala wine) was an awesome combination, I finished it and losen my belt in the process.
Chef Enzo and I, Eiling who really likes her dessert
To be honest, I’m rather impressed by the quality and the selection of food at Buonasera, not to mention it’s midrange pricing. This would be a place I yearn to return for more.
Address:
42, Jalan SS 2/66
47300 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
GPS: 3.120033,101.620907
Tel: 03-7877 8586
Related Posts:
- KY eats – Pizzeria Bella Italia at SS2
- KY meets the Swiss Italian Chef Marco
- Cafe Italia at Lygon, Melbourne
- KY eats – Restaurant Penang Tropicana (halal) at Subang SS14
- KY eats – MiniSnack
By Rachying on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
Hahaha… so near and we didnt know about it! We have another alternative in ss2! Mayb i can also persuade my dad to have dinner with me again!
By povege on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
I celebrated Valentines, birthdays and Mother’s Day there. One of my fav places to go for a celebration for quality food minus the trouble and traffic to drive all the way to KL. Love their Tiramisu best!
By eiling on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
“interesting chemistry that Chef Enzo brewed up with Eiling” sounds like we are having a gastronomic food review there! Lol… You’re right about the Ceasar Salad. It’s not a DIET food!
By Myhorng on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
wow abit late hor this post.
By KY on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
Rachying,
Yah, make it happen!
povege,
Wah, looks like you’re a hardcore fan!
eiling,
Hahaha, chemistry, yes, yes!
Myhorng,
Never too late, you haven’t done your last part of CNY post yet, so shut up. Hahahah
By Lyrical Lemongrass on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
Errr, interesting location. Very reasonably priced though. Must try soon!
By MeiTeng on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
I agree with you that this place is worth a return trip. I like the prociutto melon dish. Very good. The chef’s a big sized friendly guy.
By Precious Pea on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
Hmm..i wasn’t impressed with the food the last time i went. Portion very small (we had the seafood spaghetti too)..hmm..but looking at the tasty-looking salad and the desserts…maybe i should give them another chance.
By KY on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
Lyrical Lemongrass,
Make it happen
MeiTeng,
Hahha yah, Enzo is not small :X
Precious Pea,
Eiling noticed some improvement from the last time she went, and it was more than 1/2 a year back I think.
By Bangsar-bAbE on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
Bestnya…non halal!! I must go try the prosciutto and seafood pasta de… =D
By JOY on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
OMGGGG !!
the food looks soooo good I’m actually feeling hungry right now. lol
too bad kuching don’t have these kinda restaurants..
T_T
By Huai Bin on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
The spaghetti seafood looks great!
I love cream sauce.
By Syn on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
My family and I went to this restaurant about 2 months ago and we have decided NEVER to go back. This place is a complete rip off, the dishes are so expensive, but the portions so small. RM30++ for pasta that is not even enough for my four year old boy. We (a family of 2 adults and 2 children under the age of 4) spent about RM200 and we were neither satisfied nor full. I would rather have spent my money buying good quality ingredients and cooking the pasta myself (believe me, it is easy). The mat salleh did not even cook the pasta himself. The pasta at Sure Pizza in Plaza Damas is good, ‘cos Paolo, the owner, cooks them himself and cooks each portion individually.
By ShaolinTiger on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
Hmm looks like a good option, not sure about the prices though. Will maybe try it out.
By Bok on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
lalala…the seafood in cream sauce..looks so good~ hungry d yet now lunch time.
lookiing forward to hunt on the tiramisu also~
By KY on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
Bangsar-bAbE,
yess non halal.
JOY,
Oh well, move to KL soon :X
Huai Bin,
Yah they’re the yums
Syn,
Ahh, that’s quite a tragic experience. I hope the owner reads your comment and fix that. Thank you for sharing.
ShaolinTiger,
Best.
Bok,
Eat eat eat!
By vialentino on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
i will definitely hunt down this restaurant…wah ky, u evil ler….ur seafood pasta tempted me kao kao….grrrr.
By yapthomas on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
OMG! the Spaghetti Seafood is so nice!!
By KY on Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
vialentino,
Hehehe thank you.
yapthomas,
Eat!
By foodcrazee on Apr 4, 2009 | Reply
angus sirloin commendable only? whats wrong? the mushroom sauce too diluted? I find it disgusting that the sirloin swims in the sauce. . . .the prosciuto. . .is always delish . .with the lard melts in ur mouth. . .better than ur spidey instant noodle
By J2Kfm on Apr 4, 2009 | Reply
REAL pork bacons on a bed of salad …
completely defeats the purpose right?
hahaha … prices rather reasonable for that spread, and the ingredients given.
now if only Ipoh has an Italian restaurant that serves prosciutto melon …
By KY on Apr 4, 2009 | Reply
foodcrazee,
Commendable cos I think I’ve had Wagyu one too many times lately. :X
J3Kfm,
Oh well ipoh is a bit tragic, yah the salad with bacon was awesome!
By thenomadGourmand on Apr 5, 2009 | Reply
hmm..there was quite a bit of mixed comments up there.. but try only will know horrr?
By hengjovi on Apr 5, 2009 | Reply
yo KY! remember me? i saw you yesterday at the music bash! you’re the man! hahahaha
By Jade Zheng on Apr 5, 2009 | Reply
Chocolate pot?! i’m a hungry pot!! hahaha~
By KY on Apr 6, 2009 | Reply
thenomadGourmand,
Yess, never try, never know.
hengjovi,
Yes, I do. Great party wasn’t it?
Jade Zheng,
Hahaha, eat dinner next time ok Cindy Tey!
By hengjovi on Apr 6, 2009 | Reply
hell yeah, its awesome, lol nice meeting you! hahaha
By Buck Rogers on Apr 12, 2009 | Reply
I had been aware of Buonasera for awhile & like some had not considered trying it out until I read a new review recently & this blog.
I really enjoy authentic & rustic Italian food and based on the feedback in this blog, this is a situation of “one man’s meat, another man’s poison” for me.
I had high expectation for this place with Enzo being the Italian Chef doing the cooking. So we went there last Saturday. The five of us ordered The pizza, pasta, salad & meat.
Unfortunately my overall feedback is that the portions served there to be small, prices per portion is quite expensive and food in general to be ordinary.
Why expensive!? If the food was great to incredible and serving portions were slightly larger, the prices charged there would have been acceptable to reasonable.
My favourite pizza is the simple Pizza Margherita – it is a simple pizza with well flavoured & prepared tomato sauce & basil on top of good pizza dough – however I was sorely disappointed with the pizza Margherita I had ordered.
I definitely had better and tasted like something out from a supermarket freezer topped with fresh tomatoes, and at the price I was paying for it….it was extremely poor.
So if a simple pizza Margherita was that badly done (my opinion) then I do not really need to comment on the pasta sauce (critical element of any good pasta dish), nor the salad or meat.
I will however admit that I did enjoy the chocolate pot which was quite good.
Sorry Enzo! Not quite my cup of tea.
By KY on May 12, 2009 | Reply
hengjovi,
Hahah yah.
Buck Rogers,
Ahh.. sorry to hear about your bad experience. I guess it was an off day or maybe they just treated us better.. emm..
By Penguin on Feb 8, 2010 | Reply
Ate there twice before. Yes, it may just be a little overpriced but I cook authentic italian and know how much the ingredients cost. For instance, if i want to cook pizza magherita, the imported italian mozzarella cost around 20 bucks and even that may not be enough. Of course they buy bulk etc..so there is margin to make. Once i spent over RM100 to create a small portion of lasagne..and i wonder how these authentic restaurants make money?? Of course there is Neroteca restaurant that is slightly lower in price..I would go back for authentic food but sparingly cause we are not rich…
By KY on Feb 9, 2010 | Reply
Penguin,
You have an excellent point!