A few weeks ago I was invited to have a little food tasting session at Holiday Inn‘s bar and restaurant by the name of The Mix.
Prior to this occasion, I’ve only been to Holiday Inn to pick up my brother in law, who stayed there a few times. The hotel’s official name is Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur, though it is actually situated at Glenmarie, Shah Alam, over a dozen kilometers away from the KL/Selangor border. Then again, KLIA isn’t in KL, so why not?
The Mix, at Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur, Glenmarie
One of the good things about hotels in areas like this is that there’s always plenty of parking, and more often than not, they’re outdoor and free. A short walk to the far side of the hotel you’ll find The Mix, a pub with a well stocked bar and a full kitchen.
Our mission was to sample some of their dishes, though we did have a few drinks just for good measures.
The Mix is pork free, but like most hotel premises that also serve alcohol, it is not strictly halal.
Osso Buco style lamb shank, stuffed mushroom, waikiki salad
We started out with a waikiki salad (RM 22)Â and stuffed mushroom (RM 25). The salad came with chunks of ahi tuna, tobikko roe and mizkan ponzu which makes for good refreshing start.
Stuffed mushroom has cream cheese, cannellini beans, walnut, and olive. A dish that’s probably best consumed while warm. I didn’t find it particularly great after waiting for too many pictures to be taken by too many people after. Oh well.
Osso Buco style lamb shank (RM 50) marks the first of many main dishes we tried. There’s shallot risotto, spinach, and rocket salad as well. The lamb shank was tender and tastes pretty good as well. If you’re a small eater, sharing is advisable.
lemon grass lamb, one of my favorites of the night
One of my favorite dishes of the night was the lemon grass lamb (RM 45) that could probably use a more exotic name. The dish came with brown rice and pumpkin curry accompanying three pieces of lamb cutlet that were perfectly seared. Seasoning for the dish was perfect, and I just couldn’t get enough of the pumpkin curry, was so good!
At RM 45, this dish provides pretty good value as well.
balsamic glazed short ribs, ryu (black cod), beef negimaki
Balsamic glazed short ribs (RM 50) came with butter-braised garlic, onions, zucchini and beans. It was pretty decent but I secretly wished that it was pork ribs instead.
Ryu (RM 55) is what’s in the menu entry for fried black cod with shitake and eryngii mushroom, as well as boiled potato and vegetable. Cod can never go wrong, and this version did not disappoint either, though serving size isn’t nearly as generous as the lamb dishes.
Beef negimaki (RM 25) is the chef’s interpretation of east meets west. The beef drenched in dashi soya sauce, then all rolled up with some asparagus. A side of curious looking tempura accompany the red meat. A pretty interesting attempt, but one that may need a bit of refinement, I find the beef a tad too tough, and the tempura not matching real well.
coconut chicken strip, Gerard Bertrand merlot, 2 De Quase pizza
Coconut chicken strip (RM 15) though, makes for excellent beer food. The poultry coated with coconut before being deep fried and served with honey soya dipping. It was  quite a treat!
The Mix served quite a selection of pizza, and we tried “2 De Quase” (RM 30) – a combination of half masala chicken with spicy red sauce, mozzarella cheese topped with cilantro and garlic prawns with herbs. I’d say the combination works pretty well, we enjoyed the pizza.
masala pasta, Jivara indulgence, raspberry Rhubard almond crumble
For pasta lovers, there are also a few selections to choose from. Our masala pasta (RM 35) would please those who likes pasta with a kick, again, a dish best consumed warm.
For desserts, there’s raspberry rhubard almond crumble (RM 30) and Jivara indulgence (RM 30), a rich chocolate fudge sponge layered with salty crusty bites and topped with milk chocolate peanut cream mousse. I have to say that I didn’t try them due to limited stomach space, but those who reacted positively.
The Mix’s kitchen proved to be quite capable in serving up more than decent dishes for the most part, and at good value as well. The two cocktails we tried did not disappoint either. For those who’re around the area, this place is quite a decent watering hole.
Address:
The Mix
Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur
1 Jalan Usahawan U1/8,
Seksyen U1,Â
40250 Shah Alam, Selangor
GPS: 3.094189, 101.577201
Tel:Â 03-7802 5200
Food sure looks good. That lamb shank is so enticing…
suituapui: lamb shank can feed me for the whole day I think. haha.
KY, the lemon grass lamb look tender and Osso Buco is my all time fav when dining at Italian restaurants which San Francisco have a lot of. Waikiki salad what in it? My mother from Hawaii and I visit there often.
Vickie: I’m glad that you like Osso Buco as well! I guess waikiki salad has different interpretation at different parts of the world.
decent is good enough for me! 🙂
ciki: best!
Rhubarb! No one makes any desserts with that here in Penang…
Ken: so unfortunate!