Home Food Reviews Favola Hi-Tea, Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur

Antipasto

Of late, there’s so much talk about buka puasa buffet spreads – which place offers best value for money, which place serves the best roast lamb, which place boasts the biggest spread…yada yada yada! Here’s a non buka puasa buffet review just for a change. :)

The Hi-Tea at Favola in Le Meridien boasts a good selection of seafood and vegetable antipasto, meats, pizza, pasta and dessert – each of them, delicious and of good quality. I had several servings of antipasto, a delicious assortment of Italian cold cuts, seafood salad, smoked salmon and bruschetta. I loved the creamy potato and leek soup, drizzled with truffle oil and topped with crispy bresaola shaving. Flavours were simple and well balanced with a savoury accent from the bresaola.

Creamy potato and leek soup with truffle oil and crispy bresaola shaving

Antipasto selection

Salads

Mussels & prawns

Olive oils and seasoning

Cold Cuts

Smoked Salmon, Italian Seafood Salad and Cold Cuts

Mmmm...

The Risotto Nero comprised squid ink arborio rice with prawns and asparagus fricassee. I read somewhere that the squid ink that colours the risotto is the same liquid that an artist uses in a sepia drawing. But the cooked dish has a slightly green tinge as opposed to being completely black.

Risotto Nero - Squid Ink Arborio Rice with Prawns and Asparagus Fricassee

Risotto, lamb cutlet & Italian beef stew

Grilled brinjal with minced beef

Fried Calamari

Favola’s risotto nero was creamy and flavourful with a slightly resistant core. I forgot how many times rif and I helped ourselves to the grilled brinjal with minced beef and fried seafood. The flesh of the brinjal was tender and sweet, and I enjoyed the generous topping of minced beef and cheese.

Assorted pizza and bruschetta

We also had plenty of pizza – margherita and seafood – where the base was thin, crusty and slightly charred, yet still held the toppings firmly. Among the pastas I sampled, the rigatoni pasta with salmon flakes, zucchini, garlic, chilli and olive oil stood out. The concheglioni marinara was a tasty dish of pasta with mixed seafood in zesty tomato fondue. This was nicely balanced with a lovely seafood flavour. Fusilli carbonara was quite decent, but I prefer fettuccine as my pasta choice when I have carbonara.

Pasta

Throughout the buffet, I found the food consistently good. While some of Favola’s ala carte dishes were tastier, the buffet versions weren’t that far off. The roasted aromatic lamb cutlet was tender, juicy and of a good cut, while the Mediterranean vegetables were crunchy, yet tender within. Also noteworthy was the roast hake fish on roasted pimiento puree and onion artichoke fricassee. The fish was justly cooked and the accompanying pimiento (red pepper) puree had a sweet-savoury flavour.

Mushroom Bruschetta

A popular item that day was the Italian tomato infused beef stew but I didn’t care much for it. It was a tad salty for my liking. The chicken ragout in parmesan mash was one of my favourites. I found the gravy light yet tasty and aromatic from the herbs used.

Dessert counter

Desserts are a must-try here –almost everything on the display tasted good. The cakes were lovely, especially the airy, ricotta-style cheesecake. I didn’t quite like the chocolate panforte, a traditional Italian dessert comprising fruits and nuts. Panforte means “strong bread” in English, and the texture was well, quite “strong”.

Strawberry cheesecake

Tart

Pannacotta

Assorted cakes for the sweet tooth

Waffle

The waffles were delicious! Made per order, this was possibly the best waffle I’ve eaten in KL. Deeply golden and beautifully crisp on the outside, the waffle had an almost soufflé-like centre. I topped mine with butter, maple syrup and ice cream, and it was so good! I ate two whole waffles on my own. #greedy

SO GOOD!!

Panforte, tiramisu and sponge cake

It was a full house that afternoon and despite the crowd, the kitchen managed to maintain the food quality. Service was slightly disjointed when the crowd momentum picked up, but that didn’t really bother me because I was too busy with my waffles. For RM88++ per person (RM 188 per person (with free flow prosecco, red + white wine), this is good value for money. It’s considered very cheap since my Starwood Card and CIMB Infinite Card gives me a 50% for 2 pax.

Latte

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Ambiance: 7.5/10
Price: 6/10
Food: 8/10 (pork free)
Verdict: Good variety and quality. One of the best hi-tea buffets in KL, I feel.

Favola
Level 8,
Le Meridien Hotel
2, Jalan Stesen Sentral
50470 Kuala Lumpur
03 2263 7434

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18 comments

Sean July 11, 2012 - 4:46 pm

Whoa, that’s a wide and wonderful spread, considering its “only” supposed to be high tea! It’s be absolutely impossible to eat a mouthful of dinner after this! :D

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Bangsar Babe July 11, 2012 - 4:48 pm

Yeah…but I still ate hehe! :P

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Simple Person July 11, 2012 - 7:28 pm

girl u really eat a lot huh..
I think this is the pre requisite for food blogger..
that you must able to eat a lot and still looks great .. lol

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Bangsar Babe July 12, 2012 - 12:25 am

No la…I have to exercise and diet also. Where got so easy one?? ;)

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Simple Person July 11, 2012 - 7:31 pm

really envy you .. everytime eat a lot of good food..
I been to Le Meridien restaurant once..
It was long long time ago.. :)

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Bangsar Babe July 12, 2012 - 12:25 am

Time to visit!

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Michelle July 11, 2012 - 8:46 pm

8 out of 10 sounds like a good score from you. :) I should tell my mom about this place then. :D

We also have the SPG card

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Bangsar Babe July 12, 2012 - 12:26 am

For a buffet, yes it’s good. But if you’re not a huge eater and want to sample things in a smaller scale, maybe the ala carte works better. I noticed your mum doesn’t eat much too. Hehe

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The Yum List July 11, 2012 - 11:41 pm

Ooh, ricotta cheesecake, yes please.

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Bangsar Babe July 12, 2012 - 12:26 am

We should eat the whole cake each! :D

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ulric July 12, 2012 - 12:10 am

U monsta u! I have to add this to my black book since everything looks so fine! =)

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Bangsar Babe July 12, 2012 - 12:26 am

Yes, you should!! I told you that day ma…faster go. :P

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ulric July 12, 2012 - 7:22 am

Haha…ya wor…now I kinda remember it :P …too bad I dun have a SPG card! :(

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Bangsar Babe July 12, 2012 - 3:01 pm

Pinjam! :D

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Melissa July 12, 2012 - 10:45 am

The waffle looks so light and crispy. I can imagine eating it when its served hot! =p

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Bangsar Babe July 12, 2012 - 3:01 pm

You must try. It’s soooooo good!!!

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George Lim July 12, 2012 - 11:01 am

Another great post. Now that give me another option to pitch Le Meridien Hotel for my conference venue. :)

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Bangsar Babe July 12, 2012 - 3:02 pm

Thanks!

Reply

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