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“OMG… Favola was superb. You simply have to try it!”

“How come you haven’t gone yet? The breads were amazing…”

Those were the comments I got from people who found out I haven’t tried Favola. I finally did a week ago. Upon arriving, rif and I were ushered to a lovely corner with a view of the poolside.

Venetian face masks, plush red chairs, a large painted mural and wooden beams gave the place a rustic yet whimsical feel. The black and white tiles on the floor made me feel like Alicein Wonderland, but without the Cheshire Cat.

At Favola, you are presented with menus in the form of scrolls. While waiting for me to decide on my main course, my waitress came over with a platter of complimentary breads. I enjoyed every bite of the foccacia, ciabatta and breadsticks. They were all delicious with the three dips — creamy potato with truffles, olive oil with balsamic vinegar and creamy potato with beetroot. I knew there were plenty more things to come, but that didn’t stop me from polishing the bread platter clean.
“I’ll get you both have a glass of Prosecco each, ok?”

Cheryl was such a lovely host. She made sure things were going smoothly and prepped us with some Prosecco (RM60 per glass).

Executive Chef, Chef Antoine Rodriguez also dropped by for a small chat. I first met him when we dined at Prime, and thought he was the most adorable chef I’ve met. He had the rosiest cheeks and the warmest smile. I’m pretty sure people who have met him would agree with me. *wink*

Our antipasti platter consisted of caprese, deep fried breaded mozzarella, grilled Portobello mushroom, salmon carpaccio, feta cheese, marinated olives, rocket leaves salad and prawn cocktail. All were delicious with my favourites being the caprese, breaded mozzarella and Portobello mushroom.

I was tempted to ask for more, but rif reminded me about our many orders to come. If you want to indulge in as many antipasti as you like, try their antipasti buffet (RM45) or go for the full crudo bar buffet (antipasti + dessert) at only RM55.
BBQ Cod Fish (RM75) came with a choice of mash potato or polenta cake. We opted for the latter. The fish dressed in olive oil, basil, capers, pecorino, and sundried tomatoes tasted amazing. I thought the smokey flavour complemented the rich and fatty flavour of the cod very well.
Everyone was raving about the Conchigliani Marinara al Cortoccio (RM50) and I finally understood why. The conch shell pastas were baked in a parcel with clams, squid and fish. All nicely bound with a tangy tomato-based sauce and fresh herbs. We both enjoyed this. I might have enjoyed it a little bit more, because I ate all the fish and left him none. It wasn’t on purpose, I swear!Since both our mains had a tomato-based gravy, we ordered the Bianco Pizza (RM40) to balance out the meal. According to food expert Jeffrey Steingarten, the perfect pizza crust comes with a charred, puffy and sauceless rim that should be crisp yet tender and light.

The pizza at Favola met all his requirements, but I wasn’t too fond of the charred bits. I guess this was matter of “taste is subjective.” That said, the topping of sautéed beef strips, wild mushrooms and white cheese sauce gave the pizza a delicious rich flavour.

Cheryl came over and joined us for desserts. “I’m really full, I don’t think I can eat anymore,” I said. Cheryl didn’t buy that excuse. So she ordered what she thought was appropriate – Cassata (RM30), Illy Coffee Inspired Tiramisu (RM25), Poached Plum Tomatoes (RM25) and Baked Fresh Peaches (RM30).Cassata is an Italian dessert comprising sponge cake, ice cream, candied nuts and fruits. This was rich, dreamy and justly sweet. Poached plum tomatoes tasted decent to me, but according to Cheryl, the tomatoes were not properly poached that day.

The tiramisu was frothy with a strong coffee flavour. I loved the “crackling”, which came in the form of candy bits. We however, preferred the tiramisu at Prime. My favourite of the lot was the baked fresh peaches with mascarpone and candied walnut. The walnuts gave the tender peach an addictive crunch.Lunch was a lovely affair; good food, great company and attentive service. The staff knew the menu almost inside out, so they gave pretty good recommendations. Thank you Cheryl, for inviting us!
Ambiance: 7.5/10
Price: 4/10 (6/10 with the Starwood card)
Food: 7.5/10 (pork-free)
Verdict: The food was consistently good. I’m going to try the wagyu beef cheek lasagne next!

Level 8,
Le Meridien Hotel
Sentral
Kuala Lumpur
03 2263 7434