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Penang is known for its street food offerings but every now and then, rif and I would choose to dine at restaurants with a nicer ambiance. We recently tried 32 at the Mansion, a swanky new fine-dining restaurant along Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah in Penang. Reservations would be wise if you’re planning to visit on a weekend night and this Anglo-Indian restaurant is a perfect spot for special nights.

Service was fairly consistent that night; our waiter was efficient and well-trained. I was impressed with the Negroni (RM28), a bittersweet aperitif that was made right. Strong and balanced with a citrus twist. To start, we had the Chicken Liver Pate (RM25) and Seared Duck Foie Gras (RM54); both good in their own way.

The liver pate was flavourful and slightly grainy — best eaten spread on corn toast with bits of marinated prunes. The foie gras was perfectly cooked, resulting in a beautifully pink centre and melt-in-the-mouth texture. I thought the fig and thyme relish paired nicely with this, giving it a caramelised finish.

We shared an Angus Ribeye (RM128 for 250gm), served on a bed of celeriac puree with cafe de paris butter, black truffle and roasted vegetables. This was cooked medium rare as requested and the meat was juicy throughout. Not the best I’ve eaten but it was pretty good considering the price, portion and taste.

For dessert, we had the Crepe Suzette (RM14) which was not bad, but sans table side. For some reason, I like watching my crepe suzette prepared in front of me. Visual stimulation, I call it. :P This came with two generous scoops of vanilla bean ice cream.

Our bill came up to about RM350 for the above. Not too pricey considering the service and quality of food. Hopefully the standards remain when we revisit in future.

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Ambiance: 7.5/10
Price: 6/10
Food: 7/10 (pork free)
Verdict: Nice ambiance, attentive service and good food.

32 at the Mansion
32, Jalan Ahmad Shah,
10050 Penang,
Malaysia.
Tel: 04-262 2232
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