[48BorHoChiak] Via.Pre ~ Over-ratted Over-priced

I really have some deep doubts on Penangite's taste buds! I keep on getting good reviews from the Penang locals about how good this place was. I had visited Via.Pre TWICE and they gave me double disappointment! Despite of the good looks, and the high price, this is really not a place to enjoy good food.

Environment: Nice cozy environment but not the best. I dislike how they layout the tables. They should have place the small tables near to the wall, not the large tables. Consider that most large tables are used by  a group of people. People will have hard access to their seats when the large tables are near the wall. Plus, when the small tables are in the middle, single or couple visitors may feel so isolated with the large space around them.

Service: Bad English! When I make the reservation, I have some very very very difficult communication with the person who take my reservation! They failed to explain what's on the menu! And they failed to fulfill my request! I have to tell them so many times, that I'll arrive at 7pm! For my first visit, I do have bad experience over their services. Very slow, and difficult to communicate.

FOOD: NOT WORTH THE PRICE TAG! I do believe that they use some expensive ingredients. I would blame on the chefs.

Here's what we had ordered in our first visit:

Breads:

A bit hard and stale in taste. Plain olive oil.

Mezelluna Di VIA PRE:

Fish ravioli, this is the best so far, but my mom's homemade sui gao taste better than this one. Nothing so special about this dish.

Tagliata:

A bit stinky! In Cantonese, I'll call it "Chow Sow Mei".

Salad VIA PRE:

Acceptable, not a bad combination, some tuna+mayo dressing.

Calzone VIA PRE:

No comment... speechlessly... plain in taste! 

Creme Brulee Set:

Ok............. nothing special...

Tiramisu:

Ok................ not the best but just pricey.

Here's what we had ordered in our second visit:

Aglio & Olio Tutto Mare:

Most of the regular spaghetti have a large portion enough for 2 person. This is how Michelangelo and Italiannies serves their spaghetti. Thus, with the extremely small portion, Via.Pre is extremely over-priced. The pasta is too hard, seems like it's not well cooked. Overall, the taste is still good, the seafood are fresh. With the price tag, I'm not satisfied!

Tiramisu (Caffeine Free berry version):

I personally thinks that this is the best dessert in Via.Pre. Something really special and worth order. It's strawberry flavored, but without real strawberry chunks in it. It has some tasty sweet wine in it. 

Overall: 3/10 (7/10 for the strawberry tiramisu - but they do not make it often) You must make prior reservation if you plan to visit. They rarely serves any walk in customers. I personally thinks that this place is all about the "surface environment". You may saw some Eurasians 'working' at the bar, and one dressed up like a chef slicing meat. If you're really looking for some great Italian food, consider Italiannies. My next quest will be the Penang famous Bella Italia. Via.Pre no more! Kena tiok kao kao twice, given them second chance, no more third chance!

48BorHoChiak! 17 Saloon, Gurney Plaza, Penang!

17 Saloon Cafe, Gurney Plaza, Penang

Location: Gurney Plaza, Penang.
48HoChiak Level: 1/10
Cuisine: Fusion
What's Best: EXPENSIVE!
Price Range：RM18++

PS additional information added 12 Feb 2012: I heard from a friend that it is not a common style in this restaurant to ask the customer to pay first. I would take it as I was disrespected that time. After much consideration, I degrade Saloon 17 to 1/10. Not a good place to stay, and expensive low quality food they serve. Thus, I've made this a separated post.

 

Here's the expensive food! 17 Saloon near Starbucks at Gurney Plaza. Saloon??? I don't know why they call it "saloon", it doesn't seems like giving you some great hairdo. The decoration is what attracts me.  

Moment of truth! The food! It's a bit disappointment. The portion is so small and it can be considered PRICEY! Expensive and not worth the price tag! I would prefer to go opposite have some expensive Michealangelo Than having this simple spaghetti! They are nearly at the same price! This one only have 2 medium size prawn and 4 medium size calamari rings! 

The drinks! is the best! I ordered their mocktail, cranberry something, it's great! Though, it's still a little bit pricey! I won't visit this restaurant until they improve their recipe. The food is just too expensive!

17 Saloon is not halal. They serves pork! Another annoying thing is, they ask people to pay the bill first before the dishes came to the table. Not to forget, the price tag is expensive, so it's kind of reverse effect of their marketing strategy. For example, normally, we eat first, then we pay the bills. When the food is good, we pay the bill in high price, then we won't feel bad. If the food is bad, and they have expensive bills, they will get really angry! Let say, if people pay expensive bill first, and then they have great expectation on the food. Instead, they found out that the food is actually bad, however, they might not feel that bad, because full belly makes them more patient? I'm not sure of the logics and psychology involved, but I'm still not happy because the food is too expensive! Not because of the taste, its simply due to the price tag. If you looking for expensive, yet satisfying and reasonably priced food, better go for Michaelangelo opposite of 17 Saloon.

The day I miss my flight to KL... TT_TT

Initially planning on a trip to KL to meet my old pal. Unlucky me, Air Asia planes now fly on time, not even one second late! I guess I'm unable to catch the CNY shopping spree in KL. Not to let my bridge toll wasted, I went to Gurney Plaza for some window shopping! 

Nothing is really special in Gurney Plaza. Their decoration are just normal. I kind of regretted that I didn't went to QB Mall (coz that's my regular "hiding from traffic jam" place). Their car parking system has improved. Now it is easier to find parking space, but it's not easier when you try to pay the fee and leave the mall. It took me some time to walk around just to get to the ticket machine. I guess they had done some Feng Shui so that the customers all "easily come, difficult to go".

I'm  not a big Hello Kitty fans, but this marketing strategy by Hong Leong Bank is really an eye catching thing. May be I'll be attracted to open an account if they use Doraemon. :P

So its not a window shopping trip at all. I bought this little girl's dress. There are so many independent kiosks selling little girl's clothing. Some of the gowns cost more than our own regular dinner dress. O_O" This is a present for the new born daughter of my church friend. Very cute, the pants can be un-buckled from the bottom so that we may change diapers easily. O_O"... p/s: something funny from my mom. Previously I told her I plan to visit Tokyo, she thought that I'm going there for plastic surgery. Recently I told her my plan on visiting Australia, she thought that I'm trying to get some mat salleh for a baby! O_O" See, I told ya my mom is cute! LOL.

17 Saloon Cafe, Gurney Plaza, Penang

Location: Gurney Plaza, Penang.
48HoChiak Level: 1/10
Cuisine: Fusion
What's Best: EXPENSIVE!
Price Range：RM18++

PS additional information added 12 Feb 2012: I heard from a friend that it is not a common style in this restaurant to ask the customer to pay first. I would take it as I was disrespected that time. After much consideration, I degrade Saloon 17 to 1/10. Not a good place to stay, and expensive low quality food they serve.

 

Here's the expensive food! 17 Saloon near Starbucks at Gurney Plaza. Saloon??? I don't know why they call it "saloon", it doesn't seems like giving you some great hairdo. The decoration is what attracts me.  

Moment of truth! The food! It's a bit disappointment. The portion is so small and it can be considered PRICEY! Expensive and not worth the price tag! I would prefer to go opposite have some expensive Michealangelo Than having this simple spaghetti! They are nearly at the same price! This one only have 2 medium size prawn and 4 medium size calamari rings! 

The drinks! is the best! I ordered their mocktail, cranberry something, it's great! Though, it's still a little bit pricey! I won't visit this restaurant until they improve their recipe. The food is just too expensive!

17 Saloon is not halal. They serves pork! Another annoying thing is, they ask people to pay the bill first before the dishes came to the table. Not to forget, the price tag is expensive, so it's kind of reverse effect of their marketing strategy. For example, normally, we eat first, then we pay the bills. When the food is good, we pay the bill in high price, then we won't feel bad. If the food is bad, and they have expensive bills, they will get really angry! Let say, if people pay expensive bill first, and then they have great expectation on the food. Instead, they found out that the food is actually bad, however, they might not feel that bad, because full belly makes them more patient? I'm not sure of the logics and psychology involved, but I'm still not happy because the food is too expensive! Not because of the taste, its simply due to the price tag. If you looking for expensive, yet satisfying and reasonably priced food, better go for Michaelangelo opposite of 17 Saloon.

Pork skewer, what's playing on the Astro? This is not about food, it's something personal. Look, in Penang, people everywhere also talking about this, children playing it, crazy fans all around. I have to learn to accept that, and forget about that somebody. No matter how I set the "badminton" word as auto-deleted email setting, the best thing for me is still learn to accept that and separate the meaning between "that person" and "badminton". It's already a year, so I should have freed myself, and go looking for an Aussie Mat Salleh instead! : D Mom, I'm just joking! 

Not happy with the small portion and expensive food at 17 Saloon. Having some nice dessert and fried potatoes! I still prefer that Pandai-Action punya guy working at Shillin Jusco Bukit Mertajam. This Lucky dessert, is quite expensive also, but at lease, I think its worth the price tag. Inside full of real mango chunks! 

Wish after CNY will have chance to visit KL to Lou Shang! : D

[48 BorHoChiak] Secret Recipe's New Recipe

Hey, I'm back! What I've been done recently? Well, I get to travel to Tokyo, and after that, been busy working and working and working. Yeah! Get myself involve in some blogging contest, and, finally make myself get use to speaking in front of a camera! Great improvement!

So just few days ago, I heard the Secret Recipe 48lansi punya auntie told me that they have new cakes. The chocolate lava ice-cream cake. (She's only lansi, but she's a nice lady). I have had a bad time tasting their new Banana Cheese and the Green Tea Cheese cakes. Since I think their new cakes no longer on par with their old recipe. In fact, I think its too sweet. Too sweet until all the flavour is unrecognizable. 

War of Worst Cheese Cake: Starbuck VS Honey Bakery!

2 years ago, I had a very very bad experience with Starbuck's food. Not their beverage, their drinks are great, but their food is horrible! I've boycott Starbuck's food for over 2 years until recently. Some friends giving me some good review on their cheese cakes. It was questionable! I still remember 2 years ago I wrote a comment for Starbuck about "having some great coffee but extremely horrible taste food".

48BorHoChiak! Xian Ding Wei!!!

!!!48BORHOCHIAK!!!

Xian Ding Wei [鲜定味]
Location: Queensbay Mall, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

48HoChiak Level: 3/10
Cuisine: Taiwanese/Chinese
What's Best: Ewww... I won't dare to go there anymore!
Price Range：RM18++