High Tide, Menara Taipan, Kuala Lumpur

For our wedding anniversary celebration this year, Hubby let me choose the restaurant. I picked High Tide since I have been saving this restaurant for a special ocassion like this.

High Tide won the Time Out KL's Best Seafood restaurant award in 2010. However, in January 2011 the management decided to revamp their menu and introduce non-seafood items to their menu to cater for the diverse palates of its patrons.

As soon as I stepped into the restaurant, I liked it. The interior was bright and airy and oozes class. An 8 metre tropical fish tank sits in the centre of the restaurant and divides the restaurant into smoking and non-smoking sections. A sight to behold.

French Riviera inspired murals by British artist, Imogen Slater

Watching these little fishies had a rather calming effect on us.

Restaurant exterior

Service here was top-notch and left us impressed. The restaurant manager, Carole along with the two other waiters were friendly and attentive, making our dining experience a memorable one.

The plates of food which arrived at our table were works of art, not surprising since Chef Evert Onderbeke was mentored by 2 Michelin star chef, Roger Souvereyns. It was most interesting getting to peek into the semi-open kitchen and see the chef at work. Just by looking, you can tell that the chef puts a lot of care into the preparation of his dishes.

We were first served the delicate amuse bouche of Smoked Eel with Olive Tapenade. We popped them into our mouths and experienced a burst of wonderful flavours.

We were then served some warm bread with salted and unsalted butter. The bread was good; soft pillowy centre with a nice, crusty exterior. Each time we finished our bread, the waiter would, as if by magic, appear by our side, enquiring if we would like another slice.

For starters, I simply had to order the Pan Seared Duck Liver with Rhubarb Compote and Apple. The divine foie gras and luscious rhubarb compote was a magical combination. The sizeable foie had the wonderful melt-in-the-mouth texture with a crisp exterior. Every bite was absolutely delightful. Apart from my starter of foie, we stuck to the seafood items on the menu.

Hubby had the Rocket Salad with Pan Fried Scallops, Tomato Confit and Balsamic Dressing (RM45). He offered me some of his scallops and they were very fresh, plump and juicy.

The seafood choices for the main course was quite limited (only 5 items). However we were more than pleased with our choices. In fact, they exceeded all our expectations and more. The portions were generous but hey, I'm not complaining :) High Tide uses only fresh and sustainably caught ingredients, specially air flown from Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Hubby had the Grilled Yellow Fin Tuna with Vegetable Ratatouille and Linguine (RM62). The waiter recommended the tuna to be cooked medium. The tuna that arrived at our table was lightly seared, with a nice and pink center and slightly caramelised crust. We sometimes find tuna to be mildly flavoured on its own, but the combination of the tuna with the savoury ratatouille was lovely.

I had the Oven Baked Ocean Trout with Leeks Confit and Lemon Beurre Blanc (RM66) served with pommes puree (aka mash potatoes). The fish was perfectly cooked and well-seasoned. A gorgeous, flaky and smooth chunk of fish. The freshness and natural sweetness of the fish shone through and I enjoyed it immensely. The leeks confit paired with the fish was very delicious. I also loved the mini potato crisps, which added a different texture to the dish. There was not a speck left by the time I finished.

I was quite full by now, but I just couldn't say no to desserts. I had the Dark Chocolate Fondant with Pistachio Ice-Cream.. it was so rich and decadent!

Hubby had the Tiramisu with Gingerbread and Tia Maria. This was a rather unique take on tiramisu; instead of Savoiardi fingers, the chef used gingerbread. Hence one gets to taste and smell the lovely spices from the gingerbread. All desserts are priced at RM28.

Simply divine

Petits fours in the form of chocolate brownies and lemon madeleines. Despite its appearance, the chocolate brownies were moist and rich. The madeleines were still warm and light in texture with a wonderful crisp crust. Why does petit four have to be so petite? I want more!

It was definitely a spectacular lunch. The perfect place for our anniversary celebration.

For the full a la carte menu, click here. High Tide no longer serves set lunches or tasting menus.

Verdict: High Tide has all the qualities of a great fine dining restaurant; impeccable service, delicious and beautifully plated food, good quality ingredients and a very nice ambience. I felt like I was dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Open for both lunch and dinner. Closed on Mondays.

Price: Total bill was RM370, which includes a glass of Semillon and coffee. I observed that prices on current menu are more reasonable compared to the older menu.

Parking: Valet parking is available at Menara Taipan for a reasonable fee of RM10. Otherwise, you can park at The Weld and walk over to the restaurant.

Location: High Tide, Ground Floor, Menara Taipan, Jalan Punchak (off Jalan P. Ramlee), 50250 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03-2072 4452

GPS Coordinates: 3.152011, 101.706153

Website: http://www.hightidekl.com

*Please note that High Tide has been reopened as Cuisine Gourmet by Nathalie.