Monday, February 20, 2012

Still in the Mood for Love


Another great restaurant in the dining precinct of Westfield Sydney Level 6. And you don't even have to wait till Valentine's Day or anything.

We've been to Chinta Ria Mood for Love a couple of times now, and each time have had the tasting menu because it's such great value. It's called "Chef John Poh's Sensual Delight Menu", and for $55 per person, you get around 8 courses plus dessert.

This menu is billed as something that you should share with that special someone, but you get heaps of food and it is so fantastically flavoursome that it would be a shame not to share the pan-Malaysian food love with lots of friends. Also, the menu has had slight changes with each visit, but it's been great every time.

Nice, dark and moody decor inside, with owner Simon Goh's version of the movie Mood for Love projected onto a wall. Waitstaff are mainly young, and helpful and friendly.

Starters
Satay chicken, satay beef (lovely charred charcoal bits)
Otak Otak - Spanish mackeral mousse (sooo spicy! sooo tasty! This has become my fave Malaysian dish)
Seduction roll - minced chicken with 5-spice seasoning in beancurd skin (reminds me of the fried ham roll in old-school Chinese restaurants, remember those?)
Chilli scallops - steamed half-shell scallops with sweet chilli sauce (nice fat scallops, very spicy sauce)

Mains
Monk's mushrooms - fried enoki, braised trumpet and shiitake, snow peas
Pearly butter prawns - prawns in buttermilk, snap-fried (lots of butter gives it fantastic flavour)
Beef rendang - braised beef with spices and coconut milk (this is great with heaps of rice)
Squeeze me squiddy - deep-fried squid with turmeric and chilli (great version of salt and pepper squid)
Roti ($3.90) - no pic; the waitress suggested some roti, but the serving was tiny and the roti were a bit chewy

Sensual Dessert Platter
Pandan sago - swimming in sweet coconut milk. Divine.
Kueh dadar - coconut and palm sugar wrapped in pandan crepe
Durian panna cotta - lovely texture, but you'd have to like durian to like this. I'm iffy with it.
Coconut slice - like kueh, I think. It was alright.

So if you haven't been to Mood for Love yet, or don't want to queue over at Chat Thai, give it a go. Not having tried the regular menu, I can't comment on it, but the tasting menu does contain items on the main menu, just smaller portions. But like I said, there's plenty of it and we'll probably experience this 'sensual delight' many times more.

Chinta Ria Mood for Love is on Level 6, Westfield Sydney, 100 Market St, Sydney NSW
ph: 02 8072 8888  web: http://www.chintamoodforlove.com/
We've always been able to get a table without a booking (in the evenings). 

Chinta Ria... Mood for Love on Urbanspoon

PS: The restaurant is perfectly located for a spot of window shopping afterwards...

15 comments:

  1. I am yet to try this place but am looking forward to going. Actually, I have just shown your post to my partner and I think we are going to try and get there next week! :)

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  2. I actually really love tasting menus...it's so much fun being able to taste a bit of everything! This one sounds delicious!

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  3. Love your shots they all look so moorish! I havent been there but apparently this one isnt as good as the one at Cockle Bay Wharf? Thoughts?

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  4. Love love love the otak otak and mushrooms on this menu. And impressive on the value front too. Would have been such the perfect venue for V Day :)

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  5. yummy! i might come here for dinner this weekend ill be in the city :)

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  6. I love tasting menus and this looks like it is great value. I also enjoy doing this kind of thing with friends as it's alway a nice surprise to be brought out food while you are busy socialising. No need for food envy either if everyone is eating the same foods.

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  7. I have to bring Mr Shady Pine here as I love Chinta Ria. The food sounds fantastic!

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  8. Wow Bel, all of the dishes look awesome, I sure would like to try them all.
    Hope you are having a great week :)

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  9. I still haven't been here yet but would love to just for the sweets. :-)

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  10. I think tasting menus are a pretty good indication of a restaurant. Theyre a good idea but sometimes they do miss the mark which is a shame.

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  11. Oh, when I saw the title of this post I thought that perhaps Tabitha and Henry had hooked up. Ha ha.

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  12. that salt and pepper squid does look pretty decent :-)

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  13. Everything looks so good! Want that chilli scallops!

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  14. I've still yet to get my butt here. Everything looks delicious.

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