Steakhouse Mont Kiara -Nice to Meat You

Steakhouse Mont Kiara – Don Julio

Words: Amanda Chin
Photos: Richard Callahan

After a few eating outings with Monica, I should know by now to come prepared. That is, come with an empty stomach. Well, I did. However, even with such forward planning, I did not expect to go through near an entire menu of mains and desserts in a single seating. I guess it can be ticked up to doing thorough research for you. I sat down at Don Julio KL, ready to eat and left, ready to unbutton my jeans. 

Steakhouse Mont Kiara – Don Julio

Don Julio KL, strategically located in a bustling area of Mont Kiara, is an Argentinian steakhouse. Let me just say there are steakhouses all over Kuala Lumpur that boast of having the best steaks. However, only Don Julio KL can brag about having an Argentinian (say hello to the country most famous for barbecue in the world!) grill master at the helm and exclusive access to some of the most premium meat from the aforementioned country. And, despite some ill-informed customers, Mon tells me that it is one of the few places that attempt to educate clients about meat and the grill. For example, many believe that the doneness of meat is solely judged by its colour, but did you know that technically a meat’s doneness is judged by temperature and that the standard varies by a degree or two depending on which country you are in? That’s why you see good steak chefs running around with thermometers in their pockets. Doneness is temperature precision measured by the level of heat. Ideal doneness also depends on the cut of meat. 

Mon’s rant over, I was glad to be there and instantly felt like we were in a loft apartment – cement walls, warm lighting, an open kitchen and a big bar to entice your alcoholism. There was even an upstairs section, which led up to a private, and more “VIP” table. 

Chef Ramiro Moya was already busy, hustling in the kitchen while his staff greeted and seated me right away. As an Argentinian, the bar for meat is set high, so the pressure is on. Once Monica and Richard arrived, the kitchen was in full-prep mode – the dishes came pouring out, one after the other in a seemingly endless succession. 

Don Julio Drinks Menu

Before we get to the food, who doesn’t love a good wine deal? If this is you, you simply cannot resist the current promotion. Don Julio offers Astica Chardonnay and Alaris Malbec for a tiny RM70 per bottle (RM26 per glass)! If you ever needed a wine break from life’s hurdles, this is the sign you’ve been looking for. 

Beyond that, our wine fuss Mon gives her approval for a glass or two of Italian Castel Firmian Pinot Grigio DOC (RM32) as an excellent aperitif or partner to salad and seafood. To go with your “meating,” she suggests a bottle of the soft, velvety, fruit-forward Feudo Arancio Nero D’Avola (RM158). There are also cocktails, an abundance of coffee choices and fresh juices (actually made fresh!). 

Steakhouse Mont Kiara Menu

Starters

To get going, we were served some simple flatbread, flavourful and a palate-opener. This was fantastic with the Baked Provolone Cheese (RM 38) with honey, and chilli flakes. Next up, we got chef’s famous Beef Empanadas (RM63/half a dozen) and Prawn Empanadas (RM63/half a dozen), a new addition. The dough is made fresh in the kitchen, and when you define “stuffed”, these empanadas will come up in your Google search. Must-order!

Specials Menu

If you love Milanese, the Chicken Milanesa (RM95) is a formidable choice – 900g of chicken breast covered in panko crumbs served with a side of fries. It doesn’t say it’s to share on the menu, but you’d probably need two or three people to attack this dish!

Alternatively, Manzo All’olio (RM82) is another filling dish. This cut of meat was a slow-braised Argentinian oyster blade on top of polenta and vegetables. I would never have expected a shoulder to be so tender, but, boy oh boy, was this the softest cut to take a bite of! 

Mains

Chef Ramiro also does a great job with the Spanish Octopus Tentacle (RM126). In fact, Rich, who doesn’t eat seafood, was even tempted to savour a slice. It was a perfectly grilled leg accompanied by crispy roast potatoes and vegetables. 

Pasta makes you run fasta. Certainly, when it’s homemade, and this is the case at Don Julio. The Salmon Tortelli (RM53) was not only a large portion but it was also stuffed to the brim. Furthermore, the fried caramelised onion skin on top was such a gratifying touch. Please pack me a bag as a Netflix snack!

Lastly, from the mains menu, we feasted on a duo of poultry plates. Botted Chicken Breast (RM70) is seared chicken with a crispy crown laid on top of a bed of mashed potatoes and vegetables. Why did the chicken cross the road? To become a dish at Don Julio’s, I’m assuming! The Chicken Cacciatora (RM68) is a great choice for white meat lovers – a whole chicken leg covered with diced tomatoes and other veggies. 

Parilla/ Grill – Steakhouse Mont Kiara

You could easily leave now and be entirely satisfied, but that would mean missing the star of the show – the parilla. First off, it’s great when you get good steak knives set on your table, but even better when the steak knives come in a leather pouch – what a Latin touch! We are ready for the grill!

The Bone-in Ribeye (RM65/100g) was very flavoursome with a gentle touch, thanks to the charcoal grill. The added cherry on top here was the whole head of roasted garlic (you can never have too much garlic). The Entrana (Skirt) (RM42/100g) took my mouth by surprise with its rich and juicy texture. Nothing more is needed here. Still, you can have your choice of sauces – chimchurri, beef jus, green peppercorn jus or Bearnaise. A sidekick is what makes you a superhero, and at Don Julio, the Creamy Spinach (RM25), the Roasted Pumpkin with Almonds (RM23), and Cauliflower Gratin (26) are excellent counterparts. 

Argentine Dessert KL

I let Monica know I have a massive sugar tooth, and Chef Ramiro must have heard because he brought all but one dessert from the menu. We began with the Dulce de Leche Ice Cream (RM19) – what sweet dreams are made of, Mil Hojas (RM21) – a puff pastry dream with caramelised milk, and Tres Leches (RM21) – made out of three types of milk. We also had the Tiramisu (RM21), a delight in every bite. 

Last but not least, we finished off with the Alfajor (RM26). Personally, I was giddy with excitement to try Don Julio’s because I grew up eating these in Latin America and Chef Ramiro told us he made them himself. The chef’s version stuffs homemade caramelised milk between two soft chocolate-covered cookies, sided with dulce de leche ice cream. I knew I had to eat it all, even though my stomach was begging me to stop. 

Don’t Go Steakin’ My Heart

You already know the answer to your question, “Is it worth it?” Yes! Don Julio not only has a great atmosphere – perfect for families, dates, birthdays and friends – it also has an array of dishes, besides superb steaks, that will leave you satisfied. Rugs of cow skin on the wall, outside seating, upstairs area and a beautiful new bar are more reasons than needed why you should check it out. 

Because of the sizeable portions, this isn’t quite the apt spot to eat solo (unless you have the stomach of a gaucho after a long day on the ranch). My suggestion would be to use Don Julio as a date night experience or round up a group so you can order several plates – just like Pokemon, you gotta catch ’em all. 

If like me, you don’t have money to visit Argentina right now, Argentina will come to you in the form of meat, empanadas and alfajores. To add to that, super friendly waiters are ready to answer all of your questions. 

Reasons to visit Don Julio Steakhouse in Mont Kiara: loft-like atmosphere, open kitchen, simple but nice wine selection, welcoming staff, a friendly chef and a staggering variety of meat choices – from whites to reds – and a dulce de leche-centred dessert menu. 

Don Julio – Steakhouse Mont Kiara
Verve Suites Mont Kiara
G-3 Verve Shops, No. 8, Jalan Kiara 5, Mont Kiara
50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website
· Halal

Don Julio Steakhouse Mont Kiara Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 2 – 11:00 p.m.
Saturday to Sunday: 12 – 11:00 p.m.

Find more steak restaurants in Kuala Lumpur here and stay up to date with the happenings around Malaysia here and here.