YBR Valentine’s Menu
Words: Nichole Ong
Photos: Monica Tindall
Building upon its reputation as one of the best spots for a cup of coffee and a great cafe meal, Yellow Brick Road at The Five has come up with a YBR Valentine’s Menu that is loveable from start to finish. The cafe has an air-conditioned setting and an alfresco area, which is our favourite place to enjoy the five-course meal, surrounded by greenery and a laid-back vibe.
The menu comes at RM 288++ for two people, plus extra for their specially crafted Valentine’s Day Mocktail (RM 16) or wine options (RM 25 each). The dishes are dressed up for the romantic occasion but remain approachable in terms of taste and portion size, creating an all-around satisfying meal.
YBR Valentine’s Mocktail
To accompany our meal, we had the specially created Valentine’s Day mocktail made with homemade strawberry puree, mixed berry clarified milk, and tonic water. The drink had a pleasant light pink hue fit for the occasion and was fresh and citrusy.
Amuse Bouche
The amuse bouche contains a duo of bite-sized wonders: the Unagi and Cheese Croquettes, and the fantastic Beef Cured Salmon with Mango Salsa. It was love at first bite, with the croquettes being perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, with the savouriness from the cheese complementing the slight spiciness of the mayo. Likewise, the beef-cured salmon played wonderfully with the mango salsa, which infused the bite with a nice fresh spice. The two were a great combination of hot and cold and a terrific precursor to the rest of the meal.
Starter
The starter is an elegantly plated Pan-seared Scallop on top of parsnip puree seasoned with arugula, caviar, micro greens, and pesto oil. The parsnip puree was smooth and nicely infused with a subtle sweet earthiness. Meanwhile, the scallop was cooked well and served in just the right portion. The dish meshed nicely with the garnishes’ flavours, with the caviar adding pops of savoury and the pesto oil providing intermittent brightness.
Entree
We were delighted by the Deep-fried Parmesan-coated Giant Asparagus. The thick sprigs were served with truffle hollandaise, cured egg yolk, and black truffle. Not usually a fan of asparagus, I found myself coming back for more due to the lovely tasty cheese and egg yolk interwoven with the natural sweetness of the vegetable. The hollandaise incorporates the umami flavour of the truffles well, perfecting the dish.
Mains
Diners have a choice of fish or lamb for the main. The fish option is a Teriyaki-glazed Grouper with mashed potatoes, edamame, bunapi mushrooms, and purple and orange sweet potatoes. The fish offers nicely moist flakes, while the crispy sweet shreds of potatoes create a marvellous contrast with the tender flesh. The teriyaki glaze provided a slight sweetness which was highly enjoyable, and the mash was smooth and buttery. We also appreciated the garnishes of edamame and mushrooms, which brought in touches of earthiness between bites.
The Grilled Lamb Cutlet was plated atop mashed potatoes, sided with baby carrots, mint sauce, and brown sauce, and finished off with an artful swirl of balsamic reduction. The flavours lived up to the lovely presentation, as the balsamic and mint sauces balanced the richness of the lamb, while the carrots were sweet and cooked just right. The lamb itself was soft and juicy inside with a lightly charred coat.
YBR Valentine’s Dessert
It’s not a Valentine’s Day meal without a delectable dessert, and YBR delivers on the sweetness of the holiday. The Deconstructed Pavlova consists of meringue shards, homemade berry sorbet, Chantilly cream, lemon curd and berries. Of course, it was beautifully styled, looking like a spring garden in bloom. The sorbet was refreshing, going well with the crumbly meringue and the tart berries. I particularly loved the touches of zest from the lemon curd.
YBR Valentine’s Day Menu Review
YBR is a solid option for Valentine’s Day. The menu is approachable, with balanced portions while still feeling special. The chic but friendly setting removes potential pressure that might otherwise be encountered in a finer dining setting. We highly recommend venturing down the Yellow Brick Road and discovering the magical world of quality dishes at the end.
Reasons to try YBR’s Valentine’s Day Menu: laid-back romantic setting; creative and satisfying menu items; pretty plating; approachable setting and menu.
Yellow Brick Road
Lot A-GF-03, 5th Place @TheFive No.49
Kompleks Pejabat Damansara, Jalan Dungun
Bukit Damansara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+603-2011-7690
Yellow Brick Road Valentine’s Menu
Available only February 14. Two seatings: 6pm-8pm and 8pm-10pm
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