Valentina Cucina e Bar – Italian Rooftop Restaurant, Bukit Jalil
Words: Christina Morgan
Photos: Peter Tan
Valentina Cucina e Bar is an elegant rooftop restaurant in Bukit Jalil serving authentic Italian cuisine. We try a tasting menu and some key dishes from the à la carte menu and examine their thoughtful wine list.
Valentina Cucina E Bar
Located on top of Hyatt Place, Valentina Cucina E Bar provides alfresco and shaded poolside seating options overlooking the surrounding shopping area as well as a trendy air-conditioned interior space. Inside, there are long, cushy banquette-style seats for larger parties and families, as well as romantic tables for two. Vibrant splashes of orange neon complement the denim-blue hues of the seating arrangements. A lineup of wine coolers graces the back wall, showcasing the establishment’s appreciation of the importance Italians place on pairing food with wine. All in all, it’s a stylish and welcoming atmosphere.
Chef Micheal Staurenghi, fondly known as Chef Michele, was born into the industry, growing up in local markets and helping in a little family-owned pasta store in Parma. From humble beginningshe has since traversed the globe, working in hotels and resorts worldwide. He now graces the kitchen of Valentina Cucina E Bar, drawing inspiration from southern Italy and recreating authentic recipes for the menu.
Valentina Cucina E Bar Wine List, Drinks Menu & Prices
Wine enthusiasts will find themselves in paradise at Valentina Cucina E Bar, which has over 160 labels and is predominantly from Italy. Handpicked by restaurant manager Kai Bing and group sommelier Anwar Kabir, we appreciate the customised list, offering a good balance of big names and lesser-known wineries worth exploring.
The house wines are particularly well chosen, offering value for money and respectable quality. Tor Del Colle’s Sauvignon Blanc (RM 33 per glass, RM 150 per bottle) is a delightful diversion from the profusion of NZ offerings dominating house pours. With nearly 100 years of winemaking in Italy’s north, the family produces a sauvignon blanc with more weight on the palate while maintaining pleasant acidity, attractive citrus notes, and mineral undertones. It’s refreshing, robust, and an excellent mate to our seafood dishes.
Also from the same producer and delivering exceptional quality for the price is the Tor del Colle Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (RM 33 per glass, RM 150 per bottle). This medium-bodied wine has loads of fruit accentuated by hints of cacao and tobacco, moderate-to-high acidity, great structure, and a long, satisfying finish.
The team also whip up some distinctive mocktails and classic cocktails. Among my choices are the refreshing Strawberry Lemonade (RM 28), a blend of sweetness and tanginess accentuated by mint and ample crushed ice, and the Sparkling Chamomile (RM 25), a quirky twist on a drink typically served hot.
Menu & Prices
Chef Michele and his team at Valentina Cucina E Bar offer an à la carte menu and seasonal specialities, such as those found in the Valentina Experience Menu. The latter is an excellent choice for special occasions and also an easy way to get a good taste of the menu without the pain of decision-making.
Valentina Experience Menu & Price
The Valentina Experience Menu (RM 379+ for two) includes antipasti, pasta, a choice of three mains, and dessert.
Our server, Shorif, warmly welcomed us with two varieties of focaccia: fragrant rosemary and garlic and savoury tomato and olive. These freshly baked loaves were light and airy with a hint of crunch in the crust. They were accompanied by a trio of house-made dips—salsa verde (my fave), black olive tapenade (Mon’s fave), and spicy tomato arrabbiata (Peter’s pick for its warm spice).
The Valentina Experience Menu began with Gamberi alla Puttanesca, a visually stunning dish featuring colossal prawns in a savoury tomato and caper sauce. While the prawns are the showstopper, don’t ignore the grilled sourdough accompaniment. The slightly zingy puttanesca sauce is delicious.
The pasta course, Sinfonia D’amore, presents al dente linguine in a decadently creamy sauce with diced prawns and a thread of heat in the finish. Our local dining companions loved the richness of the recipe. While Mon and I appreciated the texture of the pasta and tasty flavours, we could only eat a couple of mouthfuls before filling up.
The Valentina Experience Menu comes with a choice of three main courses. The first, Beef Stew, made me look for a nonna in the kitchen. The warm flavours and tender chunks of beef felt so comforting that we imagined the chef’s grandma out back, cooking a meal for her family with love. As it turns out, Chef Michele’s grandma is the inspiration for many recipes. We think she’d be proud of his beef stew.
The Parmigiana Di Zucchine also offers homestyle simplicity, showcasing oven-baked zucchini slices layered with mozzarella cheese and a zesty tomato sauce. We were glad we kept some of that earlier focaccia to mop up the last of the sauce in true Italian style – scarpetta.
The final main, Pollo alla Romana, features half-spring chicken bathed in a hearty sauce of tomatoes and capsicum. It’s served alongside baby potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and olives, which give the dish bright Mediterranean flavours. A delicious grilled sourdough topped with the same sauce accompanies the chicken. I’m not sure if I liked the chicken or the sourdough better—both were so good.
The dessert on the set menu, Tiramisu, is a classic treat featuring layers of savoiardi biscuits delicately paired with creamy mascarpone and dusted with cocoa powder. It epitomises tradition in every indulgent bite.
À La Carte Menu
If you’d rather do the choosing, take a look at the à la carte menu. We recommend the stuffed calamari, Calamaro Ripieno (RM 65). Pan-seared and oven-baked, the calamari is stuffed with focaccia crumbs, anchovies and capers on a bed of peppery rocket. The arrabbiata sauce comes on the side and makes a dramatic splash poured over just before devouring.
Tortellini in Brodo (RM 69) is another satisfying order. It features homemade slow-cooked beef tortellini cooked al dente in a light, fragrant broth. The dish is finished off with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
Meat lovers would do well to order the Tagliata di Manzo (market price), a generous portion of wagyu ribeye cooked medium-rare per chef’s recommendation (or as you please). Sided by oven-roasted potatoes, sautéed mushrooms, and whole roasted garlic, it’s a complete meal and highly satiating experience. The ribeye is expertly seared, leaving a nice char on the edges while remaining juicy and tender. It’s served on a slate plate and topped with garlic butter.
For dessert, we savoured the Panna Cotta al Basilico e Fragole (RM 37), a beautifully presented sea-green panna cotta adorned with strawberries, edible flowers, strawberry puree, and whipped cream. Its delicate basil infusion, combined with the tangy sweetness of strawberries, furnishes a unique twist on the traditional dessert.
We indulged in an icy Limoncello (RM 35) to cap off our meal, providing a refreshing and invigorating finish to the highly pleasing dining experience.
Reasons to visit Valentina Cucina E Bar: lovely dining setting with stylish indoor or poolside seating; authentic Italian cuisine with flavours from the south; value-for-money house-pouring wine; gracious service; try the Valentina Experience Menu to take the hassle out of choosing.
Valentina Cucina E Bar
Level R, Hyatt Place, Persiaran Jalil 1
Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+6 012 679 3860
@valentina.restaurant
*air-con and alfresco seating
**vegetarian options
***pork-free
Valentina Cucina E Bar Opening Hours
Everyday 12:00 pm-10:30 pm
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Cool restaurant 😀