Corks Out Bukit Bintang Wine Bar & Restaurant
Words: Stephen Reid
Photos: Matt Wehner
Established in 2016, the original Corks Out Wine Bar location in TTDI provides a sophisticated atmosphere where customers can enjoy a wide selection of wines at retail prices without hefty markups or corkage fees. Their innovative approach to wine tasting features 15 house wines by the glass, allowing patrons to explore diverse flavours and discover new favourites. I visited this location with The Yum List in November 2023 and was impressed by the concept but wished it was closer to my home. Thankfully, Corks Out recently opened two additional locations in Subang SS15 and Bukit Bintang, fulfilling my wish. Good things really do come to those who wait! I happily joined Monica and The Yum List team to check out their brand-new Bukit Bintang establishment.
Corks Out Bukit Bintang
Corks Out is centrally located yet slightly tucked away on a side street just off Jalan Bukit Bintang, near Fahrenheit 88 Mall and adjacent to Gold3 boutique hotel. It occupies an impressively large basement space with diverse seating options. These include a beautiful 10-12 seat private room with its own bathroom facilities and a larger curtained alcove that can be enclosed to accommodate 18 guests. There’s also a range of table sizes in the main dining area and ample outdoor seating for those who prefer to enjoy the city centre atmosphere at barrel-top tables. For those who enjoy watching talented chefs at work, the seats at the long chef’s table surrounding the open-style grill kitchen are ideal and where we asked to be seated. The chef in question is Chef Ken Lim, who began his culinary journey as a pastry chef. Since then, he has honed a broad range of skills in some notable Western kitchens, but that pastry prowess has not been forgotten, which we discover at the end of the meal.
Entering the restaurant, a gleaming copper-topped bar catches the eye towards the back wall, its plush leather bar stools and enticing display of spirits against illuminated glass bricks drawing guests in. The modern industrial aesthetic is achieved through a striking blend of exposed terracotta-coloured brick, sleek black-painted walls, and flooring, combining bricks in a herringbone design and black slate tiles. Adding a touch of whimsy, a vibrant blue neon cow graces the wall above a cosy seating alcove. The lighting throughout is thoughtfully designed – creating a warm and inviting ambience while ensuring both menus and meals are easily visible. No need to bring your flashlight here, as is the case in many restaurants these days! Even the music selection contributes to the overall experience, with light EDM tracks setting a lively yet unobtrusive tone that perfectly complements easy conversation.
While the TTDI location was a wine merchant and wine bar that also served food, the Bukit Bintang establishment is undeniably a restaurant, first and foremost. It still maintains an impressive selection of 15 house wines by the glass, which, upon opening in TTDI, promised to ‘change the way you drink wine’.
Wine List
Corks Out features an extensive cellar of wines from vineyards and wineries of old and new world wine producers. Many bars and restaurants offer extensive wine lists by the bottle, but if you’re not ready to commit to a full bottle or prefer just a glass or two, your options might be limited to one or two house wines in those establishments. While some restaurants offer good house wines, others might only have a Pinot Grigio when you prefer a Chardonnay or a lighter Pinot Noir when you are in the mood for a big, full-bodied, jammy Shiraz.
Corks Out Bukti Bintang’s offering, therefore, is impressive. Here, they curate an extensive list of 15 house wines, all conveniently available by the glass. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can indulge in five glasses of wine from this list for a very reasonable RM 88 (RM 98 from 8 pm onwards) or go all out with ten glasses for the true wine enthusiasts out there for RM 168 (RM 198 from 8 pm onwards). During our visit, we were pleased to find a selection of four whites and 11 red wines to choose from.
In nearby Changkat, you’d likely pay a similar price for a bucket of five beers, all of which would be the same. At Corks Out Bukit Bintang, however, you can try five different wines for the same cost. This is an appealing option, especially if you want to explore different varieties without committing to a full bottle.
Although tempted by the extensive selection, we decided to limit our tasting to three of the 15 curated house wines due to our visit’s midweek, late afternoon timing. While we’ve included the price per glass and bottle for those interested, remember these wines are also part of Corks Out Bukit Bintang’s fantastic five or 10-glass promotion.
We started with a glass of La Puerta Clasico Malbec (RM 21.80 per glass or RM 120 per bottle). This wine from the La Rioja region of Argentina has a nose that reminded me of a bottle of balsamic glaze I keep in my store cupboard. It is very fruit-forward on the palate, with soft tannins, and easy to drink.
Next, we were served a glass of Soldier Farms Shiraz (RM 16.80 per glass or RM 88 per bottle). This Australian medium-bodied wine had a bright colour for a Shiraz and an aroma of plum and red currant over toast and spicy oak. The Soldier Farms range honours Australia’s Soldier Settlement Scheme, established in 1915 to provide returning soldiers with farmland, including vineyards in the Riverina region that still supply grapes for these wines today. It was lighter on the palate than most Shiraz I’ve enjoyed recently and was a good pairing with our steak.
Our last selection was a glass of the Sartori Love Story Pinot Noir (RM 28.8 for a glass or 158 for a bottle). Monica is rather fond of this wine as she was fortunate to stay at the winemaker’s vineyard a few years ago. The wine is a vibrant, fresh, and approachable red wine from Verona, the romantic city of Romeo and Juliet, hence the name. There are bright red fruit flavours like cherry and subtle hints of spice. It boasts a beautifully balanced acidity and a smooth, plush mouthfeel, making it perfect for enjoyment on its own or paired with various dishes. With its elegant profile and easy-drinking style, it was also my personal favourite among the wines we sampled.
Incidentally, Corks Out Bukit Bintang is offering new customers a fantastic welcome gift. Until February 28th, scan the QR code displayed at the bar and leave a Google review to receive a complimentary glass of wine. Choose red or white, and be surprised by the staff’s selection from their 15 house pours. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience Corks Out and raise a glass to their new establishment and the New Year!
Corks Out Bukit Bintang Food Menu
We began with the Cavolo Griglia (RM 28), a dish of charcoal-grilled cabbage elevated with anchovy dressing, parmesan cheese, and cured egg yolk. Chef Ken’s ability to infuse so much flavour into this simple wedge of Chinese cabbage was impressive. The edges were softened without becoming slimy, while the core retained a satisfying crunch. Like freshly fallen snow, a generous blanket of parmesan cheese topped the cabbage, which had absorbed the charcoal grill’s wonderful smoky aromas. Miniature pansy flowers were a nice touch, making it so pretty that it begged you to photograph and upload them to Instagram. The anchovy dressing added a depth that reminded me of a warm Caesar salad.
We followed this with Griglia Al Polpo (RM 88). Charcoal-grilled Spanish octopus leg served with peperonata and roasted potato. These premium Spanish octopus legs are imported pre-cooked in a vacuum pack. Chef Ken enhances their flavours through masterful grilling on a charcoal grill, imparting wonderful smoky aromas to the tender flesh. The true star of the dish, however, is the chef’s peperonata—a salsa-style chutney made with red and yellow peppers and onions cooked down in plenty of olive oil until they’re meltingly soft —which offers the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity to complement the richness of the octopus. A serving of crunchy roast potatoes accompanies the octopus and is perfect for mopping up every last scrap of that peperonata.
Chef Ken’s recent experience at the helm of an Italian restaurant is on show in the superb Nero Di Seppia (RM 52). Squid ink spaghetti cooked with a flavoursome bisque, cherry tomatoes, prawns, squid, and scallops is an excellent recipe. Like all the dishes, it is presented beautifully and garnished with pea shoots. The pasta is tender but still retains some welcome bite, and this was a dish I had wished I had to myself and was not sharing with the rest of The Yum List team!
One of the signature dishes on the menu was next, Petto D`Anatra (RM 56), grilled duck breast with sweet potato puree and an orange glaze sauce. Locally sauced ducks are not as large and fatty as imported varieties, so they need careful handling to ensure the delicate flesh doesn’t dry out or become tough. Chef Ken ages them on the premises, rubs them with his secret blend of spices and the orange glaze, and carefully grills them over charcoal. Monica thought it was beautifully tender and moist, and I loved the sweet potato puree.
Speaking of perfectly cooked proteins, our Gamberoni (RM 88) featured superb grilled tiger king prawns. These were incredibly juicy and succulent. Chef Ken’s secret is a special seafood oil slowly infused with seafood trimmings and crustacean shells over steam rather than fried. This technique imparts a delicate, natural flavour to the oil and keeps it fresher for longer. Served alongside a smooth pumpkin mash, the gamberoni is a must for seafood lovers.
Finally, we indulged in the Bistecca Con Osso (RM 68 per 100g), a tender and juicy Australian grain-fed T-bone steak. As Monica pointed out, this steak was a welcome change from the often overly-marbled, flaccid, yielding wagyu found in many upscale KL restaurants. Served medium-rare and pre-sliced for easy sharing, the steak had a satisfying bite. It was accompanied by three delectable sauces: a classic chimichurri, a smooth aromatic sauce, and Chef Ken’s Thai-inspired creation with coriander, ginger, chillies, and lime. While Monica favoured the chimichurri, I found the Thai sauce to be an explosion of flavour that genuinely complimented the succulent steak. Whether shared amongst friends or enjoyed solo, the Bistecca Con Osso is a carnivore’s delight.
We ended our meal with the Mini Basque Cheesecake (RM 28), a delightful creation highlighting Chef Ken’s pastry expertise. This was not your average cheesecake; it was a reminder of those skills Chef Ken acquired in his early days as a pastry chef. The cheesecake was made without flour or cornstarch; its wonderfully thick texture was achieved through a generous amount of cream and cream cheese, making it a suitable option for those avoiding gluten (though the accompanying crumb would need to be omitted). The cheesecake itself was a pleasant surprise – both rich and light. It was served with a quenelle of smooth, house-made vanilla ice cream and a vibrant raspberry coulis. That tart raspberry sauce brought back a flood of childhood memories: running out to catch the ice cream van and ordering a cone covered in what we used to call “monkey’s blood.” Although we thought our meal had ended, Chef Ken surprised us with a box of decadent dark chocolate bonbons from under the counter, made with 40% pure dark chocolate. These little treats, usually reserved for guests enjoying the bar’s cocktail experience, were a delightful way to end our visit.
Reasons to visit Corks Out Bukit Bintang: great value for money, stylish setting, 15 (!) wines by the glass, must try the duck and the seafood pasta. Where else can you find five glasses of wine for just RM 88 in the heart of KL’s Golden Triangle?
Corks Out Bukit Bintang
Wine & Grill
B2, B3 & B4, Ground Floor Fahrenheit 88
No 179, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
+6012 2708566
www.facebook.com/CorksOutkl/
[email protected]
Corks Out Bukit Bintang Opening Hours
Daily: 3.30 pm – 12 am
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