Shucked The Gardens Mall new restaurant

Shucked – The Gardens Mall

Shucked – The Gardens Mall

Words: Joanna Florento
Photos: Han Sen Hau

Invitingly bright and charmingly nautical, Shucked at The Gardens Mall draws us in with its beautiful display of fresh oysters and extensive menu of refined seafood. Lushly outfitted with spacious booths, warm wooden accents, rosy light and paintings depicting scenes at sea, Shucked evokes a leisurely afternoon at the marina. We couldn’t wait to dive in.

Shucked The Gardens Mall new restaurant
Shucked – The Gardens Mall

Shucked – The Gardens Mall

Shucked at The Gardens Mall is an offshoot of Southern Rock Seafood, a longstanding player in the seafood industry in KL. Southern Rock Seafood began importing seafood in 2008 through direct sales to restaurants and upscale hotels. Shucked first opened in Publika in 2012, with a kiosk at The Gardens Mall opening in 2014. The latest addition to their empire, the Shucked restaurant at The Gardens Mall, opend just before Christmas. With twelve outlets currently in existence and one flagship Southern Rock Seafood restaurant in Bangsar, it’s no surprise that the group sells upwards of 12,000 air-flown oysters of the freshest quality weekly!

Shucked The Gardens Mall new restaurant
Inviting Dining Area

Starters Menu

We eased into our meal with a sampling of the Irish Premium Oysters (RM 38 for 3, RM 135 for 12). These oysters were sourced from Tragheanna Bay, with clear waters of pristine drinking quality. Their woody and slightly sweet flavour profile, with a hint of herbs, helped us devour them with gusto. Although various seasonings were available, the freshness of the oysters negated any need for extra flourishes. Shucked has a buy-three-free-one daily happy hour from 2–6 pm, and one free Guinness for every three purchased.

Irish Premium Oysters
Irish Premium Oysters – Shucked – The Gardens Mall

After devouring the oysters, we tried the Momotaro Tomato with Anchovies (RM 27), featuring marinated Spanish anchovies resting on a bed of freshly sliced tomatoes encircling fresh pea shoots and slivers of red onion. The pea shoots were tossed in olive oil and lightly sprinkled with black pepper. The juicy tomatoes pleasantly complemented the marinated anchovies’ brininess and slightly citrusy flavour.

Momotaro Tomato with Anchovies
Momotaro Tomato with Anchovies

Small Plates Menu

We then sampled the Grilled Sardines (RM 25) from their small plates menu. The sardines were thinly sliced and garnished with lemon, and the simple pairing with freshly baked bread allowed their natural flavour to shine. I found it satisfying to swirl them in the accompanying gremolata, adding a touch of tanginess from the citrus.

Shucked The Gardens Mall new restaurant Grilled Sardines
Grilled Sardines

Fish & Chips

Admittedly, I am not a fish and chips expert. Thankfully, you don’t have to be to enjoy Shucked’s delicious take on the popular recipe. You can choose between Barramundi (RM 42) and Atlantic Cod (RM 48), which is dutifully battered and fried, creating a light and crispy coat that gently clings to the fish. Our choice, the cod, is Marine Stewardship Council-certified wild caught and sustainably sourced. The fillet rested on a bed of thick-cut, golden brown chips with a hearty helping of mushy peas and homemade tartar sauce on the side. We were impressed by its resilience, with the fish remaining crispy even after we took our time enjoying our appetizers. We gave two thumbs up for the tartare sauce, and even though not in my regular diet, I quite enjoyed the mushy peas, too.

Shucked The Gardens Mall new restaurant Atlantic Cod Fish & Chips
Atlantic Cod Fish & Chips – Shucked – The Gardens Mall

Fresh From the Grill

Besides the freshest oysters in town, fish on the grill is another must at Shucked at The Gardens Mall. The Rainbow Trout (RM 88) is a sensational choice with smashed potatoes and broccolini. The potatoes had a hint of garlic and were crispy at the edges, while the broccolini was sprinkled with sesame seeds and coated in a delicious glaze. The trout had a pleasant smokiness, and the skin flaked at the slightest graze from our forks.

Rainbow Trout
Rainbow Trout

Fruits de Mer

If you have trouble making choices, go with the Fruits de Mer (RM 198). Tiger prawns and Atlantic trout sashimi adorn a multi-tiered platter with Irish oysters, smoked mackerel, and mussels at the base. It’s a beautiful assortment of shapes, colours, flavours, and textures that takes you on a journey sampling the richness of the ocean. The mussels are sourced from Yerseke, the Netherlands, and have Euroleaf organic certification. The trout sashimi has earned the Order of Australia Medal and four-star certification from Best Aquaculture Practice (BAP) – it’s an award-winning platter for sure. And, it goes brilliantly with a nice crisp chardonnay from Saint Veran from Shucked’s compact, but well-chosen wine list.

Fruits de Mer
Fruits de Mer

Shucked – The Gardens Mall Wine List

Shucked at The Gardens Mall’s wine list is a one-pager of well-selected drops for a variety of budgets. We were very happy with our bottle of organic Domaine des Poncetys Saint-Veran Les Chailloux, Maconnais, France (RM 250). This dry, crisp wine was as fresh and inviting as the assortment of seafood that we savoured. However, they also have some well-priced sauvignon blanc by the glass (RM 28) that is available for RM20 during happy hour. What a deal!

Domaine des Poncetys Saint-Veran Les Chailloux, Maconnais, France
Domaine des Poncetys Saint-Veran Les Chailloux, Maconnais, France

Shucked Dessert Menu

Shucked at The Gardens Mall has upped its dessert game too since our last visit. The new restaurant has a display of tempting sweets. We tucked into the Raspberry Choux au Pistachio Craquelin (RM 22), a delicious recipe with flaky choux pastry on the outside and jam in the middle, the consistency and texture of a doughnut. It was topped with cream and dotted with fresh raspberries and pistachio on the outside.

Raspberry Choux au Pistachio Craquelin
Raspberry Choux au Pistachio Craquelin – Shucked – The Gardens Mall

We also sampled the Apple & Peach Tart (RM 22), served as a warm round tart adorned with spheres of meringue and candied sugar shaped into a unique ombre snowflake. Both desserts were presented beautifully.

Shucked The Gardens Mall new restaurant Apple & Peach Tart
Apple & Peach Tart

Finally, we enjoyed a Banana Split (RM 22) with three scoops of locally made Jersey Jack Gelato. This comforting favourite was elevated by chunks of caramelised banana melting smoothly into the medley of ice cream.

Shucked The Gardens Mall new restaurant Banana Split
Banana Split

Shucked – The Gardens Mall Review

We had a lovely time at Shucked at The Gardens Mall. Their organically sourced and well-curated seafood is unparalleled, and their beautifully designed interiors whisk you away to a relaxing seaside dining experience. Dine to unwind after a busy day and let the fresh flavours slowly overtake you, like a sailboat borne gently out to sea. As Anthony Bourdain famously said, “What are oysters, if not the perfect food?”

Reasons to visit Shucked at The Gardens Mall: Organically sourced fresh seafood of the highest quality, lovely, warm interior design, friendly service, and delicious wine selection.

Shucked – The Gardens Mall
Oyster & Seafood Restaurant
Lot T-218A, 3rd Floor, The Gardens Mall
58000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
@shuckedoysterbars
+603 4812 9886
Link to Shucked at The Gardens Mall on Google Maps
*Plentiful underground parking in the mall

Shucked – The Gardens Mall Opening Hours
Monday – Sunday: 10 am – 10 pm

Shucked - The Gardens Mall Menu & Prices
Shucked – The Gardens Mall Menu & Prices

Find more of our favourite seafood restaurants in Kuala Lumpur here and stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in KL’s food and beverage scene with The Yum List on Instagram and The Yum List on Facebook.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.