Bacon And Balls Courtyard — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

I did not put any expectations on Bacon & Balls when I made reservation on a Saturday evening. The traffic was heavy, there was a pasar malam in front of the restaurant and parking was scarce. Yet we had a good first dinner here.

Forget the fact that it doesn't look like European style restaurant (the description says so) as it was the food that counted. So good that we came back for the second time not long after that.

◾Signature Meatball Platter RM33.90 consisted of 4 types - lamb with honey mint sauce & pork with apple chutney. There were actually 4 types but I opted for 2 only. I loved how flavourful they were as the meatballs were hand battered and rolled everyday fresh before blended with spices. My favourite! ◾Norwegian Salmon Soup RM16.90 - I could actually taste the chunky salmon meat with every spoon of the nicely cooked soup. ◾Wagyu Beef Burger RM38.90 was a disappointment not because of how it tasted but a matter of size - on the sesame burger bun it looked pretty small & pathetic. My son was dismayed. ◾Chicken parmigiana RM33.90 had one fairly big piece of deep fried breaded chicken breast topped with tomato sauce la saute and melted mozzarella cheese. A decent take on this Italian-American baked dish. ◾Amatriciana Fettuccini RM29.90 where the hor fun-like spaghetti was sauteed with bacon, chopped kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes and herbs + spices before finally deglazed with Italian white wine. ◾Porky Chop RM35.90 had this old school style and flavour to it. Paprika was prominent alongside other herbs & spices used to marinade the 2 pieces of meat. Served with homemade garlic mashed potato (yum!), apple chutney, cabbage braised in red wine (which explains the colour) and chef's special white wine sauce. ◾Grilled salmon steak RM57.90 was done competently with the medium doneness that we requested (relieved!) but IMHO a tad too pricey. ◾Avocado smoked salmon tortilla RM33.90 had generous fillings of avocado & smoked salmon, together with tomato sauce & sour cream.

Given that average price per pax was around RM40, I expect better quality and consistent food on my table but it felt like the kitchen crews were de-motivated.

We actually came twice - first was a revelation as service was good and every food was on point; but second visit they allowed someone else to dine at our table and the "burger" incident. I sincerely hope that will...

Went there first time for New Year Eve Dinner, but very disappointed!!!

1. They only shown the fixed dinner set menu for 31st Dec & 1st Jan to us, but never inform us there is actually a normal ala cart menu for ordering!

2. The meals were served too fast without considering if the guest had finished the meal, e.g. they serve the soup together with the main course (like kopitiam!)

3. I ordered a lamb shank course, when it was served to my table, it was already cold! Moreover, the portion is very small! Smallest lamb shank I have ever get in a restaurant!

4. Their foreign labor waitresses are not well trained! Service was on the poor side!

5. To my surprised, the restaurant didn’t accept any credit card! Only cash or online transfer! Imagine if u are dating a girl and didn’t bring enough cash in your wallet, what an awkward situation!!! And nowadays why would we wanna spend an expensive bill without credit card rewards points?

6. In my opinion, the price is on the high side considering the quality & portion of foods served and the location and standard of the restaurant! For instance, you may enjoy your dinner at some 4/5stars hotels(e.g. Le Meridien...) at similar price level after the discount/rebate given by your credit cards (e.g. Amex... etc).

7. I was suffering from stomach ache(diarrhea) after taking dinner there, suspecting minor food poisoning, and thus, really doubtful on the quality of hygiene of the foods served (sorry, suspect only, and hence, just my personal experience sharing for reference only).

In a nutshell, this restaurant is not recommended at all from my personal options given there are other far better choices.

Thank you...

My second experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag, leaving much to be desired.

The mushroom soup was a primary source of cognitive dissonance—there is no cream in it, nor any discernible seasoning. The soup was not strained, leaving bits of mushroom removed of any valuable texture or taste.

The bread in accompaniment was by stark contrast. Absolutely delicious and thoughtfully toasted.

We enjoyed the headliner Spanish Spare Ribs which though generous in portion and taste, was still less than tender. It was also served with an overly sweet sauce, which overshadows the meat.

Service overall was timely—but we were served one soup at a time, leading to an awkward wait in between.

I enjoyed the pasta aglio olio with bacon, though I recommend reducing the amount of chili seeds in the meal as it is disruptive to both chewing and swallowing.

Overall, for the price, it was a very middling experience. More of a novelty than a staple. Quite a pity as the venue itself has a great ambiance which exceeds its cuisine.

And finally—it is indeed true that only cash is accepted here. Truly unusual for a meal that usually ends in three digits or more. There's no ATM or bank within walking distance so if you're carrying a light wallet......