Bar.Kar KL Restaurant - Best Restaurant In KL — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

Dear Bar.Kar,

Allow me to recount my recent dining experience at your establishment, as captured in this Google review. My fiancée and I ventured to your esteemed venue for an Easter Sunday brunch, enticed by the allure of rough wood and charcoal open-flame dining that had been the talk of the town.

Firstly, let me extend my appreciation for your reservation system, a feature we utilized five days prior with high hopes of a seamless experience. However, upon our arrival at 12:10 PM, our anticipation was met with a slight hiccup. Despite our punctuality, we found ourselves embroiled in a bewildering exchange with your receptionist, who seemed to struggle in locating our reservation (listed top on her guestlist) and insist that our reservation was at 12pm, when our email confirmation says 12.30pm. A minor inconvenience, perhaps, but one that left us questioning the efficiency of your booking process.

Upon being ushered to our seats at the "Open Flame Chef Table," we were met by a waiter whose lack of introduction or name tag left us feeling somewhat disconnected from the dining experience. While diversity in staffing is commendable, clear communication should remain paramount in a restaurant of your caliber.

As we perused the menu, eager to explore the culinary delights promised by your establishment, we couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment as reality failed to align with the tantalizing images on your Instagram page. Our excitement waned further upon learning that several menu items, including those featuring your renowned Season Truffle, were unavailable—a fact that would have been appreciated prior to our deliberation when deciding what to order and not when ordering. On top of that, communication barriers persisted as we struggled to decipher your waiter's accent, leading to repeated requests for clarification and an air of frustration.

The subsequent procession of dishes, while aesthetically pleasing, failed to ignite the taste buds as anticipated. The Uni Toast, priced at RM68 per piece, lacked the divine fusion promised, while the overpriced Egg & Toast failed to evoke any sense of nostalgia for the classic 'kopitiam' breakfast you intend to portray.

The much-anticipated Claypot Rice, heralded as your flagship dish, left much to be desired, with portions seemingly disproportionate to the price tag. The dry-aged Lamb Saddle, though exorbitantly priced at RM65 per 100g (albeit with no 100g option available), lacked the succulence and depth of flavor one would expect from such a premium cut. Mind you, we had to ask for extra salt to spruce things up.

In conclusion, Bar.Kar may have mastered the art of setting things on fire, but when it comes to igniting the passions of their diners, they fall short. With a bill totaling RM522.50, this culinary adventure left us with a bitter taste in our mouths and a burning desire to seek dessert elsewhere. So, if anyone here is looking for an unforgettable dining experience, I'd suggest you look elsewhere... preferably somewhere with a fire extinguisher on standby.

ps: On a lighter note, I'm bracing myself for an automated reply – much like receiving a digital shrug, reminding me that my opinion, while appreciated in theory, is ultimately just another drop in the vast ocean of online...

If I’m being honest, I had my doubts about choosing Barkar for an intimate celebratory dinner. However, the food quality exceeded my expectations— I genuinely enjoyed the meal. The smoky flavours, the reinvention and elevation of familiar Malaysian dishes— Barkar’s food lives up to its Michelin Selection status.

Unfortunately, the service did not match the quality of the food— it was unpolished and, at times, distasteful. Bob and Kate were assigned to our table during the visit. I had made a reservation for six. Four of us arrived on time, while the remaining two were about 10 minutes late. Since we were starving and didn’t want to rush our decision on the mains, we decided to start with some bites and starters, thinking we’d take our time with the rest of the menu. (We were well aware that the second seating was at 8:30 pm. The two running late had already told us not to wait for them — and frankly, we weren’t planning to either lol.)

Bob greeted us and began by confirming any allergies— which was appreciated. He then reminded us of the two-hour dining limit, which was reasonable and understandable.

Not long after, we finalized our mains — even before the starters had arrived— and placed the order with Bob. Out of curiosity, I tried to ask about the restaurant’s background and began with, “How long has…” Before I could even finish the sentence, Bob abruptly cut me off with, “Two hours,” assuming I was asking about the dining time limit.

It was curt and rude.

On top of that, when Bob poured our beverages, he did so carelessly— the drink splashed out of the glass and onto the table. Funnily enough, Kate (the intern) managed to pour it in a much calmer, more composed manner. It was a small moment, but it reinforced the impression that the service team lacked proper training and attention to detail.

A few minor touches could also be improved:

The basket for our hand-carries was only brought over a while after we had settled in. I was looking around, hoping someone would bring it, and eventually gave up, thinking perhaps the restaurant didn’t provide one— until it finally arrived.

The crew’s delivery of dish explanations could also be better. Most of the time, we couldn’t hear the second half of what was being said. It lacked clarity and enthusiasm.

When the dessert was served, it was cut into four portions instead of six— despite our reservation and headcount being clearly noted. While dessert spoons were provided, no plates were offered until we asked for them.

We chose Barkar for an intimate celebratory dinner (mentioned on booking page), hoping for a special experience. Unfortunately, there was no gesture from the restaurant to acknowledge the occasion— no complimentary treats (which is fine), but not even a personalized note or any sign to mark the celebration? It felt like a missed opportunity to enhance the evening. Disappointing, really.

The devil is in the details, and unfortunately, the issues outlined above suggest lack of training and professionalism in the service team— a disservice to...

I chose this restaurant for my birthday lunch after seeing so many good reviews and noting that it’s listed in the Michelin Guide. Naturally, I expected a high-quality dining experience but what we received fell far short in both food and service, leaving me genuinely disappointed.

To start with the food: it was average at best — lacking in depth, flavor, and presentation. The lamb sausage dish in particular was a huge letdown. It was served with sweet potato fries (which felt like a random pairing and was different from the image on the menu), and the fries were so tough it was completely inedible. It couldn’t bitten into unacceptable for any restaurant, let alone one with this level of recognition.

When we flagged this to the staff, we were offered complimentary ice cream as a replacement. While appreciated in theory, it led to one of the more frustrating parts of the experience — the service.

We were seated at the open flame bar, and from the moment we arrived, our server was cold and clearly disinterested in providing a welcoming experience. He gave us visible attitude when we declined bottled water, despite having already ordered other drinks. This immediately set the wrong tone and ruined the entire experience from the start.

Then, when it came time to choose our complimentary ice cream, our server offered two flavors: vanilla and teh tarik. We politely asked for one of each, assuming it would be a scoop per person. His response was unnecessarily rude and judgmental — he gave us a dismissive look and tone, and brought back to serve us two tubs of vanilla (which was not what we wanted) and if you were going to give 2 in the first place I don’t understand the issue 😅. It felt petty, and honestly, insulting.

The only redeeming quality was the ambience — the space itself is beautiful, with great design and vibes. But great interiors can’t make up for poor service and mediocre food especially not for a Michelin guide restaurant

Summary:

Ambience: 10/10 Food: 5/10 (and that’s being generous) Service: 1/10 — unprofessional, dismissive, and disappointing

Sadly, this was not the experience I expected, and certainly not one I’d return for especially given the price point. I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant based...