Buena Brasa Gastropub @ Bangsar South — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

This was my 2nd visit after a pleasant experience during my first visit last year, and it's for a birthday celebration as well.

There was nothing to complain about the food and overall service. However an experience near the end during payment left a bad impression in me that it sour the whole experience of the day.

So I asked for the bill, and one of the waiters (I didn't get his name but is a guy) came over with it together with the card terminal as expected.

In the bill folder there's a Maybank duitnow QR attached next to the receipt, and for me I always prefer paying using ShopeePay, so without thinking twice I proceed to scan the QR code with my ShopeePay app and the transaction was successful. I showed the payment confirmation to the waiter and with a confused look he asked me what payment app is this. When I told him it's ShopeePay he told me it is not accepted in a rather unpleasant and unhappy tone (like it's fully my fault for not asking first). Being taken aback by this attitude, I lashed back saying the QR shouldn't be shown to me if this payment method is not accepted. He went away rather unhappily telling me he will check before coming back later saying the transaction was accepted but then still proceed to remind me again ShopeePay was not accepted.

I can totally understand if merchants do not want to accept certain payment methods, and usually I will ask first. However this time since the QR code was presented to me, and being familiar with ShopeePay which accepts all DuitNow QR, I proceeded to scan it since it will reject the transaction if it's an invalid QR.

What I'm unhappy about is the way the waiter handle the whole situation. Customers can make mistakes as well, but your service attitude should still be a priority. Because of this minor incident it left a rather sour experience in an otherwise happy evening. I won't be looking forward to returning since there's plenty of other...

I had high expectations for this restaurant given its popularity, but my experience was beyond disappointing.

First, the food was mediocre at best. The Gambas al Ajillo aka Garlic Prawn tasted like nothing but oil—no garlic flavor, no kick from the chili, and the prawns were fishy and lacked seasoning. The steak was average and forgettable, and the truffle sauce had absolutely no truffle taste.

What really ruined the experience, though, was the service—specifically from the waitress named Jane. She was impatient when introducing the menu, making us feel like we were a bother rather than customers. I ordered a Spritzer sparkling water but was served mineral water instead. When I asked her about it, she kept insisting I ordered mineral water and claimed Spritzer only came with mineral. I requested the menu to double-check, and sure enough, Spritzers were available with both mineral and sparkling water. Instead of acknowledging her mistake, she defensively insisted she had confirmed with me earlier.

I wasn’t upset about the mix-up initially, but her rude attitude made it unbearable. Later, I ordered another bottle of sparkling water, and she slammed the bottle on the table without a word and walked off. Her behavior was unprofessional and left a very bad impression.

Overall, this was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had. The food was underwhelming, and the service was downright disrespectful. For a restaurant that’s supposedly highly recommended on platforms like 小红书, it’s a huge disappointment. I’ve already posted my review there to warn others about the poor service. Definitely...

Precautionary Note for First-Time Diners: When ordering the Wagyu Ribeye MB 4/5, be aware that the listed price is RM 109 per 100g—but the actual steak is served in a pre-portioned cut, and you won’t be told the weight until checkout. In my case, the bill reflected a 300g portion, something that could easily confuse or unsettle new customers, especially foreigners unfamiliar with this pricing structure. Would not recommend this dish for a birthday. Transparency on weight before serving would help manage expectations.

The Dining Experience: That being said, the Wagyu Ribeye itself was phenomenal—beautifully prepared and bursting with flavor. I paired it with the truffle mashed potatoes, which complemented the richness of the steak perfectly. On my first visit, I sampled the lunch special chicken, which was equally satisfying and showcased the kitchen’s consistency across dishes. The lamb skewers were great and it comes with two skewers per order.

Drinks & Atmosphere: The beverages were also well-balanced, pleasantly strong, and far from watered down—a detail I appreciated. Both of my visits left me impressed, and I look forward to returning, especially to experience their Ladies’ Night on Wednesdays. Buena Brasa Gastropub has proven itself to be a reliable spot for both casual dining and a more elevated experience, provided diners are mindful of the steak pricing...