meriah by Serai Group — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

My review here is mainly about the design and atmosphere of the restaurant.

First, the food. It was good—portions were decent. We ordered the assorted crackers, beef ribs rendang, dancing fish, urab pucuk paku, and ulam. No complaints there. Not the most mind-blowing dishes, but solid.

Service, however, could use some improvement. The menu was extremely wordy, and in a dimly lit space with dark neutral tones, it wasn’t exactly easy to read every little detail. I’m not expecting an essay, just something clear and simple. A more attentive server could have pointed out that our ulam came with crackers, saving me from ordering an extra side of them. It’s small, but these little things make a difference. Repeating key details to customers isn’t a bad thing—it helps. If I were the server, I would have mentioned it and maybe even suggested other dishes to try.

Now, onto the main point—the design and atmosphere.

Who in the world thought it was a good idea to use a solid marble slab as bench seating in a restaurant? I could sit for an hour, sure, but if dinner stretches to two or three hours? Forget it. My flat behind would be even flatter. And there’s not even proper back support. Yes, I should sit upright, but come on—this is a restaurant, not a café.

Then there’s the acoustics. We were seated near the bar, and I could hear every single blended drink being made. If I didn’t already have a headache, I might have been fine, but in that moment, it was rough. I asked the manager if we could move, but he said they were fully booked and couldn’t accommodate.

Except… at 7 PM, the place was half empty. There were unoccupied four-top tables right in front of us. I get that people had reservations, but so did we. Did those guests specifically request certain tables? Maybe, maybe not. But if that was an option, I would’ve done the same when booking.

Would I visit again? No, not this outlet. It was not a “meriah” experience. I prefer the other Serai outlets, especially the one in...

Worse experience ever. Not the service i would expect from an expensive restaurant. Seatings were so tight, food were good but nothing very wow, but the worse is actually the service.

I’m not expecting a princess treatment but what was given to us is not even kedai mamak level. At first, the waitress who sent me my nasi bebek try to move my drink then spilled a little bit of it. My drink is the pineapple lady in which is already in small portion, then she tumpahkan pulak. But ok, i try to ignore it. Then 15 minutes after food came , we almost finish eating, so we asked a young waiter for our banana fritters which we ordered in the WhatsApp beforehand.

Waited for 20 min, nothing came so we asked another staff, a waitress to check on our fritters whether is it being prepared or did they forgotten about it. 10 minutes went by, nothing, so we asked another waitress to check whether it is being prepared or not. Then its finally 9pm, 40 minutes after still no banana fritters.

The thing is, we asked 3 staffs about the fritters , none can make sure it is prepared. We asked 2 waitresses to check on the fritters, none of them came back to at least inform us about the progress of the fritters. So disappointing because bende senang pun tak boleh buat ke? Would have they told us if the fritters aren’t being prepared at all or tiba2 pisang habis ke minyak habis ke, we would just save our time and go. But we were being too nice to wait because we wanted the food lah kan sebab tu order, kan?

Really need to train your staff better. Really disappointed because i have high expectation of the place and today is actually the celebration of my husband’s birthday. Ruined just like that.

The good side of the place is that it is easy to make bookings especially during ramadhan and you don’t want to que for food, can order the food beforehand online. But then again, dah order siap2 pun still fritters MIA. Maybe I’m...

Meriah by Serai Group truly lives up to its name – a feast of flavors in a cozy, modern Malaysian setting. Every dish we tried was a delightful combination of traditional taste and refined presentation.

🐟 Fried Garoupa with Mango Kerabu A standout dish. The fish was crispy on the outside while remaining tender inside, topped with a zesty mango kerabu that added a refreshing crunch and slight heat. It’s a great balance of savory and tangy – a must-try!

🥩 Grilled New Zealand Lamb Shoulder Cooked to perfection, the lamb shoulder was juicy, tender, and infused with smoky goodness. Paired with golden fries and a simple cucumber acar (pickled vegetables), it was satisfying without being too heavy.

🥗 Kerabu Pomelo Salad Fresh, vibrant, and packed with texture. The juicy pomelo pearls, crunchy peanuts, shredded chicken, and mint leaves came together beautifully with a spicy-sour dressing. Light and palate-cleansing – ideal as a starter or side.

🍌 Banana Fritters with Ice Cream A delicious twist on the classic “pisang goreng.” The bananas were wrapped in crispy kataifi pastry, offering a unique texture that contrasted well with the soft banana inside. Served with creamy coconut ice cream and a drizzle of sauce – it was the perfect sweet ending.

✨ Overall Experience Meriah hits the sweet spot between modern dining and nostalgic flavors. Presentation was thoughtful, the service attentive, and every dish had a personal touch that reflects the Serai Group’s culinary finesse. Whether you're craving comfort food or something special, this place is...