WIP On The Park — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

WIP On The Park: Where Ambition Meets Indecision

Two weeks ago, I found myself at WIP On The Park on a languid Sunday evening. The restaurant was quiet, almost serene, and the ambience had that easy, unfussy charm—perfect for unwinding without the pressure of pretension. The service? Satisfactory and friendly, as one would expect in a place like this. No complaints there.

But then, the menu. Oh, the menu. It’s as if someone took a world map, threw a dart, and decided, "We’ll serve that... and also that... and why not this too?" The result is a culinary identity crisis, trying to be everything to everyone but landing somewhere in the territory of “meh.”

Take the Kerala fish curry, for example: insipid, uninspired, and suspiciously reminiscent of a base sauce made in bulk for anything remotely saucy that comes out of the kitchen. Add fish, call it Kerala, and hope no one notices. Spoiler: I noticed.

The chicken goujons (or whatever they were trying to be) felt like something fished out of a bag in the freezer aisle and fried into oblivion. As for the satay, it was the least offensive of the lot, but the peanut sauce—a critical player in the satay game—was watery and sparse, leaving the skewers tragically underdressed

Here’s the thing: you can’t offer a menu that gallivants across the globe and then serve food that fails to even make a pit stop in the land of flavour. It’s an admirable ambition, sure, but it’s half-baked in execution—literally, in some cases.

Now, I get why WIP On The Park has its fans. The location and ambience are undeniable draws. It’s the kind of place where you’d go for a drink, soak in the vibe, and maybe nibble on something as you chat. But if you have any genuine understanding of food and how it should be cooked, prepare for disappointment.

There’s a saying: “If you try to be everything to everyone, you become nothing.” The executive chef here might want to mull that over while reconsidering the menu strategy. WIP On The Park has potential, but right now, it’s more Work in Progress than Worldly...

Nestled discreetly within the heart of the city, WIP On The Park stands as a beacon of refined gastronomy and impeccable service. As we stepped through its doors, we were instantly captivated by the enchanting ambience that bathed the restaurant in a warm and inviting glow.

The fusion of comfy and contemporary design elements created an atmosphere of opulence and sophistication, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.

The evening commenced with a gracious welcome from Anil, the Fleet Admiral whose charm and expertise immediately put us at ease.

The culinary journey began with a sumptuous serving of nachos that tantalised our taste buds and hinted at the culinary delights to come.

We then savoured the symphony of flavors in the refined mushroom soup with impeccably toasted garlic toast, adorned with an exquisite presentation of lamb shank which was a work of art, as beautiful as it was delectable.

The beef burger was a masterpiece of culinary craftsmanship, perfectly cooked to a succulent tenderness. Our Tiger Beer doused well with the culinary delights.

Throughout the evening, the attentive and discreet service was like a finely orchestrated ballet, ensuring every need was met without ever intruding on the experience. The staff's passion for their craft and genuine warmth, led by Anil, created an atmosphere of indulgence and contentment.

They even sang an enthusiastic Happy Birthday ditty for my girlfriend with utter aplomb.

As the night drew to a close, we found ourselves in awe of the culinary artistry and elegance WIP On The Park embodies. It transcends the mere act of dining and transforms it into a profound and memorable experience.

With its impeccable cuisine, unparalleled service, and a setting that exudes sophistication, it has earned its place among the stars of majestic dining, a beacon of culinary excellence that will definitely warrant another...

I had fun dining here with a friend of mine. We ordered beforehand, and came here to break our fast. The menu was quite vast and the choices are so many. There’s also dates that comes with our iftar.

My food was really good i had Kerala Style Fish in Banana Leaf with naan for rm40 (they offers naan or pulao rice). The fish was soft yet tender. The spices were perfect and complements the stingray perfectly, and i was quite skeptical before ordering it and thought i would have to use my hand too much to take out the fishbones (menu already clearly states fish fillet. lol)

My friend had a Jamaican Jerk Chicken (rm32) and Chocolate Lava (rm20) that comes with a vanilla ice cream and slices of strawberry, which was really good too.

i too had chocolate mousse bomb, to me it was quite heavy on the chocolate taste and very filling too. But i did not anticipate that the chocolate bomb (rm24) comes with an orange taste which i pretty much wont think to order it at all had i known earlier. i ended up swapping my dessert with my friend since we preferred each other’s dessert more. All was well.

I had mocktail. shirley temple. which was nice and costs me rm18.

all in all, i was really happy with what i ordered. The place is really nice to hang with your friends and lepak. There were quite a number of waiters/waitresses. The waiter with spectacles checks with us about our food and we told him we have no complaints since everything was really good. All the waiters seems to be quite always alert with their customers.

10/10 will definitely walk from Chanel KLCC and...