Atlantic Nyonya HQ — Restaurant in Malacca

Was recommended by a friend of mine to try out the HQ coz whenever I visited the Atlantic branch at Melaka Raya, it was always full. Moreover, the staff weren't welcoming enough; 1 of the Chinese guy opened the door 🚪 and scanned us from head to toe as though we were under dressed, "It's Full today 😏, then closed the door". No apologies. So, I decided to check out the HQ at Jalan Kubu, Melaka. Food tastes the same coz from Central Kitchen. Ordered my favourite Ayam Pongteh aka Chicken Pongteh RM 18.80, Pandan Rice 🍚 RM 4, Daun Keledek Bawang aka Sweet Potato Leaf RM 13.80 and Cracker tidbits RM 3.50 (optional) which came without ordering but i just whacked coz was famished! Total damage RM 46.50!! 😱🤕 It was kinda pricey for a solo to have such meal.😬 All was good, except that the Ayam Pongteh had very little gravy which I couldn't enjoy sipping it since I preferred slathering the gravy on my pandan rice which was very dry. Luckily the Daun Keledek had some gravy. 👍🏻 Honestly speaking, as a true blue Nyonya, I still prefer "Baba Charlie's". Moreover, I could eat thrice at "Baba Charlie's" wt generous gravy serving from the Ayam Pongteh and more fragrant.👍🏻 The ambience at Atlantic resto was of course much better coz it was formerly a Hakka Association Building that they took over and grew their business. Parking was abundant as it's on a private land. Even their toilets 🚽 were quite clean! The only setback was settling the bill. I had only RM 20 in my wallet and the Cashier quoted the price RM 46.50. I asked whether she could accept Debit/Credit card, "The machine closed d", came here reply. "So, how ah? Shall I go to the nearest ATM and return?" I asked. 😐😒😏 "U tap lah..." as she extended the Credit card machine to me. "Ehh! I thought 🤔 U said U accept only Cash and your machine is closed?". She went like this ..😏😒🙄 and it was done after that mini scenario of paying A bill! 😔 Goodness! Where is The Customer Service? Is it because I was the last one paying at 9pm and it was their closing time? 😤 U know what to...

Very disappointed for my 2nd Visit to this Restaurant (HQ)!

First Visit last year, I was extremely satisfied over the standard and quality of Nyonya food served at HQ!

So this time in Oct 2024, purposely made a 200 km trip to this restaurant (HQ) to enjoy the dishes again!

But this time, it was met with complete disappointment.

Firstly, when calling the owner, he said no booking already, and need to Queue.

On arriving at 5:30 pm, the restaurant was only 1/3 full. No need to queue at all. (Pressure tactic from owner??)

Then when dishes served and taking it, the standard was in complete contrast over the experience of last year.

Dishes as taken:

Homemade sweet Soy Prawn: Prawn freshness is only so so. Taste is too sweet! Nothing spectacular about this dish at all. Rate 1/5

Petai with shrimp: Petai is okay. But the shrimp, small tasteless. Another complete disappointment. Taste is overly sweet again. Rating 1/5

Tempra Fish: Fish is fresh. But having too much source/gravy for this fried fish. Too sweet again for the source. Rate 1/5

Otah: Powdery feeling, could not see fish meat. Rating: 1/5

Fresh Orange Juice: No orange taste at all. Rate 1/5

Chendol: This is the biggest disappointment. This was the main compelling reason for having the 200km trip. But the Gula Melaka did not have any fragrance at all. Coconut milk again not feeling like coconut milk, tasteless. Rate 0/5 Overall comment: The quality of dishes served, is not restaurant level of standard. It is more like a rural street food, that mainly used sugar as main ingredient. I would think a lot of street food hawker will serve much better quality standard then this restaurant, judging from this unpleasant experience.

Not feeling the dishes served, has got anything to do with Nyonya food.

Conclusion: I Blacklist this Atlantic Restaurant (HQ)...

Very nice restaurant for a good nyonya meal. Distance is not too far away from Jonker i.e. just circa. 4 mins walk away. Driving will also be convenient given that there are ample free parking within the restaurant compound.

Service was very good thru my patronage - welcoming and we were ushered to a table once we arrived. Complimentary keropok and sambal was provided as we pondered over the menu. Order process was seamless with the friendly manager providing really good recommendations. An advise - go with the recommendation with inputs on spicy levels of the dishes. We did not regret it at all. Portion size was managed just right for my family without us needing to ask. A great dining experience indeed.

Food was good. The ladies fingers were done al dente accompanied with really good chilli blend. The pandan rice was excellent and so were the other dishes which I ordered i.e. sambal petai sotong & udang, otak otak and chilli garam fish. The fish was really delicious... crispy on the outside but done just right on the inside. Did not need the chilli garam at all. In fact, the insides tasted just like steamed fish 👍🏻. The fish served was a snapper by the way. The pineapple fried rice was nevertheless a tad bland but had a good quantity of cashew nuts, prawns and raisins. Finished off with a cendol dessert which was very good and highly recommended.

Overall, a 5 star dining experience. The service staff was attentive but not too intrusive. Entertaining queries and recommendation was done with zest which is what one expects of a good restaurant. Kudos to the restaurant 👍🏻!

Without doubt, will surely return in the...