RED KETTLE @ THE STARLING MALL — Restaurant in Petaling Jaya

If you’re charging premium , start acting like it.

Came in with a friend for a light brunch and chat. Not my first time to Red Kettle, but definitely my last.

We ordered: • Pomegranate smoked salad (RM39.90) • Chili garlic prawns (RM35.90) • Iced latte and dirty latte (about RM15 each)

The food is fine. Not bad, not amazing. Nicely plated, trying to play the artisan café game. But here’s where the experience completely derailed.

I ordered a cup of water and the waiter had to point out that water costs RM0.90 per cup. I said that's fine just serve it with my coffee but cold with some ice. "Oh no there’s no cold water,” and then he took the trouble to flip my menu, and pointed out the line to me for clarity, emphasising they only serve hot or warm water. I decided not to fuss and asked for "room temperature will do."

When my drinks (the water and my dirty latte) finally arrived, I requested for a teaspoon because I wanted to stir a pre-meal supplement into the water. The waiter told me in a soft whisper that dirty lattes don’t need stirring. Urh … I said, “that's ok just get me a tea spoon.” Such a helpful guy, he thought he should repeat himself by saying, "Miss this drink don't need to stir…"

I do not understand why I am required to explain to a waiter why i wanted a teaspoon. Is it because your waiters are taught to judge your customers based on what we look like? Or maybe I looked too low class to order a dirty latte, much less know how one should drink it??? Is it that hard for your waiter to just get a simple teaspoon to me, and even if I wanted to stir my latte, what does it matter?

First, please stop assuming customers don’t know what they’re doing just because we show up in basic Uniqlo. Secondly, I know you charge 90 sen per cup of water. I can read. But if I’m still ordering from you, then maybe act like you’re worth the prices you’re charging.

What really bothered me though, was this: how are you treating your service staff if they’re that terrified to serve water? I simply asked, “Can I get this cup refilled with plain water,” and the waiter immediately warned me that there would be a charge. It’s written in your menu, I get it. But I wasn’t even asking for a fresh cup, just to top up the one I had. I agreed to pay. My friend also asked for a cup of water and again, the same awkward script. “We charge for water.”

At some point I snapped. Not at the staff, but at the absurdity. “Yes, I know you charge. Yes, I can pay. Please just serve it and put it on the bill.”

If you’re the owners or managing Red Kettle please note this: If you’re going to price your menu like an upscale brunch spot, don’t cheap out over water. And if you’re going to serve specialty drinks like a dirty latte, then you should know customers expect it to come with a plain glass of water to wash it down. That’s just standard. And please educate your servers not to assume that your diners are stupid.

In short: overpriced, pretends to be polished, and staffed by terrifed workers. Absolutely not worth repeating.

Btw I’ve decided to add a picture of what they actually post on their own website on the menu - they don’t serve cold water here, they don’t refill for free, and if you want a slice of lemon to “zest” up your plain water you can pay RM1.00 for that lemon slice. Also prices are still subject to 10% service...

Had Dinner here today. Always seen the place is packed or have a queue to dine in. Figure I give it a try with the fam on Christmas Eve.

I would say the food here is fusion style, and they're usually a hit or miss but I would say here is a hit if you prefer strong flavors. As all the food I ordered today are just that.

3pax dine in ordered Truffle Mushroom Pizza Best dish among all ordered today. The bread is spot on crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Toppings are given as much as they can. Taste is just impeccable, can taste the cheese and mushrooms. 5 out of 5

Chargrilled Garlic Chicken Family member ordered it and comment was ok and better than Nandos.

Angel Hair in Broth It's basically tonkotsu ramen made with pasta. Soup was pretty good but I would say the taste of the pork fat was too heavy and overpowering. Noodles was still springy even though it was left out cold for a while. They're very generous with the charshu, gave like 3pcs of them, each about 10cm long and 4 cm wide and about 2 cm thick. They torch it too much that it taste quite burnt iand it was pretty fatty too but it was really tender and easy to bite. 3/5

Cajun Prawn Pork Burger The fries are perfect. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and just salted enough. The vegetables were put on the side which I guess it's a plus for people who don't eat their vegetables but quite a hassle to put in for me who eat them. The buns are pretty soft. The pork patty was juicy and tender, the bacon was ok but the prawn was just ignorable as it was just the side of the old 50cent, only had 2pcs and a bit fishy but was pretty tender. It's a good burger but and I'd like to give a higher score but the fact that the prawns were not that good and that I can't really taste any Cajun seasoning, more BBQ sauce taste. I'd give it a 3.5/5.

Messy Matcha Basically a Lime mint drink with matcha. They did use good matcha powder but the flavor didn't really appear for me. 2/5

Iced Asam Boi Lemonade It taste just as the name. Nothing special but was simply a good drink. 4/5

The wait time for food to be serve is pretty long for me, around 20-30 minutes but considering the crowd they're have it is reasonable.

Overall I'd say it's a pretty good experience for me, the price is over the top for the average Joe but I'd say their food is pretty good compare to most restaurant that charges similar...

First time visiting Red Kettle and my experience today was rather turn off, not by the food or drinks but by one of the staff (in kitchen uniform)

I ordered their Red Kettle Special, cold. In less then 10 mins (menu stated 10 mins waiting time) I was served a glass of normal looking Vietnamese iced coffee, I had 2 sips just to confirm, it doesn't taste creamy nor eggy, taste just like normal iced Vietnamese coffee.

I rang the bell to get someone over to get it change. One of their staff in chef jacket (quite tall and big size) said the cold one doesn't look like the one on the menu, if I want the same one as the picture in the menu, it would be hot. I said I don't understand why cold one will not come with the egg foam, he keep telling me because I ordered the cold one. I said to him calmly, "I know I ordered the cold one but I don't understand why cold one don't come with the egg topping as shown in the menu." He said it's already mixed together in the drink, which I highly doubt so. There ain't any egg foam bits at all.

So I asked to changed to the hot one then, he said cannot because the drink is already made and served, if I want the hot one then I would have to place a new order. I didn't want to start any argument and would not want to further debate cause the staff was showing an impatient attitude.

Me being in the F&B service industry for more than 10 years could strongly say this is definitely not the service a customer would enjoy. How much would it cost to make a new one? Further more beverages makes the most profit. That normal iced Vietnamese coffee costing would probably cost not more than RM3 and I was charge RM13.50, I definitely felt short-changed.

The management can either make it clear in the menu, state it in the picture "RED KETTLE SPECIAL (Hot)" or do not give the option of hot or cold, since it's only the egg topping is only served in hot coffee. Or, tell the staff not to further explain if they are not familiar with the menu, get someone with more experience to do so, cause I highly doubt on the explanation I got from that particular staff. Or, tell the staff not to further explain if they are not familiar with the menu, get someone with more experience to do so, cause I highly doubt on the explanation I got from that...