Room 18 @ Tropicana City Mall, PJ

Non Halal Chinese option if you're in Tropicana City Mall....

I'm going to keep the descriptions short this time because the 4 of us ate a ridiculous amount of food that night.
(Ah! The dangers of ordering food when you're all feeling too hungry already)
(We almost had to roll ourselves into the cinema after dinner to watch Sherlock Holmes... haha...)

Anyway, Room 18 is under the Tai Thong group, and has a modern yet Asian ambience - not too "atas":
Inside Room 18....
They have 3 outlets, located in shopping centres (Tropicana Mall, Berjaya Times Square and Midvalley) so it's a convenient choice for dim sum and a variety of other Chinese food while you get some shopping done.

That night we started off with the Crispy Egg tart (RM 3.80++):
The egg tarts....
Overall, this was just ok - Fairly crispy pastry and moist egg filling.
(Nothing bad,... just not fantastic)

Next, we had the Xiao Loong Bao (RM 8.80++):
XLB....
Overall, tasted average - ok thickness of the "skin", al dente, but meat and soup filling tasted a bit too "sweet" - MSG maybe? (Hmmmmm.... not sure)....

Woo kok/ Yam pastry (RM 4.80++):
The yam pastry....
Better than most but also, not exactly fantastic - there was a fair amount of meaty filling, and the pastry was quite crispy on the outside, without an overly starchy texture.

I am a fan of Szechuan Hot & Sour Soup (RM 9.80++)... but finally, I have found one which I completely DISlike:
My soup....
It is definitely hot, and also sour (as advertised).... but it is also (strangely) cloyingly sweet with a starchy & thick texture. :(

3 BBQ Meat Combo (RM 26.80++):
(Oops) Can't see the ribs on the right of the plate....
It was ok:
- the crispy pork: there are some good reviews of this on other blogs so maybe we were just unlucky to get a "bad" cut - was so so fat! And not "melt in your mouth" fat either.... :(
- the char siew: ok... fairly tender but not fragrant enough with that yummy caramelised/ slightly charred taste that I like.
- the pork ribs: also just ok - fairly tender but not much meat.

Salt & Pepper Squid (RM 9.80++):
The squid....
Bouncey texture with nice flavour of spices (tasted like they added a pinch of curry powder) but would have liked it slightly crispier...
(Not bad though)

Black Pepper Venison (RM 16.80++):
Poor deer....
I liked this - tender slices of venison in a slightly sweet and spicy black pepper sauce.
(Went well with the rice)

Siong Tong (Soupy) Spinach (RM 12.80++):
Fibre!....
This was my favourite dish that night - vegetables were fresh, and tasted simple+nice in the clear soup.

That's a lot of food for just 4 people, isn't it?
(What gluttons we are!)

So it's: Fairly wide range of dim sum and Hong Kong style food, comfortable ambience, convenient location in shopping center BUT some hit and misses on the menu and the service could have been better (friendly but a bit slow)....

Restaurant Review
Summary Sheet:

Room 18 @ Tropicana City Mall, PJ
G-35, Ground Floor,
Tropicana City Mall

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 5
Price** : RM 35/+ per person
Parking: Difficult on weekends

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks
Telephone No.: 03-7728 8128
(03-2148 8688 for Berjaya Times Square outlet, 03-2938 3311 for Midvalley outlet)
Opening Hours: 11am till 10pm

NOT HALAL

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Binge & Gorge
- I'm SaiMatKong
- You Get What You Give
- Joce Way, Joce Place
- Life Thru The Lens
- Food 4 Thot


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Tropicana City Mall, Chinese, Dimsum, Room 18, Room Eighteen,Purple Cane Tea Restaurant, Shopping Centre, PJ, Petaling Jaya