Impromptu @ Menara Hap Seng, KL

Can't get out of the city center at lunch time? Don't worry, there's Impromptu :)..........

Hello hello... This is an invited review, k? Please find my usual disclaimers as follows :)
1) I have not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal,
2) I will still be as objective as possible re. the food/ restaurant, and
3) If I go back to the restaurant incognito and find that the food/service is horribly different from this experience, I will amend my ratings here...
(Again: This review is (more than) a little delayed *blush*...)

What an interesting name, I thought: "Impromptu"?
(Forgot to ask them why they chose this name, while I was there. Oops)
Casual but comfy dining area just outside the small restaurant....
Anyway, Impromptu is a fairly new restaurant in the also fairly newly revamped Menara Hap Seng (formerly known as MUI PLaza) off Jalan Sultan Ismail (just behind the Mercedes showroom)... Goodness! What a change - this old office building now looks fresh and bright with lots of interesting food options.

The USP (Unique Selling Point) of Impromptu that makes it different from the rest is its specialty home made pastas - classic, herb and charcoal pasta:
3 interesting freshly made pastas....
The preparation methods are also interestingly varied as there is a fusion twist. For example, the Seafood Tom Yam with mixed herbs fettuccine (RM 15.90):
Creamy, fragrant and mildly spicy..
... and the Curried Soft Shell Crab with charcoal spaghetti (RM 18.90)
Dark, mysterious pasta....
Both pastas were nice - cooked perfectly al dente so it had a good bite to it. I was kinda expecting the charcoal pasta to feel a little grainy** but wow, it was not at all, and the creamy yet fragrant curry sauce went well with it.
(** "Charcoal??", I thought to myself, "Yerr..")

Of course, they also have classic combinations like the Grilled Chicken Pesto with plain fettuccine (RM 15.90) if you do not feel experimental:
Chef's special fresh pesto - a blend of herbs and olive oil....
If you fear carbs, they have other dishes too, like the Japanese Wafu Salad with Soft Shell Crab (RM 16.90):
(Really enjoyed this dish! The crab was crispy, the veggies were fresh and it all went very well with the appetising Japanese wafu dressing)
Yummy....
The Crispy Crab Cakes (RM 9.90) was another more classic dish, made with fresh crab meat & crab stick (Note: It was a smaller serving of this during this food tasting, usually there's more)
Golden crab nuggets?....
The crab cakes were moist inside and crisp on the outside - overall nice but just a tad underseasoned.. A dab of the accompanying chili mayo sauce complemented it.

The Lamburger (RM 16.90) is one of their non pasta specialties that we were told is very popular with their patrons... and I can tell why - the lamb patty is juicy and had a nice taste of spices, matched well with tart/sweet topping of mango chutney and BBQ sauce...
Not gigantic but still, very worth it for the price and taste....
Don't like meat?/ Like animals too much - don't worry, you have options in Impromptu, like the Sauteed Mushroom & Veggies Panini (RM 14.90) which is a simple, slightly creamy mix of sauteed mushrooms and veggies, served on toasted panini bread:
Simple, healthier option....
If you want to complete your meal with some dessert, you can choose from their specialties, the (Non Alcoholic) Tiramisu (RM 8.90) and the Chocolate Cheese Brownie with vanilla ice-cream (RM 9.90)
Choc Brownie in the background, Tiramisu in the front....
To be completely fair, we were told these are lighter, healthier versions of these desserts.... so being a lover of decadent, sinful desserts, these were just ok to me - still, they were definitely not bad at all. :)

SHOUT OUT:
Thanks to Edwin of Click Click Culinary for extending the invite. :D

So, it's: Convenient location in the heart of KL, with a range of interesting fusion dishes BUT nothing bad to say really :)....

Summary Sheet:

Impromptu @ Menara Hap Seng, KL
Lot1.19, First Floor, Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P.Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Taste: 6
Ambience : 6
Service : 6
Price** : RM 40 per person
Parking: OK

** Approximation - 3 course meal, excluding drinks

Telephone No.: 03-2141 0227
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon - Fri), Closed on Weekends.

NO PORK SERVED

OTHER REVIEWS:
- Malaysian Foodie
- Khayne Me
- Brought Up 2 Share
- clever munkey
- i am the witch
- .수라야. Damage but still okay


TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Restaurant Reviews, KL, Kuala Lumpur, Impromptu Cafe, Local Food, Menara Hap Seng, Fusion