Dewakan

BubbleandSqueak★★★★★★★★★★5.04 months ago

Dewakan was a truly impressive experience. The team’s creativity and deep knowledge of local and indigenous ingredients really stood out throughout the meal. What amazed me most was how they managed to turn what seems impossible into something refined, delicious, and meaningful on the plate. Every course showed a strong attention to detail, not just in execution but also in storytelling. The introduction and explanation of the philosophy behind the indigenous ingredients added a lot of depth to the dining experience and made the meal feel educational as well as enjoyable. One highlight I absolutely loved was the coconut jelly with mulberry and bambangan juice — it was a delightful surprise to my taste buds, refreshing, unexpected, and beautifully balanced. A small note for future diners: there is only one course menu available throughout the night, and it’s highly recommended to make a reservation in advance. That said, there are two minor downsides worth noting. The lighting was quite dim, which made it a little difficult to fully appreciate the visuals of the dishes, and the course meal took about three hours to complete, which may feel a bit long for some diners. Overall, a memorable and thoughtfully curated experience that clearly reflects passion, research, and respect for local produce. A Michelin star that is truly well deserved.

christo christodoulides★★★★★★★★★★4.05 months ago

While in Kuala Lumpur, I had to try Malaysia’s only two–Michelin-starred restaurant. Upon arrival, guests are given a personalized tour of the kitchen, with a thoughtful explanation of the philosophy behind the use of indigenous ingredients and sustainable sourcing. I was seated at their best table, front row, with sweeping views of the skyline and the towers, which greatly enhanced the overall experience. A special mention goes to the venison dish—it was excellent and beautifully executed. While everything was delicious, I wasn’t truly wowed overall and found myself wishing for one more dish by the end of the meal. Unfortunately, the service fell short at the end of the evening. I had to ask more than once for the bill, and the wine was forgotten altogether, which I had to settle the following day. These are details that simply shouldn’t happen in a two–Michelin-starred restaurant, especially despite the amazing location and an otherwise commendable philosophy.

Doan Thien Yen Nhi★★★★★★★★★★3.0a month ago

I recently had a casual dinner at Dewakan, with a few points worth noting. 1. The food was enjoyable, with a strong focus on local ingredients, making the experience feel unique and distinctly Malaysian. 2. Service at the restaurant was warm and attentive — the staff explained each dish clearly and shared the origins of the ingredients, which added depth to the experience. 3. The view was also a highlight. Despite a bit of rain, we were still able to catch a beautiful sunset and enjoy the view of the Petronas Twin Towers. One issue was the dress code. It was not mentioned in any of the booking emails. Since I didn’t book through the website, I had no way of knowing this requirement. If it is considered important, it would be helpful to clearly include it in the confirmation email to avoid any confusion. Additionally, my experience over the phone could have been handled better. The staff member I spoke with was polite but not very helpful, and the tone felt somewhat accusatory. I was told the information was available on the website, and he even mentioned it was stated in the email, which it clearly was not. Overall, a memorable dining experience with great food and views, but clearer communication and consistency in service would make it even better.

Kelly G★★★★★★★★★★4.05 months ago

I was so excited to bring my husband here for his first Michelin experience. It translated into €185 for the tasting menu which for a 2 star Michelin restaurant seemed very reasonable. There were a lot of highlights, the kitchen tour which delved into locally sourced Malaysian ingredients and how they are used in the dishes. The sommeliers who knew their wine inside and out. The play of different flavours, ones which, as Europeans, were a new and exciting experience to us. There was so much to love yet I can’t help but feel that by the end of our meal we were no more than an afterthought. Given our bill, a card machine unceremoniously shoved in our face and before we could pay we were escorted to the lounge so they could reset for their next table. It was quite impersonal, as a couple on our honeymoon excited for a new fine dining experience thankfully we had our own company to make the experience special. Final bill with drinks pairing came to €500 (including a hefty mandatory 10% service charge).

ESB NYC★★★★★★★★★★4.03 months ago

A curated visit. The staff tries quite hard, A for effort. The room is on a high floor facing Petronas Towers, nice view with big windows. All hard surfaces can make it a little loud if several tables are talking. You’re first greeted by staff with earpieces, they remind you to mind the steps and will guide you through the kitchen tour and ingredient descriptions. It’s all quite interesting as an educational and cultural experience. Perhaps a bit less so as a dining experience. I’m a westerner and have been to dozens of Michelin starred restaurants including several with this type of menu. While I do very much appreciate the effort to showcase local and unusual ingredients, if I’m paying USD$225 per person before drinks I kinda want delicious food. There were some hits and misses here. Service is generally crisp and efficient with a hint of warmth but I’d say some staff could use a bit more training. The wine pairing at USD$95 was decent. Some desserts were quite tasty. On balance I’d say we had a memorable evening.