Ler Travel Diary 乐游记: Trattoria Asiatico Italian @ Mount Austin, Johor Bahru

* The restaurant closed in 2015
12 October 2014

Trattoria is an Italian-style eating establishment, less formal than a ristorante, but more formal than an osteria. There are generally no printed menus, the service is casual, wine is sold by the decanter rather than the bottle, prices are low, and the emphasis is on a steady clientèle rather than on haste cuisine. The food is modest but plentiful (mostly following regional and local recipes) and in some instances is even served family-style (Example. at common tables).
Extracted from Wikipedia

The chef explained the same thing. LerLer can wear casual smart attire to enjoy great Italian cuisines. Frankly speaking, I prefer to wear T-shirt and Jean to move around.

Home made pasta

I have tried quite a number of pasta before. However, I not yet tried home made pasta. Thank to Chef Lance's invitation, I got the chance to try out. Firstly, let start of with some appetizers.

18 Months Aged Parma Ham with Melon RM28

This dish remind me of the movie "Eat, Pray, Love". Parma Ham is abit too salty for me. Slice of ham need to combine with melon for the correct balance. Sweet and salty combination.

Blue Swimmer Crab with Watermelon RM22

Crab fresh is mixed with tomato, vegetables, yoghurt and mayonnaise into salad. The salad and watermelon is very refreshing taste

Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese, Fresh Tomato & Presto Sauce RM25

The cheese has very light taste. It is very different from the cheese I eat before. With just a small bite, tomato juice will burst out. Mozarella has a very independent texture that go well with tomato.

Seared Hand Dive Hokkaido Scallops with Asparagus Ham RM25

The scallops is half cooked. This is to let diner to taste the fresh scallop texture. It is very chewy.

Home Made Squid Ink Tagliolini Pasta with Crab & White Wine Sauce RM32

Home Made Squid Ink pasta is very light in colour because no artificial food dye is added. Home made pasta will become sticky when cold. It is best eat it while warm.

Spagetti with Sea Urchin RM48

This is LerLer favourite dish. How deep is your love? After we finish this dish, I just feel like licking off all the sea urchin sauce. NO, I do not lick off. I use fork to scrap it off. Jennifer almost laugh out.
Delizioso!!!

Home Made Fettuccini Pasta with Beef & Truffle Veal Jus RM38

Truffle is one of the highest prised food. The truffle smell is very unique and fragrant. Well done beef may be a bit hard to chew. The fettucini is very nice to chew.

Braised Wagyu Beef Cheek with Creamy Mash & Truffle Beef Sauce RM48

This is the first time I see dish served in tight glass bottle. The truffle smell is kept tightly in the bottle. The moment the cap is open. Poof the fragrant will hit your nostril. Interesting right? After 4 hours of stewing, the beef cheek is very tender and soft. MELT is the right word to describe the beef texture. It is very suitable for old folks and children. Mash potato is very special too. It is in molecular form. It is so creamy. I can't differentiate it from whipping cream.

Pan Roasted Sea Bass With Beetroot Mashed & Seafood Caciuccio Sauce RM38

Cacciucco is an Italian fish stew native to the western coastal towns. When pan roasted sea bass, some cacciucco will sprinkle on the fish to increase the favour. Every bite of the fish is very juicy.

Creme Brulee RM15

Hazelnut & Chocalate Cake with Vanila Ice Cream RM16

There are many chocolate cake sold in Johor Bahru. The spcialty of the cake is hazelnut. The taste of hazelnut is very strong taste. I almost mistaken it as nutella.

Ler's Reviews:

Halal?: Non-Halal

Service: 8/10

Delicious: 7/10

Parking: 4/10

(It is near to Sunway College Johor Bahru.

Thus, driver may take some time to find parking lots)