Rendezvous at Rendezvous

Rendezvous at Rendezvous

RENDEZVOUS at Green Hall, Penang, is a rare culinary gem waiting to be discovered, with many passing by the place unaware of the delicious traditional Arab and Mediterranean dishes served there.

Every creation is a labour of love by owner cum chef Abel Zenagui.

“The preparation is time consuming and requires attention to detail, with most of the dishes being cooked over a slow fire. I try to maintain the original taste as much as possible to enable the locals to enjoy authentic Arab and Mediterranean fare,” he said.

The passionate chef, who is very particular about the quality and freshness of his gastronomic interpretations, manages the eight-month-old restaurant with his wife Rifta Ridzuan.

Diners can savour specialties like Mushroom Soup, Paella (a rice dish that originated from Spain and is cooked with tomato puree, green pepper, seafood and chicken), Mixed Grill, Lamb Tajin and Kabsa Chicken.

The Mushroom Soup is somewhat different with its big chunky mushroom pieces but the taste is nevertheless hearty, while the Paella is bursting with flavours and comes with a lemon slice for diners who prefer that extra sourish zing.

Best taken hot, the Mixed Grill consists of beef, lamb kebab and Shish Thoug (chicken). The locals might find this dish too dry to their liking as it is served without any sauce but the meats are surprisingly delectable, having absorbed the spices and herbs they were marinated in. Black pepper sauce is served upon request.

The Lamb Tajin, with the tender lamb soaked in a tomato-based stew-like gravy, tastes simply wonderful. Be sure to relish every mouthful as the dish took three hours to cook, simmering over a slow fire. The Tajin is served with either couscous (moistened semolina wheat coated with finely ground wheat flour) or Arabic bread.

The Kabsa (Middle Eastern rice coated with special mixed herbs) Chicken is yet another palate pleaser, and is served with yoghurt and homemade chilli paste that act as perfect foil to the rice.

More tantalising selections include Maqluba Rice (cooked with herbs and mixed with fried eggplant, potato, carrot and nuts), Steak, Lamb Chop, Spaghetti and Pizza while a must-try dessert is the Algerian Baklawa.

An extremely popular sweet dish in Algeria, the baklawa is a delightful combination of multi-grained nuts like almond, walnut and pistachio mixed with pure honey and layers of crispy pastry that has been baked for two hours.

Set lunch (priced from RM22 to RM36 per person) and dinner (RM24 to RM38) comprising mushroom soup, choice of main course and a drink (coffee, tea or iced lemon tea) are also available.

Rendezvous is housed in a beautifully renovated heritage premises (opposite the High Court) and features a charming and woodsy interior that is tastefully decorated with eclectic pieces, including Chinese antiques.

The first and only Arab and Mediterranean fine dining restaurant in town, patrons can look forward to belly dancing on Saturday nights. The pork-free outlet is also ideal for hosting private functions, with a seating capacity of 80 people and up to 100 for a cocktail reception.

The restaurant has also recently introduced its membership scheme offering special discounts of up to 15%. Happy hours are from 3pm to 8pm with a variety of snacks and appetisers selling at only RM7 per plate.

Operating hours are from 11am to 11pm daily. For further enquiries, call 04-2505066/68.

~News courtesy of The Star~