Manhattan Fish Market

I've always thought Manhattan Fish Market is from Manhattan, New York. Heck, I was wrong ! This bugger is actually a "made-in-Malaysia" product !!! I've tried googling for it, this is the only result ... http://www.manhattanfishmarket.com/ and after some extensive digging, I managed to find out more.

Revenue Valley Sdn Bhd, which owns home-grown restaurants Manhattan Fish Market and Hainan Kopitiam set up its first Manhattan Fish Market in Malaysia at the Mid Valley Megamall in November 2002 and now owns a total of 13 outlets, mainly in the Klang Valley, and one each in Singapore and Bangkok. The Manhattan Fish Market, a casual dining seafood restaurant, was founded by Dr Jeffrey Goh, a dentist-turned-politician and businessman, and a Singaporean partner.

Derived from the legendary Fulton Market (largest and oldest fish market in Manhattan) established since 1822 in Manhattan, this Malaysian chain is similar in many ways, namely in terms of the quality and freshness of its seafood.

Interior decoratives were cosy, and waiters were friendly eagerly waiting to serve you the best seafood in town. After some menu browsing and recommendations from the ever grinning waiter, we put in our orders. Our food arrived ina zip and with our seemed like bottomless pit stomach, we savored our Fried Country Mushrooms ($9.90) with delight. The giant-sized golden-brown juicy mushrooms were coated with a batter so crunchy, you just can't stop yourself from reaching for another one. Then came the Sizzing Louisiana Prawn, huge whole prawns - dipped in creamy Luisiana shrimp sauce ... deeeelicious !

Our main dish was the Fisherman's Giant Fried Platter for 2, deep-fried fish fillet, calamari, mushrooms and fried shrimps served with chips and garlic rice. The melted, sweet and sticky sauce complemented the sliced prawns. Although the menu did specify that is was a 2 person course, 3 of us could share the meal and end up overstuffed. Then again, we are probably small eaters. This is a must-try for seafood lovers who would like to sample a variety of items. Other specialities you can order are Baked Pacific Dory, prepared with special butter plum sauce. Since the fillet wasn't fried, the freshness of the fish really stood out, and the understated sweetness of the plum sauce helped bring out the wholesomeness of the dish. The garlic rice was delicious: Non-greasy, firm and very tasty.

Other reviews on MFM

Sparklette from Singapore
Tastebuds from Faces Magazine
Ahmok.com

Contact Details

The Manhattan FISH MARKET MID VALLEY
LG-060 Lower Ground Floor
Tel/Fax : 03-22840448

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Sogo Tel/Fax : 03-26971303

Centre Point BU Tel/Fax : 03-77253303

IOI Mall Puchong Tel/Fax : 03-58821493

Ampang Park Tel/Fax : 03-21669303

Sunway Pyramid Tel/Fax : 03-74913683

Jusco Tebrau (JB) Tel/Fax : 07-3549303

Plaza Singapura (Singapore) Tel/Fax : 02-68359300

Ratings

OVERALL RATING : * * * (It's like the seafood of fastfood)
Environment Rating : * * * * (Makes you feel a little like being in a fisherman's shack .. with a/cond)
Food Rating : * * * (mai hiam, be phai .... - it's not bad if you don't complain much)
Service Rating : * * * * (Like I said .. very eager)
Value Rating : * * * * (a little pricey, but it's fun for the family...)

Operation Details

Average Price : RM 40+ for 2 person
Business Hrs: Standard Mall Hour ...

Accepted Cards: : Of course ! Master? Visa? Diners?

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : Yes
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Seafood
Ambience/Features : Nice, cosy ... family friendly

Features? Seashells, fake fishes ... fishnets ...
Reservations : Accepted

Restoran K.T.L. 啤 律 光 头 佬

Somewhere within Taman Segar, about a stone throw away from Leisure Mall ... lies something totally different. As you drive along Jalan Manis, opposite the Petronas Station .. you will come across a row of stalls by the roadside. If I am not mistaken, there should be 3 stalls along the road. Check out the one in the middle ... I don't think there's any signage but do ask around for the stall that is famous for their "Fei Chou Jiong Jeng Yee" which pretty much translates to "Steamed Talapia Fish with Black Bean Sauce" (酱蒸非洲鱼). Of course, that's not the only dish that's good there. I got the name from the namecard provided by them, it's called Restoran K.T.L. or 啤律光头佬 (Pi Lu Kuang Tou Lau) or Baldy from Peel Road. I guess they probably used to be from Peel Road, Cheras and now relocated to Taman Segar.


Word of advice though, I believe the only fish you'd get by 8:00pm are fish bones. I don't know if it's packed every night but I've been there twice and it's as pack on both times. Like i said, don't expect a nice environment or airconditioned restaurants. It's a stall by the road, under a big tree. That's about the nest "ambience" you can get there.

As far as service in concerned, I've had good experiences so far .. although my colleague commented otherwise during her last visit. I do agree that the waitress aunties may not provide the best service possible but I think it's bearable. There's this granny working there who speaks very good english and in fact, she translated all these fish names for me. I am quite a banana when it comes to chinese ... he he...

Some of the good fishes they sell there are Snake Head (it's Sang Yee, not some WWF character), Catfish, Talapia and fish head as well. A word of advice though, to order the fish head .. you'll need to call in earlier, as it takes 20 minutes to prepare the dish. As for the cooking style, there's the ginger and garlic, steam with black bean sauce and plain steam. Other dishes available there are cold or hot tofu, steamed vegetable and some others which I have yet to find out. Now that you're done with the ordering, waiting for your food to arrive can be quite a task. Just look at these patient diners...

Now you'd probably think this is gonna cost you a bomb, but surprisingly I paid around RM20+ for a fish, a dish of vege and drinks. Now, that's a good deal for a satisfying dinner, won't you agree? Stories aside, let's get on with my opinion of this place ...

Contact Details

Restoran K.T.L. 啤 律 光 头 佬
Gerai No 3A, Jalan Manis,
Taman Segar, 56100
Cheras
Tel : 017-8727567, 012-3087311

Ratings

OVERALL RATING : * * * * (this is good stuff, must try !)
Environment Rating : * (I can't really say much about it, can I?)
Food Rating : * * * * (definitely ichiban!)
Service Rating : * * (can laa...)
Value Rating : * * * * (go ahead, bring the whole family...)

Operation Details

Average Price : RM 20+ for 2 person
Business Hrs: Daily, 10:30am - 2:00pm then 5:00pm - 8:30pm (depends on the availability of fishes or ... rice). Closes earlier on Sunday.
Accepted Cards: : Err.. you must be kidding...

Miscellaneous Details

Halal : No
Dining Method : Dine-In . Takeaway
Food/Cuisine : Fish
Ambience/Features : Roadside stalls. Features? Umm.. under a big tree ?
Reservations : Accepted