Few of my guy friends have successfully converted me as a part of pork eater community which you might have guessed it with many recent non-halal posts of mine. Living in a country where pork itself could be the sensitive word to our Muslim friends, I tend to be more appreciative to any chances in having a good meal out of it.
S.Wine was the talk of this town when it first opened as non-halal restaurant under the BIG group. Many bloggers had swarm in for the food and written their reviews with photos being published everywhere on the web. Having heard and seen so much, I was eager to try for once.
What a smart move to add in that tiny dot in the middle of swine (any of various stout-bodied short-legged omnivorous artiodactyl mammals such as pig) and it becomes a place for wine as well.
A name clearly reflect the concept of this restaurant: Swine and Wine.
A range of wines are available here but if you would like to B.Y.O. (Bring Your Own), corkage of RM30 for wine and RM80 for liquor applies. Likewise, you can always purchase them from Ben's Independent Grocer with no corkage fees at S.Wine.
Greeted upon by black swine with socks and tray with menu on it.
There are 2 entrances / exits: The left (where the black swine is) linked with non-halal meat section while the right side is just next to liquor section.
Together with my dear Jason, we got ourselves in the waiting list and waited for at least half an hour to be seated. Thus, the entrance from the liquor section is strongly recommended in the case of long queue as there are benches to sit on. Menus are being placed at both entrances where patrons can have a look and make up their mind even before they were being seated.
Industrial lighting, metallic seating, wooden table along with cement floor has got my dear Jason, the fan of raw and industrial interior screaming in excitement.
Still, I'd much prefer this comfy sofa seat the waitress has got us at the far corner, away from all other conversations that we can start our own quietly.
Like other restaurants under the BIG group, plain water is on the house.
(Left) Iced Honey Lemon RM8
(Right) Iced Soya Milk RM8
Pan-Roasted Pork Chops with Sauerkraut RM29
in seeded mustard & cream sauce on a bed of crushed potatoes with bacon & saueurkraut
Directly translated as sour cabbage, we were surprised by the combination of saueurkraut and crushed potatoes. It has lighten the heavy taste of pork chop and prepares the tongue for the next bite.
Spaghetti Carbonara RM26
made the traditional way with pancetta chunks & roughly-torn proscuitto, tossed in cream & topped with a raw egg yolk
Procuitto or Parma ham is a dry-cured ham that is usually sliced thin and served uncooked while pancetta chunk is a spiced, salted and dry-cured pork belly. Flavourful enough as they preserved the pork meat as it is and chewy enough for you sink the teeth between meat lines. Yet, pardon this lady for not understanding the art of dry-cured meat and seek more sips of the sauce in order to swallow that dry, salted meat. Distinct from the usual carbonara, raw egg yolk was being presented in front of my eyes which later has added the extra smoothness to the spaghetti.
Though portion was not that huge, I needed Jason's help in order to finish this plate.
Momofuku-Inspired Pork Buns RM21
Chinese-style braised pork belly slices with pickled cucumber, sandwiched in steamed flower mantao
Came in a bamboo basket much like the dim sum, these two pieces of fatty pork belly were not for the health conscious patrons. Big thanks to the addition of sour pickled cucumber, greasiness of that soft melting pork fat has lowered to a more acceptable range. Portion was small enough to be finished in few bites but for those pork meat die hard fans out there, this would very much worth the price.
Inside Ben's Independent Grocer
Lot 1A, 83-95 Level UG1, Publika,
Solaris Dutamas, Jalan Dutamas 1,
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
03-6209 1716
11am-10pm (Weekdays)
9am-10pm (Weekends)