TRACE Restaurant & Bar at Element by Westin Hotel: Restaurant Review

Though the soft opening was quite a few weeks ago, the new TRACE Restaurant & Bar, located sky high in the 275-metre Ilham Tower at the chic new Element by Westin hotel, recently made it official!

Situated 40 floors above the ground in Element Kuala Lumpur, TRACE restaurant and bar is the latest sky dining venue in town that offers a stunning bird’s eye view of the city. It is the perfect place to catch the sunset… or even the sunrise if you’re a particularly early diner! As TRACE caters to both guests of the hotel and non-guests, diners can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the lofty restaurant.

With Executive Chef Hashrul leading the TRACE culinary team, guests can look forward to a well-balanced menu of locally sourced meals that offer a welcome dose of transparency in the origin and sustainability of their ingredients. Chef Hashrul brings along plenty of experience from reputable international hotel chains, and this is reflected in both the execution and preparation of the varied menu items. Each dish is thoughtfully crafted to retain its freshness and flavour, and many of the dishes we sampled were creatively presented, too.

Local fare

The local dishes were particularly well-presented, as the team at TRACE want to offer their own unique take on food that Malaysians are very familiar with. The classic local Nasi Lemak is taken to a new level in both its preparation and its plating (RM38). Extra-virgin coconut oil is used for the rice, and the beloved dish is served with a tangy, spicy prawn sambal and flavourful chicken roulade rendang.

Other local dishes given the TRACE treatment include a Seafood Char Kuey Teow (RM38), Vegetarian Briyani (RM45, served as a full meal set in a bento box as a banana leaf alternative), and a very tasty Nasi Kukus Ayam Rempah (RM42).

Western selection

Western dishes are given a first-rate makeover, too. Whether it’s the signature ‘Live Well’ Salad (RM28) or the tender Sous Vide Baby Chicken (RM54), diners are in for a tasty and healthy meal.

Special favourites of ours included the Hand-picked Wild Mushroom Soup with its tiny grilled cheese croquette accompaniment (RM22), the Alaskan Black Cod crusted with semi-dried tomatoes and olives (RM105), and the outrageously fragrant Smoked Lyne Salmon (RM38), served in a sealed jar that, upon opening, presented the table with an intoxicating smoky aroma.

Decadent, yes, but also fresh and nutritious! The Rainbow Quinoa Bowl (RM32) is another healthy standout on the menu, bursting with a colourful array of tasty and energising foods like avocado, carrots, beets, almonds, chickpeas, and more.

Desserts

Desserts are a pretty tough sell as health food, and even TRACE can’t quite manage to convince us that chocolate mousse-filled spheres (RM28) or homemade lava carrot cake (RM26) are a proper part of a commitment to clean, healthy living, but hey – everything in moderation, right?

The Salted Gula Melaka Ice Cream with Brown Meringue (RM26) surely tempts us, and there’s a Baked Ricotta Cheesecake with Granola (RM28) that you could probably persuade someone is a reasonably healthy dessert. Really, if you’re keen to eat healthy, but still have a sweet tooth, you won’t go too far astray with anything on the TRACE dessert page – just be sure to share it with others!

We found the open-plan restaurant to be inviting and comfortable, and of course, the 40th-floor views were great. There’s a nice full-service bar, and the nearby tables are bound to be the prime spots in the evening.

One thing on the menu we noticed, but didn’t sample was the Golden-crusted Beef Wellington… given its very reasonable price (RM89), we presumed it was a single-serve portion rather than the traditional large cut that serves several people! But if its quality follows that of the many dishes we did try, it’s safe to say that this dish at this altitude may be one of KL’s great dining values. If anyone has tried it, be sure to let us know!

Location & Details

Address: Elements Kuala Lumpur, Lorong Binjai, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Hours: Restaurant: 6.30am – 11pm | Bar: Sun – Thurs, 10pm – 12am; Fri – Sat, 10pm – 1am
Tel: +603-2771 3345
Find: View directory for Trace here.