Le Noir at TREC KL: Lounge review

Malaysia’s spin-off from Singapore’s Le Noir restaurant and lounge is now open at TREC KL, offering a three-storey venue that includes an alfresco street-level space for dining, a clubbing floor, and a rooftop bar that reputedly boasts 360-degree city views.

Nasi Lemak 360°

From Le Noir’s kitchen the Nasi Lemak 360° is the latest twist on our national dish – evocative of Italian arancini, these deep-fried rice balls are strikingly stuffed with slender capelin fish and quail eggs, completed with cucumbers and ikan bilis sambal (RM35 for two rice balls).

Expect to see this creation pop up on your social media feed soon; it may intrigue novelty hunters, though the rice itself seems to border on bland – more flavour and fragrance might be needed to placate nasi lemak worshippers.

Contemporary concoctions

The menu of contemporary concoctions with international influences seems suited for sharing and snacking, with orders like beef sliders ostensibly marinated with Creole seasoning (RM27).

Cocktails such as the French 63 (RM48; listed as sparkling wine, pomelo and sugarcane – only the first component tastes obvious) spring from the mind of American ‘mixsultant’ Joseph Boroski.