Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel

Lamb Stew (RM19.90/USD6.80) – Traditional English style of stew with potatoes, carrots, onions and green peas. Served with a piece of toasted baguette

After what seemed like an eternity … Motormouth’s back for the festive break! So bring back that passion to eat, the hunger and cravings for all things gluttony and let’s kick things off with a hearty lamb stew @ Denis Jazz Bistro this Thursday evening!

Denis Jazz Bistro – The neighbourhood bistro with a ‘jamming’ area and continuous lullaby of smooth, jazzy classics over the airwave. Come on Fridays (correct me if I am wrong) and weekends for jamming sessions.

Almost 5 years in the running, Denis Jazz Bistro has successfully attracted and retained a strong following amongst the food and music lovers in Ipoh. I still remember when the owner, Denis Isaacs first started his outlet in Greentown Business Centre. At that moment (2007, I believe), the cafe was named differently and the menu was not as extensive.

But the pies; Shepherd’s and Steak & Mushroom were the orders of the day. Oh, let’s not forget the only beautiful Spaghetti Carbonara. However, I failed to recall whether were they serving pork at the old premise?

Old-Fashioned Salad (RM6.90/USD2.30) – Boiled potatoes, egg, green peas, cucumber and carrot.

Then he moved within a year or so. To his current location in Ipoh Garden; directly behind of the famous Medan Aneka Selera food court (now called Restoran Kam Wan; better known as ‘Tung Koo Thing’). I wrote about Denis Jazz Bistro way back in Nov 2008 (Read the original review?), and still remember vividly how they were the first in Ipoh to serve Spaghetti Carbonara with abundance of pork bacon!

A hearty stew of lamb, green peas, carrot, onions and even barley

Well, the menu did not change much from then. Maybe the price did, as some of the items are priced pretty steep. Take for instance, the fish and chips at RM19.90 per portion (refer pic below); yet came in only half a block of battered dory fish.

Still, the Lamb Stew and Carbonara did not disappoint. Both were priced at RM19.90 as well (for the regular portion, while there is a small portion for RM3 less).

Spaghetti Carbonara (RM19.90/USD6.80) – Spaghetti with smoked bacon and garlic, tossed in whipped parmesan cheese and eggs.

Fish & Chips (RM19.90/USD6.80) – Deep fried fish fillet seasoned and tossed in corn meal and served with tartar sauce and thick cut fries

The wait was slightly longer than your casual Western joints, though this was very much bearable with great jazzy tunes over the air. It was a bit warm this evening though; and the dim yellow lamp beside the table did little to reduce the heat. Posters of Billie Holiday and Miles Davis were hanging from the bright orange colour-painted walls; while occupying almost a quarter of the seating space indoors was a stage of musical instruments.

They do serve various pork dishes on top of the beef, lamb and chicken selection; plus an interesting smoked duck dish. Go for their Shepherd’s Pie or Steak & Mushroom Pie if you are here. For desserts, they have Apple Crumble and Trifle as well.

For those on the road, drive safe. Don’t speed. You know it’s not worth donating your wealth to the government no thanks to the very efficient AES system. Finally, some breathing space for me to recuperate the lost slumber over the weeks.

Happy Chinese New Year in advance; but a slurry of food reviews to follow. Damn sure of it.

DENIS JAZZ BISTRO (non-Halal)
26, Pesara Ipoh 1,
Ipoh Garden,
31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Tel No : +6016-484 1403, +605-546 7926
Business Hours : Tue-Sun 12.00pm – 3.30pm, 6.30pm – 11.00pm
Closed on Mondays.