Eastern’s Brasserie @ Ipoh
August 1, 2010 | 11,248 views
Panfried Cod Fillet Mango (RM24/USD7.30) – A slab of thick, succulent and sweet cod fillet served atop the bed of irresistibly yummy mashed potatoes, garden vegetables and a refreshingly fruity coulis of mango.
The premise previously occupied by Rendezvous Cafe at the corner of Brewster Road (Jalan Sultan Idris Shah) and Cockman Street (Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar) has been given a new shot of life recently. Eastern’s Brasserie is owned by the same management team of Eastern Hotel (soon to be opened in November 2010 tentatively; a projected spanking new boutique hotel as opposed to the previously disdain, dilapidated outlook).
A relaxed, spacious and classy ambience defines Eastern’s Brasserie; with a surprisingly satisfactory level of customer service.
I came to know about Eastern’s Brasserie from the All About Ipoh Facebook page, whereby one of the admin posted the pictures of aesthetically pleasant dishes resembling European cuisine, and subsequently generated a positive vibe circulating around this new addition to the upmarket dining scene in Ipoh. Read on for the insights into the dishes, prices and location ….
A generous portion of Soup of the Day; Potage of Broccoli and Potato (vegetarian). That’s the famous blogger of Ipoh Mali Talak Sombong digging in into the creamy soup.
The menu at Eastern’s Brasserie thankfully does not include 101 items. For you know how some restaurants tend to be slightly too ambitious and chuck in every single cuisine, fusion, and combination ever existed on the face of this Earth. Only to get confused and lost in the mix – a perfect case of Jack of all Trades, Master of None. 
Here’s a brief rundown on what they offer :
Four types of salads – Smoked Salmon (RM12), and Salmon Pate with Salad (RM10) sound fabulous.
Three types of soups – Crabby Cream of Corn, Potage of Broccoli and Potato and a cold Puree of Carrot Orange (all for RM8 each)
Four types of pasta (RM14 – RM16 each) – Fisherman’s Carbonara, the typical Bolognese and even one with Mushroom Ragout (vegetarian)
Ten main courses (RM18 – RM35) – Grilled Lobster (RM75 for a 300-450g crustacean), Seafood Trio Platter, Eastern’s Lamb Stew, Cod Fillet with Mango, Flame Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Grilled Lamb Cuts etc.
The Grilled Chicken with Mushroom Ragout that comes with the Set Lunch (RM24/USD7.30), inclusive of a soup and a drink.
They do offer three varieties of mains for the lunch and dinner sets, the difference lies in the drink (for the lunch set) and dessert (for the dinner set) included for the price. The sets are priced from RM22/USD6.70 onwards, a steal considering that the price is nett, without service charges or government tax.
(In comparison, both Citrus and Brewster’s serve lunch sets at RM18++ each, but Brewster’s did not provide any drinks, while Citrus’s set includes a drink, a soup AND a dessert. Just for comparison sake.)
Iced lemon tea with sour plum – Included in the Lunch Set
The Grilled Chicken had a really strong whiff of charred, smokey aroma (in a positive manner), rendering every bite of the juicy, flame-grilled boneless cut a joy to savour. The earthy tone of the mushroom ragout provided a nice foil to the creamy bed of mashed potatoes (not polenta, really!), and the sticks of blanched (or boiled?) French beans and carrots completed the hearty ensemble.
The cod fillet was good, accentuated by the citrus-y coulis of mango – A sweetish thickened slurry of fresh mango pulp, sugar and cornstarch (a recipe HERE, in case you’re interested).
The first thing that came to mind was how painstakingly detailed they emphasized on the presentation of the dishes; and the sheer delight of having the staff attending to our requests with much glee.
Usually a new outlet (as Jason would say, give them 3 months before justifying their worth) is doomed by the bane of under-staffing, poor PR skills, lack of training, etc. But at Eastern’s Brasserie, the level of service was almost faultless, except from a few hiccups due to language barrier.
All the staff on duty that afternoon were Malays, in case you’re curious to know. But they really pushed their limits and tried to attend to every table with a smile, and in a positive manner. Kudos to them, for good service will naturally lead to customer satisfaction; ensuring repeated visits.
Poached Guava (RM10/USD3) – Half a guava tenderly poached in a ginger and rose syrup, served with a scoop of ice-cream
If you had noticed, the portions were not exactly mind-shatteringly humongous, except for the soup maybe. The desserts (four choices) looked to be promising on paper – Poached Guava, Baked Apples, Apple Pie ala Mode, and Grilled Pineapple (all for RM10/USD3 each).
I chose the Poached Guava, for this is a rarity when it comes to desserts in Ipoh. Seldom do we see pears and apples poached/baked served by the common cafes in Ipoh, let alone guavas and pineapples!
Minor gripe here : They could have asked what flavour of ice-cream I wanted, as I saw the other table ordering the same dessert and served with a different flavour instead. Chocolate-flavoured ice-cream does not exactly match the fruity, delicate flavours of the poached guava and puree of dragonfruit reduction; even to the point of being slightly overwhelming.
The restaurant is located on the ground floor of Eastern Hotel. No signboard yet for the time being.
Eastern’s Brasserie is in the process of being granted with the HALAL certification from JAKIM soon enough. Hence this is good news for the Muslim diners who are craving for a decent Western diner in Ipoh, but yet felt disappointed from the below average quality of most, or pork-free outlets that still serve alcohol.
The team running Eastern’s Brasserie were well-trained in the F&B department; claiming to have worked in a five-stars hotel in Kuala Lumpur prior to this. That may explain the above average quality of service, in comparison to say …. Cocooon Cafe in Greentown where I waited a good 40 minutes for my food, and the under-informed staff.
If you have run out of ideas on where to bring your loved ones for a pleasant meal, try Eastern’s Brasserie for a change. The place had been renovated thoroughly, hence you get a brighter ambience unlike Rendezvous’s of previous years. Do share your dining experience here, either in a positive or negative light.
EASTERN’S BRASSERIE (*HALAL – in the midst of applying)
No 118, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah,
30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Telephone : 605-254 9847, 6012-471 9847 (KK Loke)
Business hours : Lunch (12.00pm – 2.30pm), Dinner (7.00pm – 10.00pm)
Closed on Sundays.
Here’s a GOOGLE MAP to Eastern’s Brasserie
* Customers can park at the Eastern Hotel’s parking lot, entering from the lane behind*
Looks good!
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J, i grew up staying near the Eastern hotel! But i didnt know about this newly opened cafe.. gosh, i want to go there.. last time was Rendevouz with a live band.. long long ago.. eastern chinese restaurant was way before that.. gosh, good to go back there for old times sake.. great that u put this up..
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 1st, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Where were you staying, claire?
This is very new, opened last weekend I believe.
I only knew about Rendezvous, and nothing before that.
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[...] Eastern's Brasserie @ Eastern Hotel, Ipoh | Motormouth From Ipoh … [...]
I love Grilled Chicken with Mushroom Ragout. Must be very saucy. But the first dish with mango….hmm…delicious meh? :p
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 1st, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Yup, the sweet, fruity flavour of the mango sauce complemented the cod fillet perfectly.
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Difficult to find parking at that place, might be a hindrance for their progress. Besides that, during weekends the whole town looks like Myanmar, Vietnam, Indo or Bangladesh, certainly not Ipoh itself….
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 1st, 2010 at 9:32 pm
True also, that street is congested with foreigners come weekend. Maybe that’s one of the reason Eastern’s Brasserie’s closed on Sundays?
Not sure bout this.
Anyway, we parked opposite the road though, for we were not sure about customer parking at the hotel before we dined.
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The restaurant’s interior didn’t match the outside. I am pleasantly surprised! Must try next time when i am back.
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 1st, 2010 at 9:34 pm
I am sure they’re working on the exterior of the previously budgeted Eastern Hotel.
I wish not to comment on the hotel’s previous occupants (you know, I know), but good to hear that they’re upping the ante by turning the place into a boutique hotel.
In the heart of Ipoh city.
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neko-hime Reply:
August 1st, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Good, good. Always happy ipoh is going upscale!
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Hey I sure hope they’re not going to destroy the facade of the hotel… I love the way it looks – old school all the way!!
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 1st, 2010 at 9:34 pm
I’m sure they will repaint the exterior, or do something chic.
After all, the ancient looks of it may not attract the younger crowd.
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Heh, the name of the place doesn’t match with the food at all, but who cares? :p
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Fantastic pictures and food looks delicious!
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The exterior might not look good but the food is definitely great! The main course and the dessert is really making me drool.. It must be quite fragrant for the grilled chicken I guess
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Yeah, the smoky aroma really pulled through, in spite of the soggy, sloppy looks of it.
And the earthy mushroom ragout tasted delicious as well.
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Wah that piece of fish fillet looks appetizing and reasonably priced.
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 2nd, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Yeah, considering in some restaurants or cafes they’re serving cod fish at double the price.
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Looks good…
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Looks.. Good remind myself I must give this a try..
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I really curious how the old looking building can transform into a boutique hotel? The fish in mango sauce sound interesting, but match meh?
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 4th, 2010 at 8:47 am
They’re doing renovations to the building. But not an entirely bad idea though, for the classic facade presents a beautiful charm to the old-school Ipoh feel.
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Ipoh needs to upgrade and it is due time. But the stigma, as like in Penang, most of the locals would stick to their staple or familiar food dishes. The main culprit is the stagnant income level in both states, costs increase but wages remains unchanged or change too little. Therefore, we depend on “outsiders” for the more luxurious places.
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 2nd, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Hmm, partly true. But not entirely, I have to say.
True, most of the locals may practise a wait and see approach, or tried and tested maneuver when it comes to NEW restaurants springing up.
But as long as the restaurant; be it a posh fine diner or a simple chu char restaurant, serves quality food at reasonable prices, the place has a good chance to flourish.
Just look at Indulgence, Citrus and Brewster’s,
and the various Chinese restaurants in Ipoh.
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There was a collection of western food resto in times past. Regeneration of Ipoh is very slow. I used to pass Rendevous on my way the 2 cinemas. I am sure there will be more posting to vet our appetite.
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 4th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Haha, let’s wait for it, shall we?
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The last time we were in Ipoh was when we attended a wedding at the Tai Thong / Royal China Restaurant and boy were we impressed! Excellent food and ambiance. Must make it a point to go back to Ipoh to try all these new restaurants. Thanks for sharing.
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 4th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Contrasting thoughts though, for I had friends who told me about Royal China being less than satisfactory. Maybe in its early stage back then.
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Gosh – Rendezvous had been there forever!! It used to be THE place to dine in Ipoh – i remember its very dim interior, if nothing else, LOL! Good that this place has now been given a “lift” and looks rather swanky too. That cod fillet sure looked yummy!
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 4th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Yeah, Rendezvous sure brings a lot of memories, especially to the older crowd like us.
After all, last time it was either them, Miner’s Arms, Scotch Pub of First Coffee House.
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[...] Eastern’s Brasserie @ Eastern Hotel (NEW!!) [...]
this recall me there’s a “coffee house” similar with Rendezvous..located at ipoh oldtown, nearby ipoh padang oldtown cafe…hmm… opposite public bank.. sorry i don’t remember the name … u have any idea?
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 10th, 2010 at 7:59 am
That’s Miner’s Arm. But has since closed also, though I can’t be sure of this.
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Tried their set lunch today….atmosphere is cosy but sorry to say service sucks. Waitress are inexperience and not fluent in English and took the wrong orders. Quality of food does not match the interior….has anyone tasted overly sweet chicken soup and sweet mashed potato with extremely salty garlic bread….try this place.
A disappointment for food lover
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Hi Isadora,
Thanks for the feedback.
Service was good the time I went for lunch. And no, I did not reveal my identity as a food blogger or such.
The manager did not ask for our feedback, maybe seeing two patrons with cameras is like a routine (they did come from a hotel in KL, he said), but at least the waitress attending to our table was polite enough and not invading our personal space.
Foodwise, we were rather impressed with the quality of the items we had that afternoon.
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agree with you about cocoon cafe, luckily when the time I went, no need to wait so long. But the waiter/ waitress definately need to be retrain
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 19th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Talking about Cocooon Cafe, I think it’s fine time I write a piece about them after so long.
Hoping in desperation that the food will be served faster than the last time.
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When there for lunch today with my colleagues today.
Set lunch price ranging RM11 – RM16 nett. Extremely value for money. Set lunch came with soup/main dish/ice lemon tea with sourplum and dessert.
Had grilled chicken with mango sauce. They mushroom soup is nice and creamy, unlike those starchy type that normally served. I find the mango sauce a bit too bland to my taste. I need to add some pepper and salt to the sauce which I normally don’t. Maybe personally I’m those type who prefer savoury and strong taste foods.
But I love the apple pie they served for dessert. Absolutely fresh and the pastry tasted so yummy . Too bad, I can’t find this item in their dessert menu. I would have order extra serving. Maybe they should consider and include this item into their menu.
Overall, really value for money and the ambience of place is nice & cozy too. BTW, with every 4 sets of lunch you ordered, you got the fifth set for free.
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kudos on a great food blog. most of what’s been recommended here brilliant and should be on anyone’s must-try list.
i have to disagree on one little element tho… Eastern Brasserie!
i tried the mango cod and it was terrible. the fish was stale. the oil that oozed out of the cod was so clearly recycled (brown-grey stains, week-old stench!) and the mango cordial paste trying to pass off as mango was like a mess i dont even want to begin describing. dont even get me started on how overpriced it is.
all i can say is that i left the shop feeling so utterly sickened by what i had experienced. its been a week and a half now and every time i even so much as think about that Eastern Experience, i gotta reach for preserved ‘assam’ to take my mind off.
i’m here to save anyone else the horror of what the brasserie has to ‘offer.’ seriously. stay away at all costs.
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comot123 Reply:
November 14th, 2010 at 10:06 am
i agree! the mango cod was terrible! fish was stale!
food there was bad.
grilled vege was very bad as well
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[...] has given way to an endless ‘onslaught’ of so-so cafes (though I have to admit that Eastern’s Brasserie was pretty good), while Miner’s Arms is no longer the ‘fine diner it used to be; when [...]
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