An Italian Feast @ Ristorante Italia Mia, Sunway City, Ipoh
May 10, 2010 | 1,639 views| 42 Comments » |
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Ristorante Italia Mia in Sunway City of Ipoh is one of the few decent fine dining establishments in Ipoh. You can’t find Italian restaurants in Ipoh that easy like say, in the Klang Valley or even Penang. Heck, I think even folks in JB (Johor Bahru) or Melaka have better luck at slurping on pastas, chomping on their slices of pizzas, and licking their fingers clean from the mascarpone cheese pumped into their tiramisu.
Envious? Yes. If you wanna know more about Italian food in Ipoh, you can read about my first Italia Mia experience back in 2008, funky versions of pastas at Spaghetti Sweet Tea Cafe, and of course, the latest addition to Ipoh’s F&B scene; Michelangelo’s Pizzeria that serves fantastic woodfire pizzas, but resembles more of an American style pizzeria than an Italian restaurant.
(*But of course, if you wanna take into account the Pizza Hut’s and the Shakey’s …. by all means, yeah. Ipoh’s LOADED with “Italian Food” outlets!) 
Spaghetti Fresh Seafood (RM39.40/USD12.30) – With Sauteed Fresh Prawns, Calamari, Clams, Garlic, White Wine and Parsley
The menu remains unchanged, since the last time we dined here. But they have SPECIALS of the day, written in chalk on the blackboard on the outside of the restaurant. So do sneak a peek before you waltz in, in case you have grown weary of the same old selections; of about 12 types of Pasta, 9 types of Carne (Meat) dishes, and 4 types of Pesce (Fish) items. But seriously, we don’t need another menu with 100 or more items, each being a variant of another. Confusing to the customers, and the cooks as well …
Saltimbocca Alla Romana (RM39.35/USD12.30) – Fillet of Pork cooked with Marsala wine, topped with Ham & Sage
In case this is your first time to Italia Mia, then you probably would have expected a slightly more resplendent ambience, given the ‘fine dining‘ moniker attached to this restaurant by Ipohans. But we felt right at home while having our lunch here. With a simple layout and minimally-decorated interior; a light pink table cloth draping our tables, comfortable cushioned wooden chairs, a bar with their range of wines displayed, and various pictures on the blank, sparse wall as well as ornaments that blend into the background.
Clean and simple, you wouldn’t feel out of place even if you walk in wearing sandals and shorts. I know, because my brother just did that.
Zuppa Di Zucca (RM18.50/USD5.80) – Blended Pumpkin & Grilled Chicken Soup
Starters (antipasti) include salads, soups and bruschettas (mushroom and tomato variants), as well as a rather interesting chicken liver pate served with toasts. The Pumpkin and Grilled Chicken Soup tasted heavenly, combining the smooth, pulpish texture of the pumpkin, and the sweetish flavour of the squash; the addition of grilled chicken imparted a smokey, savoury nuance to the pleasant starter. We were also presented with small plates of black olives with herbs/chili to munch on. No bread with olive oil though, but a welcoming change for I do not favour stuffing myself BEFORE I even go through the menu!
Pollo Cacciatore (RM37.30/USD11.70) – Chicken Breast cooked in Cacciatore sauce, sweet peppers, mushrooms, capers, tomatoes and olives
The specials of the day include gnocchi (pronounced ngee-ork-kee, thanks to Madam Niki for pointing this out), roasted lamb rack and roasted leg of lamb. But I missed the board while frantically barging in. I would have given their gnocchi a try, as I have grown a certain fondness towards the Italian style ‘dumplings‘. Maybe next time then.
I had the Fusilli Carbonara, which was utterly delicious and sinfully rich. I almost could not finish up my own portion, all the while busying with piercing, poking, sampling and stealing from the others’ plates. The creamy Carbonara sauce cling onto the spindles of fusilli, which was cooked to the right texture by the way. And nothing beats smoked bacon to go with your carbonara, and liberal shavings of parmesan cheese.
Pollo Boscaiola (RM38.85/USD12.20) – Breast of Chicken topped with Mushroom, Ham, Cheese and Wine
Italia Mia is a NON-Halal restaurant. That explains the abundance of pork in their menu, and the liberal use of wine in their cooking. And trust me, you can really taste the difference, especially in the gravy for the various chicken and pork cuts.
Especially noteworthy was the Saltimbocca Alla Romana, incorporating the clever use of Marsala wine into cooking of tender fillets of pork, laced on top with slices of ham and sage sandwiched in between the layers. All their meats are served with mashed potatoes or roasted potatoes, and boiled vegetables.
Pollo Monte Bianco (RM39.35/USD12.30) – Breast of Chicken with Mushroom, Wine and Cream
Out of the three types of chicken ordered by the others, I found the Cacciatore version to be the most memorable. Or probably I was already reeling from the decadence of my rich carbonara, the Cacciatore sauce tasted refreshingly tangy, with fresh tomatoes pureed and bites from capers, olives and mushrooms. A stark contrast to the many-folds richer/creamier Monte Bianco and Boscaiola versions.
Fusilli Carbonara (RM33.60/USD10.50) – Spiral pasta with Bacon, Whisked Egg, Cream sauce and Parmesan
Tiramisu (RM19.50/USD6.00) – A fluffy rendition of the evergreen Italian classic
Italia Mia does a wonderful rendition of Tiramisu, albeit at a slightly premium price of RM19.50 per slice. Not cloyingly rich, which was a plus after the rather heavy lunch, the Tiramisu was light, fluffy and yet retaining its creaminess with a pleasant bittersweet kick. This deserves a try if you have a sweet tooth for desserts. And no fret, it’s far from tooth-numbingly sweet.
Profiteroles (RM17.95/USD5.60) – Cream Puff with Vanilla Ice-Cream, and Rich Chocolate Sauce
And the Profiteroles (two pieces for RM17.95) served at Italia Mia (do enquire about the availability) were almost flawless. The famous choux pastry reminded me of Beard Papa’s fabulous cream puff (come to IPOH already!), albeit with a twist. Sandwiching a whole scoop of premium vanilla ice-cream, and drizzled liberally with chocolate sauce, the dessert was a befitting end to the meal.
Other delectable desserts include Creme Brulee, Apple Pie, and imported Australian Ice-Cream.
Address & Contact :
RISTORANTE ITALIA MIA
10, Persiaran SC1 2/1,
Sunway City Ipoh,
31150 Ipoh,
Perak, Malaysia.
Telephone : 605-547 4007
Business Hours : 12pm – 3pm, 6pm-10pm daily.
Closed on Thursdays.
Here’s a GOOGLE MAP to Italia Mia Restaurant
Directions : Exit the North-South Expressway (PLUS) at the new IPOH’s Tambun/Sunway City exit. Once you reach the traffic lights, turn left into Jalan Tambun and go pass Tambun town. Once you see the GIANT signboard from afar on your right, slow down and take a right turn at the traffic lights. You will enter Sunway City of Ipoh. Italia Mia is on your LEFT, with its bright blue signboard.
** After about 5 years in the business, Italia Mia’s owners (Tino – The Italian guy, and his wife, Niki – The designated cook) are thinking of calling it quits; preferring to enjoy life with their children overseas. If any of you iskeen to take over the business, do give them a call. To the others; take this opportunity to dine at Italia Mia at least once, before this great Italian diner goes off the radar. **
Here’s what the others think about Ristorante Italia Mia : Simply Unfashionable, Yuk’s Eating Footprints, gen.u.ine.ness, Ipoh Mali Talak Sombong,and de Path of Light
You had me at pumpkin. Pumpkin soup, that is. Yummy…
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hey, really looks clean and nice… maybe we can go there this friday for lunch… elin and i… who else wants to join us? i want to taste the real italian food..
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
This Friday for lunch? Good. I would like to hear your experience then.
Go for their Creme Brulee, or Apple Pie as well. The former was a good choice back then.
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Oh my goodness. I don’t doubt you when you say the tiramisu is nice… but that is pretty expensive!
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
A little pricey, even for KL’s standards I know. But a small price to pay for GREAT food, for I believe many of us have been duped into tasting so-called authentic Italian food, but in the end they were all rubbish.
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[...] Italian Food @ Ristorante Italia Mia, Sunway City, Ipoh | Motormouth From Ipoh – A Malaysian F… [...]
Hey … do u meant that beard papa is opening in Ipoh???
I’m so glad and btw where is the location ???
I used to take away half dozen n fridge it always when i was in KL …
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Sorry Money, what I meant to say was,
Beard Papa (please) come to Ipoh already!
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War….the profiteoles is so damn delicious.
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There simply HAS to be a Sunway in every city, isn’t it? As if it’s not confusing enough to have a Sunway in Subang and another Sunway in Kota Damansara, now there’s a Sunway in Ipoh. *groans*
Anyway, the food here does look good and a notch above the rest, BUT definitely not cheap! This price is already steep by KL’s standards.. or by MY standards at least. LOL
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Sunway in Penang? Hahaha… Sunway Hotel it is.
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Cream Puff with Vanilla Ice-Cream! I want it so badly! It looks so nice
I wish to have it now, I just like desserts so much. Lol.
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i must try!!!!
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
WHEN ah?! Drag me along lah …. then you can treat me already.
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fcoe Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
*wink wink*..waiting for u to treat first…..havent eaten italian for quite some time dy..
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Oh, going to end their business soon? What a waste, their food looks good with lots of fresh ingredients.
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Yeah, they feel that it’s probably time to close this down, and enjoy life with their children back in Europe. Or somewhere. Canada? (poor amnesiac me)
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everything looks good!!! I envy you because you are able to travel everywhere in Perak for food
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pasta.. great fun to eat.. great nrg boost b4 a run. I have not been here either!
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Spaghetti Fresh Seafood will be my choice. Yes the pricing is expensive. I am surprise they are able to last for nearly 5 years in Ipoh. Salute!!
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[...] Italian Food @ Ristorante Italia Mia, Sunway City, Ipoh … [...]
The BEST Tiramisu in Ipoh @ Italia Mia | Motormouth From Ipoh…
Definitely one of the BEST place for Italian cuisine in Ipoh, Italia Mia has been around for about 5 years now. Great pastas, a killer of a fusilli carbonara, and delightful Tiramisu and Profiteroles (cream puff)….
Omg…..Drooling…LOL
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wow! you have some very tempting pictures! it makes me go *gulp XD
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Haha, ….. no egg yolks in the shots though. Sadly eh?
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wow the price is just as same as here in europe… better enjoy the authentic here before i go back…
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Whoa!
That tiramisu has all the right texture alrite!
But is it alcoholic? Shoud be rite?
The prices are probably due the the ingredients used. Masala wine doesnt come cheap.
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 12th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Alcoholic yes. But not of the intoxicating kind. Merely a whiff of the liquor. Which was still okay, considering one can taste the creamy bits, and the spongey layers.
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The price is high uh but since it can sustain that long, means it’s GOOD enough?!
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Oh dear, while reading through this, I was “Now I know where to take my parents to when I get my first paycheck!!” but the P.S. note.. *cries* I’m going to have to wave a tearful goodbye to this restaurant before ever setting foot into it =( (my parent’s sure aren’t the kind to happily pay RM40 for a plate of pasta!!)
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 13th, 2010 at 7:57 am
Haha, yeah …. they’re gonna sell this business off only, in hopes that the new proprietor(s) will continue the Italia Mia legacy in Ipoh.
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looks yummy^^ love the fact that they use wine in the cooking.
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Yes!! Italia Mia served the best cabonara! I had my first taste of cabonara at Amsterdam years ago, love it instantly, tried every cabonara I can found since then, unfortunately none of them match the first. They were all less egg and too much cream. The Josephine’s cabonara sauce was just too much, even fly can swim inside.
All my search for the cabonara lead to dissappointment, until Italia Mia. Thats the one flavour I was looking for!
The cabonara alone is worth revisit. But I also I the homey ambiance of the restaurant, the boss is very friendly, he love to sing! Only I don’t quite understand his thick accent. But that was not a problem, I will certainly pay Italia Mia another visit, well, after I get my next paycheck.
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J2Kfm Reply:
May 14th, 2010 at 7:56 am
LOL. Yeah, san. He does love to hum along to the tunes playing at the background. Very down to earth guy.
Italia Mia serves a fantastic Carbonara that I had no problem scooping them into my mouth (they were fusilli after all)
until the plate was polished clean.
Another good one is at Michelangelo’s, and Denis Jazz Bistro. Both versions come with real pork bacon.
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I cleaned up every drop of cabonara sauce on my plate, with spoon of cause. If only I was at home, will cleaned it with my tongue!
Will go try Michelangelo’s cabonara, but I have to grab more friends to come along, you can’t go to Michelangelo without having their pizza. If its only two of us, can’t finished both pizza AND pasta.
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This is the best of italian food that i ever tried. i give 5 stars ?????
try it , no regret!!!
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J2Kfm Reply:
June 6th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Thanks Marcus. Italia Mia’s indeed very authentic, delicious and none of those fancy-fancy stuff on their menu.
Down to earth people as well. Kinda sad if they’re really closing down and shifting overseas.
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I feel the strong need to share my personal experience with whoever who intend to visit Italia Mia in the future. It all began when me and my friend finally decided to make quick foray into Italia Mia for dessert and coffee the other day after reading so much favorable reviews about it. To our surprise, we were not allowed to order their desserts without dining there because according to the owner his restaurant doesn’t serve like a cafe or some low rent Chinese restaurant(something I was deeply offended). Again, I was completely taken aback because even the finest dining place doesn’t have such rule. Eventually he was “kind” enough to make exceptions for us but dash away fast enough before we even had the chance to look at the drinks menu. Despite the outrageous service, the desserts were really amazing (something I need to give credit for) but I expected better service to keep up with the exorbitant price. I felt we were sort of being “marginalized” that night. Me and my friend just couldn’t wait to kill the bill and leave as soon as we finished our last bite.
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Wow Mr Real…. did that happened to u as well ???
Couldn’t agree anymore that the same situation happened to me as well last week. I was with my girlfriend one night thinking of getting some dessert after dinner in some where else. Then my girlfriend suggested this fine dining place for some Italian dessert since she saw your well comment blog not too long ago.
The moment we stepped in the so called ‘fine dining restaurant’, we realized it didn’t live up our expectation in terms of ambiance and interior design. Still we find ourselves a seat in the hope of getting some authentic Italian bite. Initially the Caucasian (apparently he’s the boss) treated us quite okay with smile when he brought us the menu. I just don’t know one can has his facial expression changed so fast after we told him that we were going for dessert merely on that day since we had dinner earlier on. With a very unfriendly tone, he started to tell us that his restaurant is serving fine dining cuisine, and we can’t expect them to serve dessert only like those other cafes and Chinese restaurants (This is sorta humiliating indeed)…. Then he just left us with the menu in the hope that we may order some main without even bother to ask us what to drink or giving any recommendations. After being humiliated, I and my girlfriend were so furious and we decided to just walked away from the restaurant.
Frankly speaking, the restaurant is charging considerably top notch price for Ipoh standard but I don’t think that kind of service manner and interior matches the price charged. I do had a number of fine dining experiences while still in Europe for studying purpose, but none of those in London and Paris even have such limitations. Seriously if the Italia Mia guy still wanna keep up his business for long, the first thing he has to learn is to adapt local culture and stop being arrogant
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Hi Mr Real and Money,
I was surprised by this. I personally have not gone to Italia Mia for desserts only, hence I can’t share my experience. But I don’t see a problem serving customers who might just be looking for a slice of tiramisu or two, or a bite of their profiteroles.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Anyone else faced the same problem while dining at Italia Mia before?
Though I must admit that our meal there was splendid, from the food to the service. Of course I can’t compare the ambience of Italia Mia to say, Indulgence or even Citrus. It’s simple, bare and decent.
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I went to Italia Mia on Tuesday (17Aug2010) and I must say I really enjoyed the food there.
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J2Kfm Reply:
August 19th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Hey y2k, care to share what you had there for your meal?
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