Grub @ Section 17

Grub.

The kind you eat.

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Also, name of the latest joint in suburban Section 17 PJ, where fancy eateries and cafes are rife, to cater to a growing demand of discerning taste buds, particularly those who’d rather dine in the comfort of air-conditioning, rather than hot, dirty kopitiam stalls.

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A restaurant named Grub might sound fancy – what with its tiny obscure neon signage hanging above the entrance, and the sparse, clean lines of its first floor furniture shouting minimalist. But really if one delves in deeper, one would find it to be, in fact, a rather unpretentious, modern and welcoming eatery.

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At Grub, you won’t be dazzled by tinsel and smoke, or made to nibbling on minute morsels of finely plated food. Here, they let the food do the talking – hearty plates of robust flavours, served by Ahong and his ragtag kitchen team, from the bowels of their pulsating kitchen. If cooking with heart were a thing, then Ahong’s kitchen may well be the place that saying was birth.

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Ahong, the Chef and Owner is quite a character as we got to chat with him. Very approachable in his plastic hairnet and suspenders (which chef in Malaysia wears suspenders in the kitchen?) unless you catch him on peak days, which he says starts from Friday, right up till Sunday. Monday is a rest day so don’t bug him or them then. And it’s not like Grub needs anybody’s help or anything, because they are usually packed to the rafters on weekends.. but if you want to have a cosy, quiet dinner, Tues-Thurs are the days to do it. Hailing from Sibu and only 36 years young, this self-trained chef left the cozy confines of an architectural position several years ago to work long hours in other people’s kitchen before starting out on his own, beginning with a cafeteria and now Grub. With that, we answer the job passion question. But how did the food fare?

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roasted beetroot, fresh fruit & feta saladRM13.50 – crunchy nuts added texture to a complex, fragrant tasting salad. Loved the earthy beetroot, sweet nangka and crumbly, briny feta. One of the nicest versions we’ve eaten this year.
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Wolfberger – Pinot Gris, Alsace France RM110 (one of our favorite whites from Alsace – couldn’t resist!)

This is the place to indulge in respectable wines. They have a concise yet deliciously enticing list of wines that I myself would love to drink my way through. Ahong has this policy where corkage is free if you offer him a glass of whatever wine you bring. I think it’s an excellent idea especially if the chef happens to be a drinker 😛

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friend quail with roasted grapes RM9.50 – at this point, we questioned how this establishment even makes money from the way they price their food. Small birds are so much more tasty and this quail was no exception to the rule. Perfectly seasoned and paired with roasted grapes. Loved the way the grapes were blistered and caramelized on the outside, and extra juicy and practically jammy on the inside. Perfect match for the succulent fowl.

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New York Strip (RM39.. are you serious?) 300-gram striploin, medium rare doneness, garnished with  jambu

Fries fried just right..  so addictive that today was declared, “Cheat Day Eats” .. payback starts tomorrow.

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A massive portion for that price and definitely worth sinking your teeth into. Feisty and tough, a true carnivore would appreciate battling the meat to the bitter end.

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Local Seafood Bouillabaisse- Grilled white fish fillet with clams, squid & prawns in a light soup with pasta and sourdough bun (RM25)

A must order! My favourite dish for the night.. flaky fish, succulent clams and prawns in a rich, yet delicately flavoured seafood stew garnished with fragrant coriander. Sublime.

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Smoked brisket with coconut gravy pickled cucumber, potato salad & white bread (RM30).

Super yummy potato salad .. reminds me of the great club salads of yore.. too bad places don’t make it this good anymore. The brisket tasted like rendang. Full-on flavour if you like brisket that way.

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Me and My Igloo… 

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This dessert was on the house. Chef says he only serves it to people he likes. (yay!)

Loved the exciting way in which fresh fruit was served. Call me a sucker for presentation but I was like all over this dessert.

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Chocolate Tart, Chendol cake (RM12 & 10) 

 

What can we say. We really like Grub.

Its affordable, incredibly well-balanced, crafted dishes, that come in handsome serving sizes will not go unnoticed nor unappreciated.  It offers western cuisine, with south-east asian humor. Just like the owner. Foodies rejoice.. great food lives on in yet another establishment in Petaling Jaya.

 

Add:
Grub,
608, Jalan 17/10, Section 17,
Petaling Jaya
Tel: 016-923 2983

 

 

 

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