Suasana Kenduri at Suasana Suites Cafe

 

When the elevator doors opened on Level 33A of the Suasana All Suites Hotel, I stepped into the outdoor section of the Suasana Suites Café to join the preview of their Ramadan spread and saw that this small corridor was transformed into a food street bordered by live action stalls.

 

Diners helping themselves to the gravies from 
the hot buffet to eat with white rice

Located in the city centre, towering over Jalan Trus and Jalan Wong Ah Fook, this café has earned a reputation as a romantic dining destination that comes with spectacular views of the city and beyond the causeway to the neighbouring nation.

 

Also renowned for serving traditional Johor cuisine, I was pleased to see local favourites like Sup Merah Gearbox, Kambing Bakar Kuzi, and Gulai Kawah among the main dishes featured in the Suasana Kenduri breaking-of-fast menu.

 

Generous portions of meat
in Sup Merah Gearbox

The live action stalls also served Shawarma and Otak-otak, Mee Goreng and Laksa Johor.

 

Other live-stations offered piping hot Sup Tulang Rawan Berempah, a beef broth to savour with bread, while diners may assemble their own portion of shaved ice treats topped with scoops of ice-cream.

 

In the cosy café, the buffet spread featured a range of appetizers like dried dates, pickled fruits and choices of crisps as well as local greens or ulam-ulaman for diners to choose and enjoy, topped with a choice of traditional sambal sauces.

 

The bar counter was transformed into the Drinks section that served refreshing cool drinks like Bandung and Sour Plum, or iced water from drink dispensers.

 

Kambing Kuzi with
flavoured rice cooked within the lamb

The desserts comprised fresh cut fruits, a variety of cakes, local kueh and sweet broth made with black glutinous rice.

 

At the hot buffet there was a choice of gravies to eat with white rice.

 

Among the dishes were Ayam Masak Bunga Kantan (chicken), Daging Salai Masak Cili Api Berkentang (beef), Udang Goreng Lada Hitam (prawns), Ikan Tenggiri Gulai Nenas (fish) and Kailan Goreng Ikan Masin (green vegetables).

 

Signature Assam Pedas

Even after seeing these mouthwatering items, I was still determined to seek out their signature Assam Pedas so I ventured deeper into the café.

 

When I looked closer, I was delighted to discover that this popular Johor dish was prepared in three different choices, made with squid, mussels and chicken.

 

True connoisseurs of Assam Pedas may enjoy this gravy, spicy-slightly sour from the assam or tamarind, with white rice but I was pleased to see that this café provided a choice of steamed cassava or ubi kayu, and oval-shaped pieces of glutinous rice to savour with this gravy.

 

I have learnt from the Javanese who settled in Johor that it was typical for them to eat steamed cassava with spicy sambal – something I enjoy too – so no prizes for the right guess of which carb I picked to eat with my portion of Assam Pedas.

 

Live station that serves Shawarma and Otak-otak

I am familiar with the taste of the flavoured rice cooked within the lamb in traditional Kambing Kuzi, so I was pleased that what the café served tasted just right.

 

As for the Laksa Johor, the all-important gravy that topped the spaghetti noodles, was rich and tasty but I prefer the texture of spaghetti that was cooked al dente.

 

The spread in the Suasana Kenduri buffet may not be wide but to me, it was important that the items were a good variety, tasty and oh, so satisfying.

 

Laksa Johor, a Johor specialty made with
spaghetti instead of rice noodles

During the Ramadan month, the culinary team have curated a choice of menus that will be served on rotation for diners to savour a range of different dishes.

 

Suasana Suites Café is on Level 33A of Suasana All Suites Hotel Johor Baru, an all-suites hotel located at No. 82-C Jalan Trus, 80000 Johor Baru.

 

The Suasana Kenduri buffet will be served at Suasana Suites Cafe from 7pm to 10pm from March 13 to April 8.

 

The taste of tradition in steamed cassava [Left]
and oval-shaped pieces of glutinous rice

Enjoy Early Bird Promotion rate for purchases before March 13 at RM88 nett per adult, RM68 nett for seniors aged 60 years and above, and RM48 nett per child aged six to 12 years.

 

The normal rate is RM108 nett per adult, RM88 nett for seniors aged 60 years and above and RM58 nett per child aged six to 12 years.

 

Private corporate events can be customised with a minimum of 30 persons at RM68 nett per person hosted at Amber Hall on Level 35 of Suasana All Suites Hotel Johor Baru.

 

For reservations or takeaways, send email to reservationssjb@umland.com.my or Tel: +607 – 267 0148 and +6011 – 2640 0688.

 

For more info on Suasana All Suites Hotel Johor Baru, visit website www.suasanasuites.com.my and Facebook page.