Review: Ante

No 9, A2, G1, Solaris Dutamas
Jalan Dutamas 1
50480 KL
Tel# +60362063364
https://www.facebook.com/anteporksteaks/

I recall when they first opened up as a pork restaurant. It didn't have the playfulness of El Cerdo. Instead, it showed us that one can enjoy a porky meal even in a fine above average dining setting. This is at their Solaris branch.

Or at least that's the sort of vibe both of the restaurants give me with its cool interior but rather warm service.

Since it was an odd hour, the place was understandably deserted. More waiters than customers.

Yes, my first visit to Ante was for tea.

We were there too late for lunch and yet, too early for dinner. Naturally, tea it was.

Apple crumble with salted caramel syrup and vanilla ice cream
It would have been too inappropriate for two full grown adults to hang around in a proper restaurant, ordering only a pot of tea to be shared. Thus, we had this too.

The pie itself was not too crumbly nor sweet. A tinge of the apple sourness to go with the sweet ice cream. Perfect with our tea.

Lot F346 New Wing, Rainforest
1, Lebuh Bandar Utama
Bandar Utama City Center
47800 PJ
Tel# +60377325204

Not wanting to drive else where for food, we came here for dinner. Can you guess what this is?

Pork bacon steak.
Thick slices of bacon seared until crispy around the edges. It's sinful but every bite is well worth it especially with the caramelized onion. Below is the buttery, almost too smooth of a mashed potato.

Pork belly stew.
When I first ordered it, the thought of fatty pork did cross my mind. If you have not, go try a pork belly steak. I made one with a simple salt and pepper marinade before thrown into the oven to bake with sweet potato. My cooking rarely gets a special mention but this one deserves it.

Anyway, the stew was lighter than expected in terms of both the thickness and flavor. There were also potatoes, carrots and the most mind puzzling of all, fried shallots (like the kind you get on top of Chinese noodles). It could have made it as a hearty meal if not for that one last ingredient. The mashed potato was also quite good and the bread didn't do that great of a job of soaking up the stew.

Good if you don't like soggy bread. Bad if you were hoping for one.

This is perhaps what made this dish quite homely. I never really eat this in general because it is literally fat.
Yes, YOLO but I have to exercise like 30mins cardio just for that piece alone 😓