Dining in a restaurant that resembles a village house set over a lake, provides planners a chance to create lasting impressions for their guests, writes S Puvaneswary
What sets The Village at Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside apart from other restaurants is its location – it is right over the stunning Putrajaya Lake and built on stilts. The view it provides is particularly attractive, as diners can see large stretches of the lake and the brightly lit Wawasan Putrajaya bridge in the distance. And if you are at the restaurant before 19.00, you can catch the sunset.
The Village has a semi open concept, with no walls to block the gentle breeze that blows from over the lake. There is a high attap roof, more to shelter diners from the rain than the sun, as the restaurant opens for business only after 18.30. To supplement the natural breeze are several ceiling fans.
To me, the restaurant’s architecture resembles a typical Malay village house.
MICE application
The Village offers an air-conditioned private dining room with glass walls that let in unhindered views of the lake. This space is just perfect for private functions and can easily take 40 guests in a banquet setting. The hotel can provide portable projectors and screens for events held here.
Just outside this private dining room is a large open deck which works well for cocktail parties. If privacy is what the planner desires, then it is privacy he shall get, as this deck is quite secluded from the main dining area.
I can picture men and women chilling out on this deck, sipping champagne or their preferred drink, after a long day of meetings and presentations.
The Village can also accommodate larger groups of 200 people or more in its the main dining area. This space has a cosy ambience, complete with wooden chairs and tables that are commonly found in many Malaysian homes, and lush potted plants.
If you fear the attack of mosquitoes in this al fresco venue, fear not. Blue-tint fluorescent lighting installed throughout the restaurant helps to keep bothersome bugs away.
F&B concept
The Village specialises in a mixture of Malaysian, Asian, Mediterranean and western cuisine.
Come every Friday and Saturday, a seafood barbecue takes over and guests are invited to stay on after their meal for refreshing mocktails and cocktails at the stylish bar.
On other days, planners can choose from an extensive a la carte menu, or tailor one to suit their guests’ dietary requirements.
This restaurant serves the best masala braised lamb shank I have ever tasted, while the gratin lobster on percik sauce and stir-fried vegetables is to die for. I ended the evening with an excellent tiramisu.
Although The Village has a pork-free menu, there are no restrictions on alcohol consumption.
Service and ambiance
It is Malaysian hospitality at its best at The Village. The service staff are attentive and the young sous chef, Ahmad Zaidi Abd Razak, is most entertaining. He amused us with personal anecdotes and regaled us with stories of his teenager years, of how he loved to ride his bike, but after it got stolen he took up cooking to pass time. And that was how he ended up becoming a chef and loving his career ever since.
With soft music playing in the background, chef Ahmad Zaidi’s stories and that evening’s perfect weather, I wished good times would never end.
Contacts
Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside
No 2 Jalan P5/5, Presint 5,
62200 Putrajaya.
Email: reservation@pullmanputrajaya.com; website: www.pullmanputrajaya.com
Opening hours
18.30-22.30pm, daily
The Hyatt Regency Incheon, South Korea was rebranded Grand Hyatt Incheon on September 1 and now boasts expanded meeting space with the opening of its new West Tower – just in time to welcome the participants of the 17th Asian Games.
