Fong (right) and Lee give Anne Lourdes its own southern European identity with quality ingredients and hearty portions. — Photos: Jarod Lim/The Star
ON a weekday evening, we did not expect such a crowd at this restaurant in a Kuala Lumpur suburb.
Despite heavy rain and gridlocked traffic, the eatery in Taman Supreme near Cheras was filled to capacity, with more diners waiting at the entrance.
Anne Lourdes is a southern European-style eatery with a cosy vibe and great food – it didn’t take long for us to see why it was such a crowd-puller.
Opened about two years ago, it is the sister restaurant to Anne Elizabeth, known for its northern European fare and steakhouse specialities.
Chef-owner Jacob Fong and his wife Sandra Lee offer the same quality ingredients and hearty portions, while giving Anne Lourdes its own identity through a menu rooted in southern European flavours.
“The main difference between the two restaurants is the type of dishes we serve at each place.
“At Anne Lourdes, we focus on comfort food, sharing platters and tapas.
Wagyu Oyster Blade served with confit garlic and dipping sauces
“There’s a spread of smaller plates, pastas and hearty sides, so plenty of options for different tastes and for groups who enjoy trying a bit of everything,” Fong explained.
There is no menu here – diners head to the back where deli-style counters display the day’s selections.
From different cuts of lamb and pork to fresh seafood and cold-cut platters, diners pick what they want for the kitchen to prepare.
Our meal began with a Serrano Ham and Melon Platter, a light starter where the savoury ham was balanced by melon and cranberries for a touch of sweetness.
The Roasted Pear Salad brought a welcome freshness, with warm pan-roasted fruit tossed with dried cranberries, mixed nuts and cheese for a mix of sweet, tart and nutty notes.
On the heartier side, the Prawn Bisque Soup was a velvety starter that had distinct seafood depth of flavour with a mild sweetness.
Spanish Prawns in Wine with whole confit garlic and dried chillies.
Made only with prawn flesh, no shells or heads, it was warm and comforting.
The classic French Baked Escargots arrived in a small dish, still bubbling from the oven.
Each piece was coated in a buttery, garlicky sauce that clung to the tender meat.
It’s the kind of dish best enjoyed with bread to mop up every last bit.
A personal favourite was the Spanish Prawns in Wine, with whole confit garlic softened to sweetness and dried chillies adding a slow burn.
The rich wine sauce tied it all together, making the prawns deeply addictive.
French Baked Escargots in a bubbly butter-garlic sauce.
Balancing it out was the earthy and rustic mushroom casserole.
The button mushrooms were stewed down into a creamy and savoury base, carrying that umami flavour that gave the dish a satisfying depth.
Served bubbling hot, it is great as a side dish or shared plate.
The eatery’s meat options such as Iberico and Wagyu are equally impressive.
A cut from the neck end of the pork loin, the Iberico Pluma is a crowd-favourite that was tender yet with just enough bite.
The Wagyu Oyster Blade taken from the chuck or shoulder had that melt-in-the-mouth texture, and was served with both sweet and savoury sauces.
For me, the standout was the lamb rack, with a well-seared crust that sealed in the juices.
It was beautifully tender and really only needed a light sprinkle of salt to shine.
Together, these dishes reflected the restaurant’s southern European leanings; a mix of comforting classics, bold flavours and shareable plates.
ANNE LOURDES, No.21 Jalan Jintan, Taman Supreme, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. (Tel: 010-200 1180) Business hours: 4pm to 11.15pm, Saturday-Thursday. Non-halal.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
