Cedar on 15
Raising the Roof
By Jacueline Benita Paul
These days, it is a prerequisite to spend Saturday nights at a rooftop restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. This led us to one of the most widely recommended restaurant on Tripadvisor, Cedar on 15. At the helm is venerated chef, Helmut Lamberger who introduced a swanky new menu earlier this year. On our visit, we explored one of the three menus, The Cookbook, to sample some of his signature dishes.
It was particularly busy at Cedar on 15 during our visit on a weekday. The ambience was enlivened with boisterous laughter, the clinking of beer glasses and casual interaction between the guests and staff. This is a rare sight in this part of the city, where people are usually too busy to spare a hello. Perhaps it was the cozy ambience which exuded a stylish yet unimposing feel. You could be in a smart casual attire and fit right in. There are no airs to this place, except if you want to dine in the al fresco area where you get to enjoy a close-up view of the Twin Towers.
After placing our orders, we started off with an amouse bouche whoich teased our palates with a delicious potato topped with a touille on a spread of beetroot mousse. The play on texture pulled our 
foodie heartstrings and the presentation was a testament to the chef’s expertise in the kitchen. As we excitedly awaited our starter course, the Carpaccio of Portobello Mushrooms, we enjoyed the light bites from the freshly baked bread. We particularly enjoyed the charcoal bun, soft to the touch with an irresistible decadence when combined with the creamy butter.
When the Carpaccio of Portobello Mushrooms arrived at our table, we almost forgot to take photos on account of how appetising it looked. It certainly did not disappoint with the exquisite savoury flavours from the thinly sliced portobello mushrooms and the creamy burrata cheese accentuating the dish. The rocket lettuce added balance to the dish by providing an additional texture and bitter flavour to refresh the palate.
Our mains were from the Lava Rock Grill section of the menu, Grass Fed New Zealand Rack of Lamb and Malaysian Barramundi Fillet. The great thing about ordering from the Lava Rock Grill is that if you have a big appetite you can bet the portions are generous. I’ve personally enjoyed Chef Helmut’s bearnaise sauce on a prior visit, so this time around I opted for the peppercorn sauce while my dining partner selected a mushroom sauce for her fish. While waiting, we sat by the bar to enjoy the view of the city over cocktails. Mine was a Cedar signature drink while my dining partner enjoyed a Singapore Sling. The scent of our mains called out to us and we made our way back to our table.
My rack of lamb was cooked perfectly to the medium rare standard. Slicing through the succulent meat and savouring each bite with a spoonful of my creamy spinach was carnivorous bliss. The Barramundi didn’t disappoint either; the fresh grills were complemented with the mushroom sauce. Both dishes were consistently enjoyable from the first bite to the last. Our overall verdict of the experience is that Cedar on 15 understands what customers want and need from the hospitable service, cozy ambience to the incredible food.
Modern european, pork-free
Address: Impiana KLCC Hotel, Kuala Lumpur City Center Level 15, Club Tower, 13, Jalan Pinang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2147 1111