How does it feel if you are able to travel back to time and enjoy a nostalgic Nyonya lunch or dinner while sipping a cup of coffee in the historical fort, exactly like the duke or duchess during Victorian era?
There is a hidden restaurant located in Fort Cornwallis - Kota Dine & Coffee, just beside Esplanade that allows you to realize your above dream. Surrounded by bricks and stones, Kota Dine & Coffee
offers one of a kind surreal experience that no where else could give. With a tagline "When Francis Meets Rempah", rest assured your taste buds will be tantalised with dozens of spices in the Nyonya dishes.Â
offers one of a kind surreal experience that no where else could give. With a tagline "When Francis Meets Rempah", rest assured your taste buds will be tantalised with dozens of spices in the Nyonya dishes.Â
Kota Dine & Coffee is launching a new menu in April 2018 - Chef's Hidang Style for 2Â that comes with an appetizer, 6 main dishes and served with blue pea flower rice. Priced at RM 98 per set, an one day advance booking is required.
Thanks to Kota Dina & Coffee for extending the invitation.
Chef's Hidang Set is an extensive range of main dishes with Nyonya traits, served on the vintage blue Nyonya porcelain plates to further enhance the dining ambiance. Start with the refreshing Green Papaya Kerabu to give your oral environment a thorough cleansing.
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| Broccoli lobster soup |
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| Asam Fish |
The heavyweight of the Chef's Hidang Menu included Broccoli Lobster Soup, Grilled Chicken with Special Sambal, Asam Fish, and Sambal Belacan Kangkong that give a complete taste portfolio by complementing each others well.
Begin with the Broccoli Lobster Soup to warm up your stomach first. Served with fresh baby lobster in greenish broccoli soup, it gives a twist to the tongue that yields both seafood freshness and fibrous scent at the same moment. Then, Asam Fish which are flavoured by tamarind sauce and turmeric that offers a slight pleasant tangy sensation should satiate your daily protein needs.
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| Grilled chicken with special sambal |
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| Sambal Belacan Kangkong |
Grilled Chicken with Special Sambal is one of our favourite dish in the Chef's Hidang Set. The perfect grilling rendered a soft and tender texture to the chicken meat, then topped with special soy glazed chili sauce that gives a tad of sweetness along with the slight hot sensation, tickling the taste buds for a true enjoyment.
The menu also includes a local delight - Sambal Belacan Kangkong that remains Malaysians' all time favorite dish.
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| Otak Otak Puff |
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| Blue Pea Flower Rice |
Not to forget the classic Nyonya dish, Otak otak which has underwent a tweaked version by storing the Baramundi mixed with spices in the puff pastry.Â
Although we were overwhelmed with variety of the dishes and our stomach was almost beyond its limit to store anymore food, the blue pea flower rice served to be eaten along with the dishes are too good to be resisted. Rice is fragrant on its own, and the addition of coconut milk gives it a sleek milky texture.Â
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| Otak otak burger (RM 23), Udang Galah Burger (RM 38), Roti Sambal udang kering (RM 18) |
If you prefer a quick fix of stomach when visiting Fort Cornwallis, give these Nyonya style burgers a try and rest assured you will not be disappointed. There are 3 variants of burgers with different fillings, namely Otak-otak burger, Udang Galah Burger and Roti Sambal Udang Kering.Â
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| Ondeh ondeh cake (RM 19) |
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| Bubur cha-cha cake (RM 19) |
One thing that you should not miss out in Kota Dine and Coffee is their desserts! They are unique and can be found no where else with the Nyonya traits stored within. Bubur cha-cha cake (RM 19) is a masterpiece of creation, converting well the traditional bubur cha cha soup into a solid cake form, yet delivering its quintessential taste.Â
Ondeh-ondeh cake (RM 19) on the other hand, is creamy and rich in taste, and soft in texture that is soothing for someone who has a sweet tooh.
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| Dancing Goat Coffee (RM 15) |
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| Signature Kota Flavour Drink (RM 16) |
We thought their Dancing Goat Coffee (RM 15), a hand dripped coffee using coffee beans from Congo and Ethiopia is nice, while Signature Kota Flavour Drink (RM 16) which is made using lemon grass, calamasi, mint, chilli, sprite and ginger buds gives a very refreshing taste, particularly suitable to cool down our body during the scorching hot weather.Â
Overall, Kota Dine & Coffee is a place worthy of visit for a semi-fine dining in the town, regardless whether you are a true Penangite or tourist to embark for a reward for your gastronomy journey!Â
Kota Dine & CoffeeÂ
X Fort Cornwallis
X Fort Cornwallis
Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, Pulau Pinang
+604-371 4929
Operation hours: 10.30 am - 10.30 pm
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Check out Shirleen & Ee Pin's Instagram for more beautiful photos we have taken.
Check out Shirleen & Ee Pin's Instagram for more beautiful photos we have taken.
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