Aliyaa Restaurant & Bar

This is yet another long over-due post. Yes, I haven't touched this blog for almost a month now :( I was busy the whole month at work, rushing for the User Acceptance Test (UAT) phase of the project, which is my team's peak period. Now that it's over & "Go-Live" is coming mid of this month, I sure hope that I'll find time for some blogging! I miss this enjoyable hobby, especially the part where I get to go around to try out different food, snap photos, write about it & meet new/old friends along the way...ah, I miss!

*****
Venue: ALiYaa Island Restaurant & Bar, Damansara Heights
Occasion: Farewell lunch for Chloe
Overall comment: Nice place for a decent Sri Lankan meal. It's not terribly expensive as the food tastes pretty good. Portion is acceptable as well although it does feel a little small. Their set lunch is quite worth having since you pay RM17++ - RM25++ for a 4-course set lunch consisting of a drink, main course, dessert, & coffee/tea. Oh yes, ALiYaa has a cosy bar as well :)
Halal: Pork-free (alcohol is served)

I've been working in Damansara Heights for the past 6 months, but I've never stepped foot into ALiYaa 'til today. I never knew of restaurants in this area as well! *shame* I've been so lazy to explore for "new" food places that I've never to since I started my new job. Without a doubt, I've been busier, & I've been rushing through life (in the office itself) to the extend that at times, I forget to enjoy this blessed life! Bummer.Balancing work & outta-office life gets more challenging each day. Anyway, so there I was at ALiYaa's today.

What kind of place is ALiYaa?
A fun place to eat, drink and be merry.


Savour authentic Ceylon Island cuisine located in a beautifully converted bungalow amidst the lush green lung of Damansara Heights. Aliyaa's Chef Prashant Weediyage creates uniquely spiced dishes that tantalize your taste buds and senses.


Explore Aliyaa's delicious Sri Lankan tapas and feast on rare Sri Lankan crabs.
(information taken from their FB page)

ALiYaa means – “elephant” in Singhalese. Situated amidst a housing cum office area at the "high-class" Damansara Heights, this double-storey bungalow convert offers quite an impressive array of food & drinks. This place began business since the year 2007, if I'm not mistaken. Food prices are slightly above average, but reasonable enough to not burn a terrible hole in your pocket, & yet allow you to enjoy your well-prepared Sri Lankan food. You'll also find some Western & local/Asian food available at this restaurant, so everyone could find something that they prefer when dining here.

Ala carte & set lunch menu (quite extensive choices available)

When I'm at a "new" restaurant without much crowd, I'll end up exploring the place like a mouse...

Interior of the restaurant

The bar (comes alive at night!)

I found this interesting: Saxophone Beer Dispenser *nice!*

For a person who doesn't drink, yes, it looks "interesting". It's not very common, yet I doubt it amuses those who drink as much as it amuses me...

Back of the restaurant

Going up...

The stairs are really old & erm...dirty...? Well, it didn't look very "well maintained" to me. It could do with some simple painting or renovation....

Frames adorn the whole restaurant

"Buffet spread"?

I reckon this place comes to life only at nights. Looks party-ish/private function-ish (hmm...seems like a good place for private functions)

Mini Bar

"Outdoor" dining area

Going down (again)...

Colleagues :) Enjoy your new job, Chloe!

Here's what we had in the set lunches:

1. Drink of the day: Sprite + Juice

2. Main Course: Galle Face Special (RM17.00/serving)

It's basically Colombian-style fried rice served with stir-fried SPICY lamb, potatoes, & some salad. The fried rice is quite spicy & has the fragrance of "assam skin". I found the lamb dish too spicy for my liking that my lips & tongue were on fire! It was so spicy that my tongue went numb :S

Kandy Special (RM19.00/serving)

This is very special. It's actually not rice/noodles, but something like chopped pratha, fried just like our "char kuey teow". The meal comes with a deep fried spiced chicken thigh, some dipping (spicy), & potatoes.

Portuguese Fish (RM19.00/serving)

If you want something light not so "meaty", this dish is pretty good. It's quite spicy though, especially if you're not a fan of spicy food! My friends were downing glasses of water & were just so emotional over this plate of fish & rice *lol*

3. Dessert of the day: Caramel+Brown sugar pudding

If you're a diabetic, you'll die on the spot...I kid you not!

The last item for the set lunch is a cup of hot coffee/tea. Nothing much to shout about, so I didn't even bother taking any photos of those. Haha. I was quite full after completing the entire set. Thank goodness the portion wasn't too big. It's good enough for lunch on a work day! We were a little sleepy after the meal though, but there's no escape from work! *eek*

Map to ALiYaa (taken from Aliyaa's website)

Will I pop by ALiYaa's again? Hmm...I won't really mind. I still feel that I haven't tasted the authentic Sri Lankan dishes that ALiYaa offers e.g. Sri Lankan Crab Curry, & ALiYaa's specialty like the ALiYaa Pittu & Mutton Paal Poriyal. I need to explore this area!

ALiYaa Island Restaurant & Bar
8, Lorong Dungun
Bukit Damansara
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia.
Tel: (+603) 2092 5378
Fax: (+603) 2092 5371
Email: info@aliyaa.com
URL: www.aliyaa.com
Business hours: 12:00p.m. - 1:00a.m. daily



Ratings:
Presentation: * * *
Price: * * *
Environment: * * *
Taste: * * *
Service: * * *


Overall:

Bibir & lidahku berapi,