Would you believe that I've never been to The Ship Restaurant at Shaw Centre? I've hopped into Shashlik, but not The Ship. Shashlik serves baked ikan kurau! They're in the same category of those Chinese-Western old school restaurants that your parents (if you're at least in the late 20s) might have gone dating at. These two restaurants have been around for 2 decades!
My team rustled up a last-minute date among all the horribly busy schedules and hustled me off to lunch at The Ship Restaurant. What an awesome suggestion. It's a place I've always wanted to try, had the audacity to recommend it to some friends to take their parents to, but never actually stepped in. What a thrill! They said it wasn't my usual atas dinner venues, but hoped I'd like it all the same. I did! I do! That's the thrill in a group makan- middle ground.
Oh my gawwd! The Ship's decor is absolutely tacky, but it's such a scream. It's like stepping back into time, and so very kitschy-fun. The rib-eye steaks were quite passable. There were the 'famous' escargots that the intarwebs raved about. They were alright. The butter used wasn't ideal, so the full fragrance of the dish was buried under all that strange oil. The escargots were ummm....shrivelled :P But it would do. The most horrible dish of all was the dessert of one fried banana with dunno what yellow sticky gravy splattered on top. They used unripe bananas that aren't pisang raja. And for a fried banana, it came stone cold. EIOOOW.
They told me to order the beehoon soup with fried fish slices. I didn't even bother glancing at the menu, and did accordingly. My goodness, that bowl of soup was not overly salty, well flavored and lovingly boiled. Those crispy slices of fish served on the side were crunchy, yet moist and unexpectedly delicious. I'm quite sure it's better than any of those served at overpriced local hotel cafes.
I was pleased as punch with a good meal and sitting down with a team I love, talking about nothing and everything under the sun, trading tales about Sri Lanka and home renovations. Ah...happiness on a rainy afternoon. Even quirkier, we spied our (ex)Boss taking a time-out at lunch and wandering around the mall with his wife. Heh. We called him up to tease him.
How could I have waited so long to come try the food at The Ship? I LOVE THIS FISH SLICE BEEHOON SOUP. I'm coming back, ONLY for this dish.
15 comments:
As a kid, I loved the Ship! Loved the fried rice and the decor. A new one opened at Nex - unfortunately I probably can't eat anything there now!
dawn: there is a new one at Nex? What doesn't Nex have? I still haven't gone exploring there! good point. I wouldn't dare to ask the cooks in the kitchen to do anything off the menu. they might smack me with the skillet. but surely they can do a vegetarian fried rice?
Is this The Ship that owns several subsidiary branches over KL and Penang? I firstly doubted about it, but when u uttered about the famous escargots, I am more firm now. :)
I've heard much good things about their fish noodle shop. I don't like fish noodle but I've been wanting to visit The Ship. Like Shashlik, I like these old school restaurants. Hmm imp... you eat escargots?
There is The Ship close to where I live. They are known for their steaks, but I thought it was so-so. Not sure if it's the same chain as the one in Sg, but the ones here, tacky decor as well! LOL!
years ago i always go to the international plaza branch, and people thought it was atas already. so i tried making my visits discreet. heehee!
i eat lobster wor! rofl!!
Somehow I doubt it :)
@ tuti - the ship was atas back then for ang moh cafes outside of hotels lor haha.
imp - i haven't been to the ship @ shaw centre in a very long time. looks like the menu has changed totally!
Yes! The fish beehoon is the only thing I eat there. You are giving me a craving now!
Yup, they opened a branch in Nex. Same tacky decor, and the fish beehoon wasn't as good. Fish was overcooked, soup flavour somewhat loses to the Shaw one. It could be teething problems?
celcilia + jo : I dunno if they're the same! Anyone knows? But my first memory of The Ship was in KL!
sinlady: + tuti: definitely atas back then. For our generation, it's Ponderosa. Same thing like Jack's Place or even Sizzler's.
ice: that soup and fish are good. I was quite surprised! it's also good that they separate the fish and beehoon soup. fish on the side. so can still try and pick off someone's plate. Yup! I eat escargots!
hobomobo: new branch=new chefs. it's always the chefs who make or break a dish. maybe they washed the pot too clean. weekend! or for weekday lunch. call and book. GO!
I was just thinking about eating at the Ship tonight!
And surprisingly of all the time I ate there, I've never tried the Fried Fish Beehoon before.
Where have I been?
heard so much about this place.....I need to try it soon :)
pinkclothmicrophone: same place as i was! under a rock! i didn't know anything!
bookjunkie: it's fairly interesting! go try.
I absolutely love the fish noodles at the Ship and will purposely head on down there just to have the noodles!! YUMS!!!! Better late than never right? ;p
joannesim: YEA! And I've got to try that lychee martini cake.
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