Experiencing a MICHELIN restaurant is always a memorable treat, savoured with great enthusiasm. However, because a meal at a MICHELIN restaurant is often associated with a substantial price tag, dining at such esteemed establishments is often reserved for special occasions or important events.
However, there's a clever way to bypass the above average dinner price tag. How, you ask? Opt for the lunch menus and business set lunches instead.
With the more accessible price point, guests can have a foretaste of what the restaurants offer. And, if there are special business colleagues or associates in town, it's also a great way to make a lasting impression. Make a lunch booking from any of the MICHELIN restaurants below and immerse in a delightful lunch experience for under MYR248 (or USD53).
Photo: Bref by Darren Chin
Bref by Darren Chin
MICHELIN Selected, MICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2023Price: MYR168++ for the 3-course lunch menu
Address: 26, GF, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, 60000, Malaysia
Cuisine: French Contemporary
The name "Bref" is French for "brief," reflecting the restaurant's vision of focusing on concise, impactful, and thoughtfully crafted dishes that leave a lasting impression. Bref's menu often evolves with the seasons and the availability of good quality ingredients that are sourced globally.
Bref's chef-patron, Lim Wei Han, works hard at pushing the bounds of creativity, while maintaining the classic essence of French dishes. Guests can choose from starters and mains from the three-course executive lunch set. Starters include a dish of creamy Jerusalem artichokes with black truffle; and a medley of six different mushrooms prepared with varying cooking techniques, served with ricotta cream and chive oil.
Mains comprise a selection of sea bream with whey and fermented cherry tomato sauce, leek fondue, and charred asparagus; duck leg fricassee with potato pavé, forestière mushrooms, and mustard cream; or X.O. cappellini with grilled tiger prawn, X.O. cream, and aged ponzu.
This MYR168++ executive lunch set comes with a drink and a set of sourdough bread with warm artichoke and spinach dip, Grana Padano, pizzutello tomato, and onion jam.
Book your table at Bref by Darren Chin via our restaurant page here.
Photo: Cilantro
Cilantro
MICHELIN Selected, MICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2023Price: MYR120 to MYR248 nett
Address: MiCasa All Suite Hotel, 368-B Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, 50400, Malaysia
Cuisine: French Contemporary
Helmed by executive chef Takashi Kimura, Cilantro's menu showcases a harmonious blend of French culinary techniques accentuated with Japanese precision, emphasising seasonal ingredients from around the world to craft innovative and visually stunning dishes. Cilantro has since earned its reputation as one of Kuala Lumpur's longest-serving fine dining restaurants with its elegant ambience, attentive service, and a menu that changes along with the seasons.
The L'Atelier Lunch, priced at MYR120 nett for a 2-course meal and MYR150 nett for a 3-course meal, is available from Tuesdays to Thursdays and weekends. This menu, inspired by the essence of a French bistro in Paris, features classics such as escargots de bourgogne, confit de canard, coq au vin, and Crêpes Suzette.
The executive Friday lunch menu, on the other hand, is a more opulent event. Priced at MYR248 nett and changes weekly, this menu features top-notch seasonal food based on availability and gives guests a taste of Kimura's hallmark dishes without breaking the bank. Previous dishes featured include roasted sable fish with squid and harissa; chargrilled Black Angus with Bourguignonne sauce; cold capellini with Hokkaido fresh ikura; and caramelised white chocolate mousse with apple sorbet for dessert.
Book your table at Cilantro via our restaurant page here.
Photo: Skillet
Skillet
MICHELIN SelectedPrice: MYR148++ for the 3-course lunch menu; MYR168++ for the 4-course lunch menu
Address: Lot 1, GF, Cormar Suites, 10 Jalan Perak, Kuala Lumpur, 50450, Malaysia
Cuisine: European Contemporary
Under the leadership of chef-patron Raymond Tham, Skillet has earned a well-deserved reputation for its creative and contemporary approach to classic European fare infused with contemporary flavour profiles.
Skillet’s lunch menu is priced at MYR148++ for a 3-course meal and MYR168++ for a 4-course meal. Guests are spoilt for choice with generous dish options. The appetisers feature spinach velouté with duck bacon, Parmigiano Reggiano, spinach, and broccoli; and Japanese Miyagi oyster inspired by the refreshing mocktail of Lemon Fizz, served with lemon granita and elderflower, for a floral note.
Mains include seafood such as charcoal-grilled halibut, prawn, and squid with rice cake cooked in fermented tomato jam and crab sauce; chicken roulade of confit leek, sweet pea, and Soubise (French onion) sauce; and Wagyu beef short-ribs served with pommes de terre.
A decadent selection of desserts awaits, like strawberry and rose with mascarpone and pink peppercorns; and banana flavoured dolce de leche with condensed milk and whipped cream that is fermented for five days to add a depth of flavour. Indulgent supplemental items such as Japanese Wagyu striploin, lumpfish caviar, and grilled lobster tail are also available, along with vegetarian options.
Book your table at Skillet via our restaurant page here.
Photo: Soleil
Soleil
MICHELIN SelectedPrice: MYR35++ to MYR100++
Address: Lot-13A &15, 2F, Damansara City Mall, 6 Jalan Damanlela, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, 50490, Malaysia
Cuisine: European Contemporary
Soleil has long been known for its varied menu featuring contemporary European gastronomy with trans-continental influences. The kitchen is led by chef Evert Onderbeke, whose forte fuses European cuisine with Asian overtures to create a world of new flavours.
The lunch menu at Soleil has an option of either a 2-course meal at MYR80++ or a 3-course meal at MYR100++. Selections include classics like escargots de bourgogne; braised lamb shank with Mediterranean couscous; and modern Asian dishes such as Japanese-style seafood croquettes served with tartare sauce; and slow-cooked red snapper with a hazelnut-parmesan crust, served with Spanish chickpeas and Shaoxing butter sauce.
There is also the express set lunch available at MYR35++ with options that include slow-cooked spring chicken, angel hair vongole, or a vegetarian option of potato gnocchi. Dishes in this lunch set come with a choice of house salad or soup.
Book your table at Soleil via our restaurant page here.
Photo: The Brasserie
The Brasserie
MICHELIN SelectedPrice: MYR198++ for the 3-course lunch menu
Address: 2F, The St. Regis, 6 Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, 50470, Malaysia
Cuisine: French Contemporary
Situated inside a luxury hotel, MICHELIN-selected The Brasserie is reminiscent of a refined French café with a welcoming atmosphere; and its executive chef, Keith Hooker, has over two decades of experience working across Europe and Asia.
The menu is modern French with Mediterranean and Asian influences, with all-day dining options starting from breakfast onwards. The Executive Business Lunch set menu is priced at MYR198++ for a 3-course meal and offers dishes from timeless classics to contemporary interpretations alongside the finest produce.
The menu changes frequently based on seasonality and availability of produce. With vegetarian options on every course, choices for starters include prawn and avocado tartare with mango gazpacho and coriander oil; pickled cherry tomato with cucumber pearls; and cheese mousse. Mains feature wild ocean trout served with soy milk fish velouté, romanesco florets, and compressed cucumber; and salt marsh lamb rump with chickpea panisse, heirloom cherry tomato, and lamb ragout. End the lunch on a high note with an indulgent cheese platter or a decadent dessert of vanilla panna cotta with chocolate sponge with cacao nibs.
Book your table at The Brasserie via our restaurant page here.
Header image by Cilantro
