The Spicy Mussels were a hit.
When you are invited to a tasting at what is claimed to be “the best steakhouse in town”, you don’t hesitate! Family-owned restaurant Maria’s SteakCafe started out as a successful pies and pastries cafe in Ipoh.
Perak, 20 years ago. It ventured into the steak business in 2014 due to popular demand. Today, they have expanded to four outlets in the Klang Valley, alongside their original Ipoh outlet.
The newest Maria’s SteakCafe outpost at 1Powerhouse Bandar Utama is large, bright and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows on one wall offering sweeping vistas of the Bandar Utama suburb.
In the evening, the view would probably be softer and more romantic, showcasing the twinkling bright lights of Petaling Jaya city.
Sizzling Wagyu MB7 Porterhouse is a signature at Maria’s SteakCafe. — Photos: SUE YAP and PATSY KAM
Lunch kicked off with an appetiser – N.Z Spicy Mussels (RM25) – a favourite at the table.
Large, plump and juicy, the mussels were cooked in a tomato-based sauce that was piquant without being overly spicy.
The chunky sauce went well with the garlic bread served on the side.
We also had Caesar’s Salad (RM15) and Apple & Kale Yogurt Salad (RM28).
The lettuce was crisp and fresh, and the beef bacon, croutons and parmesan cheese slices were plentiful in the Caesar’s Salad. I found it tasty enough, albeit uninspiring.
Australian Grassfed Tenderloin for one person.
The kale salad was fresh and the apple sticks sweet and tart, accompanied by a creamy Greek yogurt dressing on the side. It’s an acquired taste though, as the green taste of the kale was rather strong.
I’m not a fan of yogurt-based dressing, but my lunch mates enjoyed this so it’s a matter of personal preference.
The signature Sizzling Wagyu MB7 Porterhouse (RM100++/100g) arrived sizzling away on a large hot plate, sliced for easy sharing.
Tiramisu in a cup.
The steak was done medium-rare, and was the perfect doneness, especially for a piece of meat that size (about 700g).
The surface was well-seared with a nice crust, and the inside was still pink and tender. A porterhouse steak is also dubbed “king of steaks” as it offers a decadent composite of tenderloin and top loin cuts.
Kale and Apple Salad with yogurt dressing.
he porterhouse steak was just simply grilled with butter, the best way to enjoy a good cut of meat.
The tenderloin part was very tender. However, the other side required a bit of chewing which was par for course for these cuts of meat.
It all depends on the cut you prefer, though I suspect it would be hard to resist a buttery soft tenderloin! It comes in a large portion and is meant to be shared, unless you have a very healthy appetite!
The Seafood Aglio Olio was scrumptious.
There were also NZ Baby Cutlets (RM108 – three pieces), served with grilled vegetables, roast potatoes and mint sauce. Though I’m not really into lamb,
I found these cutlets very tender and grilled to perfection without the usual gamey flavour associated with lamb.
The Seafood Aglio Olio pasta (RM26) was another crowd-pleaser.
The portion was generous and the pasta well-seasoned and garlicky, without being overly spicy, so it was very enjoyable.
The seafood was lightly cooked and abundant. While it seemed counterintuitive to order a pasta dish in a steak restaurant, this makes an excellent choice for those who need their dose of carbs.
Cocktails are available at Maria's SteakCafe.
We also tried a single portion of the Australian Grassfed Tenderloin (RM148). Served with a salad on the side and some sauce you can pour over yourself.
The steak was adequately seared, a well-seasoned piece of meat that held its own. Having this alongside the Porterhouse Wagyu showed the difference in taste and flavour.
Dessert was their signature Tiramisu (RM20) and a slice of Prune Cake (RM12).
The Tiramisu was sweet and creamy, but I personally found it a little too wet for my liking.
The Prune Cake, however, was a very pleasant surprise.
While it didn’t look exciting, it turned out light and fluffy, naturally sweetened with the light fruity taste of dried prunes. Not too rich, this rounded off the meal nicely.
It was my first time dining at Maria’s SteakCafe and while I’m no steak connoisseur, it was clear that they handle steaks well.
Given the attractive prices, this is a good place to go for celebrations or a fancy treat. Some set menus are also available for lunch.
Maria’s SteakCafe1Powerhouse, L-30 (Skyforest),
No1, Persiaran Bandar Utama
Bandar Utama
Petaling Jaya
Tel: 016-902 0490
Opening hoursDaily: 12pm to 11pm
