Christmas always gives the feeling of cold on the outside but warm on the inside. In other words, it might be cold as it is snowing heavily outside but the house is warm due to the warmth from the fireplace or happiness. I love this kind of feeling which no matter how bad is the world outside, you still have a warm and happy family to be spend time with.
Anyway, this will only be a dream in Penang as our weather is always hot and humid, if not raining or hazy. The only way to find a cooler weather in Penang although you don’t even need a sweater is up to the highest point in Penang which is the Penang hill. Therefore, having a magnificent dinner in a cosy and chilling ambience is a perfect place to spend this festive season. The highest bungalow in Penang – David Brown’s Restaurant is the perfect place where you can enjoy natural cool air while savouring delightful western cuisine.
During this festive season, David Brown’s Restaurant is having 2 types of Christmas Menu. The price is RM98++ and also RM188++.
Christmas Menu RM98++/pax
Appetizer
Soft shell crab salad / Sesame dressing.
The soft shell crab was deep fried and served with some fresh greens and sesame dressing.
Soup
Chicken & Corn Soup.
The soup was thick and creamy with a strong scent of corn which tasted sweet but it was just right.
Main Course
David’s Roast Poulet / Roasted herbs potato / steam vegetable / gravy.
The gravy was a little bit spicy with a curry-like texture. However, this “east meets west” dish blended very well with the quarter chicken and tasted unique.
Or:
Pan seared grouper / potato croquette / steam vegetable / wasabi mayo.
This is a healthier option compared to the previous Roast Poulet. Grouper was used in this dish and it was pan-fried till perfection. This is the first time I encountered wasabi mayo. Those who could not take hot will be surprised by its strong burning sensation. However, don’t be afraid as only a minimum amount of wasabi was used to mix with mayo. The potato croquette was the only deep-fried item so it balanced up the whole dish.
Or
Herb crusted rack of lamb / potato fondant /steam vegetable / lamb jus
This is the only red meat that they have on the Christmas Menu. The meat was perfectly medium-cooked and coated with herbs crust. The juice extracted from the lamb was packed with flavour. This is a thumbs-up dish for me.
Dessert
Chocolate brownie / caffe vergnano 1882 espresso chocolate ice cream
The chocolate brownie was rich in chocolate taste and was not too sweet. It had the melt-in-the-mouth texture and together with the espresso chocolate ice cream, it was a perfect match.
Tea or coffee with Christmas Cookies.
This is not your standard brewed coffee but instead using Italian roasted beans. It was thick and aromatic and served with a piece of Christmas Cookie.
Christmas Menu RM188++ / pax
Amuse Bouche
Turkey croquette / sriracha mayonnaise.
A mixture of turkey meat with a slightly spicy of mayonnaise filling. It was crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. It was a delightful starter.
Appetizer
Arugula salad / smoked beef bacon / tempura oyster mushroom / toast hazelnut / balsamic reduction vinaigrette
A freshly prepared salad with balsamic reduction vinaigrette. Also serving together with the greens were smoked beef bacon, tempura oyster mushroom and toasted hazelnuts. This dish had a combination of crunchy and soft texture and it had a refreshing taste probably due to its tangy salad dressing.
Soup
Chicken veloute / poached breast / eryngii mushroom / chive.
Served in a typical fine-dining soup bowl, the texture of the soup was slightly thick and packed with chicken essence. In the soup you can find slices of poached breast and eryngii mushroom, then topped with chives. It was a delicately prepared soup with full of goodness in it.
Main Course
Traditional roast turkey breast / roasted herb potato / broccoli / purified apple chutney / turkey jus
How can Christmas be complete without having some turkey? Be it whole turkey or turkey breast, it seems to be a tradition to have some turkey on Christmas. In David Brown’s, you can select their traditional roast turkey breast complete with roasted herb potato and broccoli. This is another healthier option for those looking for less deep-fried or less oily food. There were 2 types of sauce, one is the purified apple chutney to be taken with the sides whereas the turkey jus was of course best to be taken with the turkey breast.
Or:
Pan seared Norwegian salmon / scallop / spear asparagus / tomato tartar / chive potato cream / lime hollandaise
Fish lovers will be thrilled to know that Norwegian salmon is on the menu as another option for the main. Not only that, you can find a piece of scallop and spear asparagus to be served in chive potato cream and lime hollandaise sauce.
Or:
Pan roasted rack of lamb / glazed onion / confit cherry tomato / braised lamb pie / balsamic lamb jus
This is another roasted lamb which was perfectly prepared with a piece of braised lamb pie. The pie was something very unique which is a must-try if you had the chance.
Pre dessert
Ginger lime granita
This tasted a bit like a Thai dessert with ginger and lime flavoured ice. Nothing special about this dessert.
Dessert
Chocolate mousse cake / caramelized banana / coconut gelee / Caramel pop corn / berries
The chocolate mousse cake was rich in chocolate taste and soft in texture, then beneath the cake was a slice of caramelized banana. However, I felt the combination of the cake with popcorns was awkward. Other than that, the coconut gelee is another highlight of this dessert although the texture could be softer. On the side were some berries such as strawberries, blueberries, and grapes.
Tea of coffee with Christmas Cookies
Just like the RM98++ set, this RM188++ set also comes with tea or coffee with Christmas cookie for you to end the meal with.
The magnificent view of Georgetown from the garden of David Brown’s.
Christmas decoration has been up to greet the patrons.
80% of the Christmas decoration consisted of recycled materials, which is something to be proud of.
This is really a good idea of using recycled materials instead of spending money to set up the decoration.
Overall, the Christmas menu is worth to try on this special occasion. Everyone wishes to have a great meal on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day. They serve some really healthy food options unlike the standard deep-fried food. The prices are a bit steep but again, it is a special occasion to celebrate especially on the top of Penang Hill. The downside is the waiting time to board the funicular train will be very long especially during this holiday season.
Editor’s Review (5 Stars Rank):
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Quick Facts:
| Family Friendly |  |
| Parking | |
| Pork Free | |
| Alcohol | |
| Credit Card | |
| Smoking | |
| Reservation | |
| Private Room |  |
| WIFI Available | |
Operation hours: 11:00pm – 3:00pm lunch, 3:00pm – 6:00pm afternoon tea, 6:00pm – 10:00pm dinner (7 days a week)
Contact: 04-828 8337
Address:Lot 400, MK 17, Daerah Bart Daya, Strawberry Hill, Bukit Bendera, 11300 Ayer Itam, Penang
GPS: 5° 42′ 88.46″ N, 100° 26′ 96.42″ E