BY CK LAM

Things are getting interesting with the great discovery of Uncle Zack By-The-Beach, a gorgeous dining place where you can enjoy meals and drinks whilst admiring the panoramic view of the sea. This newly done up place, with a mixed clientele of tourist and locals alike, is PARKROYAL Penang’s Cool Bananas’ newest extension.

We arrived there earlier before dinner time which starts at 7pm to bask in the warmth sunset. The sunset is spectacular; the continuous changing pastels of colors of the skyline on the horizon are just simply breathtaking.

As the sky darkens, old fashioned electric lamps and small oil lamps light up the dining area and the pathways. The rustic look of the oil lamps charm up the place and create a warm and lovely ambience.

We chose several shareable plates from the varied menu. Starting of the meal was the Tapas Platter which was presented in tapas style plates. There was so much to sample in the Tapas Platter as it comes with nine great varieties, with seafood, meat and vegetable. Tempting spicy bites such as Satay (with spicy sauce), Beef Rendang, Prawn Sambal and Fish Curry are served together with Crispy Calamari, Bruschetta, Roasted Vegetables, Smoked Salmon Tartar and Spring Rolls.

The platter is a great way to kick off the meal! Some of the varieties were unusual, but really delicious and tempting, matching well with the Chef’s Selection Trio of Dips. The harissa yoghurt, guacamole and hummus are great accompaniments.

The Char Grilled T-Bone Steak marinated with Italian herbs in olive oil was grilled to perfection, exactly the medium rare which we asked for and with real depth of robust flavor. The enormous 400 gm piece of meat was served with baked potato in foil, tomato, ratatouille and corn with onion sauce (served separately).

The meat with a chargrilled aroma was soft and moist. It was absolutely delicious paring the juicy meat with the additional flavor from the onion sauce.

The Slow Roasted Beef Ribs was caramelized in the famous hickory BBQ sauce. The huge portion of rib (800gm) was perfectly cooked with the meat partially falling off the bone. The pieces of ribs went perfectly well with the sweetness and creaminess of the skin-on potato wedges and the coleslaw.

It remains a signature dish for Uncle Zack’s till this very day! This plate of Slow Roasted Beef Ribs was indeed satisfying, especially for those with the lust for ribs.

The Pan Fried Barramundi Fillet was served with baby boiled potato, seasoned spinach, grilled tomato and citrus butter sauce. The boneless fillet was excellent, lightly sautéed in extra virgin olive oil and tasted good with the citrus butter sauce.

Apart from the fish fillet, there was a delightful seafood dish. The PARKROYAL Fisherman’s Seafood Basket was piled high with steamed crab, prawn, slipper lobster, mussels, scallops, baked fish and cone-shaped rice. The fresh seafood was served together with the chef’s special dipping sauce. It was interesting paring the seafood with the six different dips. Each of the dip is unique in its own way; and it was a unique experience complementing the seafood with some Worchester sauce! There was even a refreshing local touch to the seafood platter, with rice being served instead of chips!

The delicious meal was accompanied with refreshing beverages! The Mojito is an amazing drink, loaded with a mixture of light rum, cane sugar, soda water with lime wedges and fresh mint sprigs. All the cooling and refreshing drinks come in big servings, where one is able to keep you going through out your meal. Even the coffee is served in a large 350ml cup!

After the delicious meal, we just relaxed and lingered on with our drinks, gazing out to the sea enjoying the pleasant outdoor atmosphere with the sea breeze wafting through. With the beach steps away, Uncle Zack By-The-Beach is an excellent place for a quiet family dinner or for a romantic meal for two!

Uncle Zack By-The-Beach limits its business hours to dinner only, from 7pm till 11pm daily.

Uncle Zack By-The-Beach
Parkroyal Penang
Batu Ferringhi Beach
11100 Penang
Malaysia

Tel : 04 8862288 ext: 8207

Written by CK Lam, food blogger and editor of http://www.what2seeonline.com ; featuring the Best of Penang Food. She constantly combs Penang for the best gastronomical delights and loves promoting Penang Cuisines, Culture and Heritage.