A Spanish restaurant that feels more like someone’s home
Herbs is an intimate little place serving home-style Spanish dishes. The colourful, mismatched plates and the open kitchen made it feel like I was eating at the home of a local with a standing invitation for all the neighbours to come for a meal.
Ambience & Amenities
The restaurant is in the commercial row between Mont Kiara Bayu and Aman condominiums. Herbs is a tiny restaurant. They’ve added a few more tables on the uncovered “patio,” but the high wall prevents a view of anything. The space fills up quickly with only about a dozen tables, so you should make a reservation even on a random Tuesday. The vibe is a little rustic for fine dining, but that also means guests can dress super casual without feeling out of place.
The hidden toilet is down the alley next to the restaurant on the right side. It’s a single room shared with guests from So Moreish, so there might be a queue. The washroom was clean and had all the essentials.
Menu at Herbs
Herbs’ menu is focused. The cuisine leans Spanish, which is apparent on the seasonal menu. They also have special themed menus for holidays like Christmas that you can check out by sending them a WhatsApp. There’s not much to drink unless you intend to order wine, for which there is an extensive book of options. Filtered water is free, but it’s a small glass. We had to call for refills regularly.
Click on menu pictures to enlarge
Food at Herbs
The first thing to arrive was a bowl of wholemeal bread and chopped tomatoes, free of charge. We ordered a Pickles Platter (RM12) for something to nosh during what was going to be a long, multi-course meal. Nothing fancy on the plate: green olives, black olives, pickles, pickled onions, roasted bell peppers and pickled green chillies, possibly jalapeno or poblano.
The Braised Beef Balls in Red Wine (RM26) was my favourite dish out of our meal. The sauvignon sauce brought so much umami, and the beef was juicy. Yet, the meatballs didn’t crumble into a mess when I cut them into quarters. The buttery mashed potatoes were a delicious palate cleanser for the rich, salty beef balls.
The Estofado de Carne con Vino Tinto (RM43) is off Herbs’ seasonal menu. Judging from how worn the menu pages were, I think the special menu has been around for a long while. This is beef stew but elevated. There are hearty chunks of beef brisket and root vegetables in an appropriate amount of broth without being too soupy.
The Confit de Pato Pina en Salsa de Maracuya (RM53.00) takes some bone gnawing to get all the delicious meat. The soft duck meat contrasting with the crispy skin was divine. Even though I hate passion fruit, the flavour worked surprisingly well as a sauce with the duck.
We splurged on a bottle of Pago de Tharsys (RM178), a Spanish red wine from Bobal grapes. We finished our meal with a Herbs Cheesecake (RM19) off the seasonal menu. It had a silky smooth texture and a creamy vanilla flavour with a citrusy finish. Although the menu described it as such, there was no rosemary flavour, just a garnish. Nonetheless, it was a perfect clean ending to our dinner.
Saturday Worthy?
Herbs offers a taste of Spain that is way more authentic than the pretentious El Meson at 163 Retail Park. It’s a bit pricey for a regular night out, but we’ll be back here for a special occasion. The food was great and something different, and the service was notable. All of the staff were super friendly in that neighbourly sort of way. Even though it was our first time here, they made us feel like regulars.
Price for 2 Pax: RM331.00
Pickles Platter: RM12.00
Braised Beef Balls in Red Wine: RM26.00
Estofado de Carne con Vino Tinto: RM43.00
Confit de Pato Pina en Salsa de Maracuya: RM53.00
Pago de Tharsys Bobal: RM178.00
Herbs Cheesecake: RM19.00
Herbs
Address: C-0G-03A (past W Traditional Thai), Aman Walk, Jalan Kiara 2, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm & 5pm – 10pm Tuesday to Sunday Closed on Monday
Alcohol Served: Yes
