It was with a sigh of relief when we noticed that Soleil, a modern European restaurant in Damansara City Mall, survived the difficult covid times and we decided to revisit.
The fine dining establishment opened its current flagship outlet in DC Mall in 2017 and has been going strong ever since. Helmed by the experienced Belgian chef Evert Onderbeke, it has won many awards. Soleil is famous for its gourmet European dishes with Asian influences, and fine wine.
Fresh and contemporary
A lot of attention has gone into the decor and the place feels elegant and sophisticated. The place is fresh and contemporary with granite walls, wooden floors and steel and glass finishing. There is an attractive long bar right in the front and an al fresco area just next to it.
There is a private room for special occasions inside Soleil, an area right next to the extensive wine cellar with over 200 wine labels. If you sit in the centre of the restaurant, you can watch the open kitchen with the chefs preparing the food – something my husband finds oddly reassuring.
Menu options
Obviously, the highlight of Soleil is the incredible food, and the menu is impressive as always. If you find the à la carte menu pricey, you can opt for the 2- or 3-course set menus, which at RM75 and RM95 are great value. There is even an express lunch set for RM35 – only available on weekdays.
This time around my husband and I opted for the 3-course executive set lunch. I decided to have the forest mushroom and Jerusalem artichoke soup and my husband went for the beef flank tartare.
Just before our starter arrived, we received a freshly baked bread roll, something which I always look forward to and it always disappears before the starter arrives… My usual regret is that we only get one (one!) bread roll and unless you specifically request, there are no seconds.
Tasty fish and juicy duck
When the starters arrived, they did not disappoint. My soup was velvety smooth with a slightly sweet and earthy flavour. The tartare was very colourful, fresh and tasty but it could have been a little spicier, with more pepper. For our seconds we opted for the New Zealand Lemon Sole and the Duck Confit. The lemon sole was accompanied with Belgian fries, romaine salad and meunière sauce. It was tasty with a light, moist texture, and a mild flavour.
The duck which arrived with Haricots Blanca and vegetable cassoulet was a hit as well, juicy with a nice crispy skin. The veggies were cooked perfectly.
Although we had initially planned to have something rich and decadent for dessert, we realised we had overestimated our stomach capacity and opted for a scoop of homemade ice cream with intense coconut and biscoff speculos and a mocha. Needless to say, the ice cream disappeared in a flash, but the mocha was disappointing – a bit watery and bland. Still it was an almost perfect end to an almost perfect meal!
We love the service
The service, as should be expected in a fine dining restaurant, is impeccable. We were served by Naz who was engaging, attentive and knowledgeable. All the staff have obviously been well trained, are professional and know the menu well.
Would you like Soleil?
Soleil is ideal for those who want a romantic night out, would go for a business lunch, or simply a meal with friends.
It caters to bigger groups comfortably, due to the spacious private room. Although Soleil does not seem suitable for smaller children (no kids’ menu and no sight of high chairs), older children should enjoy it. My two teenagers love it, especially my son whose idea of a perfect restaurant is usually Burger King.
In summary, Soleil remains strongly on our list of favourites. The prices, considering the quality of the dishes, are affordable, the service is great, the international wine list is impressive and there is obvious care evident, not just in the dishes but in all aspects of the restaurant. We will be back soon!
More info here on their FB page.
Soleil is located at Lot 13A & 15, 2nd floor, Damansara City Mall, Damansara City, 6 Jalan Damanlela, Kuala Lumpur.
Are you looking for more ideas for date nights? Have a look here at our list!
