One of my favorite hangouts for a meal with my girlfriends is Matsu Japanese Restaurant, Lone Pine Hotel, Penang.
The restaurant is just a short flight of stairs from the cool Batubar, which is contemporary in looks and yet infused with chic overtures.
I call it the room at the top of the stairs!
There are no private dining rooms or low floor seating on tatami mats here.
Modern and pleasing, the restaurant is a glass wall enclosure with a sea view and garden vistas.
There is al fresco dining outside on the patio where you could light up, but we girls prefer to dine indoors in the cold air-conditioning comfort.
Matsu Lone Pine Hotel
Batu Bar Below Matsu
The Batu Bar beckons as we head upstairs. We shall return soon after dinner, nightcap!
The only Japanese restaurant in Batu Ferringhi, Lone Pine group, pairs top-quality fresh seafood dishes with stylish presentation and excellent service.
The Batu Bar
Matsu Lone Pine Menu
We never seem to notice the music played in the restaurant.
We were probably too focused on our lively chatter and merrymaking to notice if it’s Japanese pop tunes or international jazzy numbers.
The photos below are a collection of the dishes that the girls love, and Chef Alex Ong makes for us depending on the availability of fresh seafood and the number of diners.
Some are huge platters when we go to a large group of 20, some when there are only five of us who could make dinner.
Sometimes, just three.
The shy Chef Alex says hello to the forever-hungry, happy bunch whenever we dine.
We stopped ordering from the menu and opting for the Chef’s Utage Kaiseki, a traditional Japanese multi-course meal.
Generally, we tell him what we don’t eat, and he will do the rest.
This is a great way to dine.
Most of the time, the girls and I will chow down on everything Chef whips up.
Sometimes, we have asked that he leave out beef for religious reasons.
Chef Alex has a way with his plating, which is very stylish.
Enjoy the photos on the Matsu Menu.
From the Ala carte, Sashimi Moriawase is presented in a generous ice-filled bowl as a backdrop for the wonderfully different imported raw fish chosen daily by the Chef.
Perfectly sliced to the right thickness, each piece of raw fish has its distinct delicate texture, flavor, and sweetness.
For individual service, Matsu continuously serves up fresh seafood.
This may look very different from the sushi you get in mall Japanese restaurants.
Sashimi Moriawase is presented in a ginormous ice-filled bowl.
How about some notoriously naughty Oyster aphrodisiacs?
The girls say, “Bring it on!”
This Crouton Ebi Kushi Katsu is gloriously deep-fried to golden brown and crunchy. Mixed Tempura.
- Grilled prawns (Ebi No Shioyaki)
- Prawns cooked in various styles
- Common by still a delicious favorite, Grilled Unagi (Eel)
- Seared tuna steaks with peppercorns
- Grilled Salmon head subject to availability
- The Beef Enoki Rolls
- Sushi, whether individually plated or shared.
Oysters
All the styles of cooked fish.
Prawns in various cooking styles.
Some delicious sushi.
There’s Always Room For Ramen at Matsu
I know carbs are bad at night, but who could resist the spicy ramen that Chef whips up?
Some prefer sweet fruit for desserts.
But this girl would never say no to the refreshing homemade black sesame ice cream made with black sesame paste, whole milk, heavy cream, and honey.
Just a few of us, along with our long-lost classmate from Myanmar,
Over the years, our girlfriends have had many get-togethers and gatherings there, and every time we show up to dine, Chef Alex Ong never fails to surprise us.
So, why not drop in and let Chef Alex surprise you?
There’s always a buffet dinner at the Bungalow if you’re not one for seafood.
Matsu (Permanently closed)
Lone Pine, Penang
Address: 97, Jalan Batu Ferringhi, 11100 Batu Ferringhi, Penang
