This is my second time at Gridiron Sports Cafe & Lounge in Bangsar, having been here for a drink about two years ago. I thought the menu was familiar and it was funny how I spotted the Mutton Varuval and ordered it immediately. I had done this too the first time I was here.
You can’t go wrong with these small dark nuggets of meat, tender, fragrant and rich from long simmering in spices. We had them with slices of baguette. I was also tempted by the Chicken Vindaloo, but will save it for another time.
Mutton Varuval – Spicy, fragrant and tender
We dined alfresco, away from the excitement of the live Euro 2016 matches that were being played on the TV screens in the bar and outside. Here we could still enjoy dinner and drinks and conversation with friends. We ordered the Four Styled Mushroom Pizza for a vegetarian friend, Shepherd’s Pie for us meat eaters and Grilled Cajun Chicken.
We are not beer drinkers but you can also have 5 pints of Tiger beer with any of the pizzas, at RM100++. Sounds like a good offer, right? We couldn’t resist the pretty Blue Ginger Mojito with Barcadi, ginger liqueur, Triple Sec and Blue Curacao in it, and topped with mint. It’s light and refreshing at first sip, then a little deep and sweet with rum.
It’s a thin crispy crust for the Four-Styled Mushroom Pizza which has basil pesto on the base, topping of shiitake, button, enoki and oyster mushrooms, mozzarella, onion rings and crispy garlic. It looks like the pizza covered all the bases for flavour, and it works.
Four Styled Mushroom Pizza with enoki, button, shiitake and oyster mushrooms with basil pesto
The Classic Shepherd’s Pie was recommended and I liked it, for the light, fluffy and buttery potato mash hiding within it a very decent and well-cooked minced beef in tomato sauce and herbs. It was served with garlic bread.
Classic Shepherd’s Pie
The Grilled Cajun Chicken is a moist roasted chicken breast finished with a peppery sauce and sautéed button mushrooms. There’s potato mash and salad to make it a complete meal.
Grilled Cajun Chicken
The prices of food are surprisingly reasonable for this upmarket neighbourhood of Bangsar. It’s RM24 for Cajun Chicken, RM16 for Mutton Varuval, RM20 for Mushroom Pizza, RM20 for the Classic Shepherd’s Pie. It’s RM22 for the cocktail.
Other dishes to try include Mediterranean Lamb Kebab and the Griddled Burger with beef or chicken patty layered with cheese, egg, mushrooms, tomato, beef bacon or turkey ham and nachos and finished off with a spiced puree. There is also the Steak and Bacon (beef) Pizza, and for dessert, the Sinfully Chocolate Pizza.
Blue Ginger Mojito with Bacardi, ginger liquer, Triple Sec and Blue Curacao
There was a constant stream of people coming into this sports cafe on a Thursday night which is open every day from 3pm. There’s something happening every day of the week.
Friday is Beer O’Clock, with the beers starting from RM4.60++ from 4pm to 5pm and increasing every hour by a ringgit till 7pm. Tuesday is Pub Quiz Night.
On Wednesday for July, a live band Hydra performs while on Friday Freeze plays. On other nights DJs who have made a name for themselves will be on the deck. Wednesday is Ladies Night, and from Saturday to Thursday there is Super Happy Hour from 2.30pm to 6pm, where a pint of Tiger Beer is just RM10.70++.
This ultimate Sports Bar is also where you catch all the live games played across the globe. Gridiron Sports Cafe & Lounge is at 11-15 Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-22014820.