Curios-City Penang

Visited rhis Michelin-recommended spot in March 2026. We opted for the tasting menu. While the concept was promising, the morel consommé was unfortunately completely unsalted, which set a slightly disappointing tone early on. For the main course, you choose from several options at different price points—we went for the most expensive wagyu. It was undeniably well-prepared, with great technique and quality, but it felt a bit too safe for a restaurant positioning itself as innovative. The classic combination of purée, sauce, and meat didn’t quite push any boundaries. It almost felt like the reverence for wagyu held the kitchen back from doing something more creative with it. On a brighter note, the dessert was extraordinary—easily one of the standout dishes of the evening and genuinely memorable. The drinks were also phenomenal and a highlight throughout the meal. Service-wise, they handled an issue at our table professionally—our friend found a small piece of plastic in one of the dishes, and we were offered a complimentary oyster, which was appreciated. Overall, the experience was good but not mind-blowing, especially considering the price point. With a bit more boldness and attention to seasoning, this could be a much more compelling dining experience.

High ceiling. Old building. Good vibe Service a lot to improve

I agree with some of the other reviews I personally wouldn’t classify this as fine dining. The décor and atmosphere are lovely, and the overall ambience is pleasant. However, the washrooms really need attention. During our visit, all three were blocked, which unfortunately became a major drawback and significantly affected our overall dining experience. I hope the management takes this seriously, as improving the restroom facilities would greatly enhance the overall impression of the restaurant.

Because the Google describes it as fine dining, I can't give it 5 stars. Fine dining expectations are high. Call it anything else then I would probably consider 5 stars. First off, I did like the decor. Dark, quiet and calm, it makes for a relaxing enjoyable dinner. Price for the la carte menu to me is more than fair. It's definitely worth it. The menu itself isn't extensive but enough for a few times of dinner before you need to repeat it. I would assume they rotate their food at regular intervals. As far as the food goes, I enjoyed the simple sourdough with its spread, the grouper arrived scalding hot from the fryer and I found the corn deliciously grilled and flavoured. The prawn risotto was cooked well but it had a mild spicy aftertaste which may not be for everyone. The fish was fresh, the skin and meat deliciously cooked. The pea puree combined well and it had the best plating among the 3 dishes I ordered. The tagliatelle I found to be firm but adequately cooked, the matcha colour going well with the pesto sauce. I shouldn't complain about the stingy portion of the scallops for the price but I can't help noticing the imbalance when it came to the amount of scallop and the pasta. The waiters don't say much when they give you your food. This is where being called fine dining is totally strange. One would expect some reminder of the food and its preparation but it's just silence from the waiters. Another failing point for a fine dining is the plating. Anything other than fine dining, the plating is acceptable. Calling yourself fine dining, I think the plating is not up to mark. In summary, if you are looking for a comfortable place to eat with good food and no price gouging (a la carte menu), this is an excellent place to come. Hoping for fine dining? Then maybe not so.

We reserved a table for 2 on Valentine’s Day. We reached 30 mins before our reservation time. We were told to sit at the corner while waiting for our table. However when the time was reaching 8.30pm, there were more and more couples standing and queuing at the entrance to go in to the dining area. The staff letting the “queue-ing”couples (who reached after us) to get the tables before us - all of us did make reservation accordingly. I am wondering how do this restaurant managed queue/reservation. Shouldn’t be first come first serve as all of us had the reservation too ? I believed this queue things should be handled in a more organized way with what this restaurant called as “fine dining restaurant”. After we settled down at a table, no one attending to us - plain water was only be served after 10 mins. Atmosphere was too dark where no table lamp was provided (only provided upon request). I can’t barely see the menu with only a candle light on our table. We ordered Valentines tasting menu with add on dish. Our order was confirmed 3 times but yet kitchen still “forget” our add on dish. Food quality was barely meeting expectations. With the price that we paid and the experience that we had, we definitely won’t revisit Curious City again.