The Manhattan Fish Market (MFM) is a high end fast food eating establishment in the vein of T.G.I. Friday's and Chili's Grill & Bar. The Spring has one of the franchise outlets and Irene brought us there for lunch coz we didn't eat on the flight to Kuching.
The Manhattan Fish Market traces its history back to the Fulton Fish Market in Manhattan, New York. The 180 year linage of the Manhattan Fish Market under the Brooklyn Bridge is the basis of this seafood restaurant franchise. MFM specializes in seafood of all sorts - fish, oysters, mussels, lobsters, crab etc. If it has fins or a shell, it's probably on the menu at The Manhattan Fish Market.
The MFM outlet at The Spring shopping mall has a wood based interior with solid timber dominating the features, a rather environmentally unfriendly but warm design implementation. The localization attempt has a huge plasma TV showing a video from Ikan Terhandal Malaysia (Expert Fishing Malaysia), a monthly magazine for fishing enthusiasts with a VCD showing recreational fishing amateur footage.
The Manhattan Fish Market also has a consistent theme - the focus is on seafood and there are old framed posters of fish, lobster and crab on the walls, presumably the very same ads from the Fulton Fish Market nearly two centuries ago.
The table has the signature
MFM chopping board in place of the usual plate setting in other
restaurants. This trademark is from the Fulton Fish Market days when fresh
tuna (and other catch) were brought in and chopped up before being
sold.
Captain's Quencher (RM 6.90)
This is a carbonated orange twist that I ordered. Very refreshing and thirst quenching. No misleading naming conventions here. :)
Espresso (RM 12)
A much needed shot of caffeine to jolt myself awake...
Delicious poached mussels in creamy Manhattan garlic butter sauce. Comes with slices of baguettes.
The mussels in garlic sauce tastes absolutely divine! There weren't enough to go around.
Grilled Catch of the Day (RM 17.90)
Grilled catch of the day complete with Manhattan garlic butter sauce - a healthier choice (presumably compared to their famous Manhattan Fish & Chips)
Irene had the grilled catch of the day (think it was halibut for that Saturday)
Manhattan Seafood Platter For Two (RM 42.90)
Deep fried fish fillet, calamari, oysters, and prawns served with chips and garlic rice.
I shared the Manhattan
Seafood Platter For Two with Phoenix. The waiter had a can of combustible
material and flamed the platter in front of us. This flaming treatment
chars the top of the platter and ensures the carbon goodness is
transmitted properly. ;)
The Manhattan Seafood Platter is meant for two
(2) people but even the three of us couldn't finish it. The serving
portions at The Manhattan Fish Market is generous, meant for larger
appetites than ours. I think the flaming treatment got too close to Phoenix coz her face seems a bit charred from it.
It was really good to meet up with you again on this trip, Irene! :)
The Manhattan Fish Market - now available in Sarawak.
it's been great to have you back too heh. it's been too long... glad to see how hale and hearty you look now =P
then again, i've gained some weight too, you'll agree heh heh.
we'll go somewhere else nicer for lunch the next time you drop by here. hopefully david will be available to join us then!
Reminds me of the days I was in Brazil eating salmon by the beach. :'(
I tried the Seafood Platter with blazing fire before at Jusco JB. I wonder if the quality is the same.
Hehe... seriously, I think Irene and you both look nice now. That is a very interesting expression of Irene in the last 3rd pic. Was she looking at the charred face of Phoenix or the piece of food going into your mouth? LOL
Show us the Batang Ai report. I have yet to go there, shame on me.
Irene: I think FAT is the word you're looking for. ;)
I have gained an amazing 25 kgs (nearly half my original weight) during my time in rehab. Eating is about the only pleasure we can derive in there (besides gay penetrative sex but that's a different post - I'm kidding, of course) so I ended up at 85 kg when I got out and got my weight down to 70 kg (which is where I am now). I think I could do with another 10 kg reduction.
You look better like this, and still very thin by society's standards. We'll go somewhere nice for dinner next time I go over to Kuching. Tell David I said hi.
jess: Very nice. I want to go to Brazil actually but the air tickets are prohibitively expensive since it's not a very popular route compared to Australia, US, UK. It would be nice to head to South America, heard a lot of good things about it. :)
stakhui: Yeah, it should be. Franchise restaurants taste just about the same with a little regional differences. McDonald's in Australia tastes kinda different than from over here in Malaysia - the fries are the biggest difference and a Big Mac doesn't taste the same due to the local source of beef but the essential flavors are there.
fish fish: Thanks, fish fish! I feel better now too, less highly strung and more mellow now that I'm not dependant on benzos (which can yoyo your mood when the plasma concentrations drop). I don't know what Irene was looking at, I was looking at the camera. =D
The Batang Ai report will be coming up very soon. There will be an initial pre-trip post today. It's a very long writeup since we did so much stuff and took so many photos at the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort. It's a nice place, highly recommended from me. :)
Wah... what was Irene licking? :)
MFM and I share a love-hate relationship. Can you belief they serve me 10 mins after my colleagues finished eating? Then I complaint to the manager of the slow service. He then insisted our next meal in MFM will be in the house. Hate the service in MFM but Love the kind gesture :D
Neo: Hmm...her tongue piercing? :)
CarolineL: Huh, that's some pretty awful mixup they had in the kitchen there. 10 minutes AFTER your coworkers finish eating! Oh well, at least you were reimbursed for it. That's the good thing about these franchise restaurants, they do care about the customer service (in this sense) and their reputation. :)
fish fish: was looking at him stuffing a piece of calamari into his mouth for the shoot. SO unappealing!
huai bin: i prefer the term "well-rounded" LOL.
this dishes and drink are seriously overpriced and overrated anyway. fish chip huh mate?
I've been to MFM at Mid Valley,KL and QueensBay, Penang. The F&C is well, F&C...as it should be; l know the batter coating is authentic but l prefer breadcrumb coating, the way they do it at Garden Hotel in Sibu or Sugar Bun. But I love the seafood platter! Yum yum, never mind the escalating cholesterol level! Love the garlic rice! Drool!
I've been to MFM at Mid Valley,KL and QueensBay, Penang. The F&C is well, F&C...as it should be; l know the batter coating is authentic but l prefer breadcrumb coating, the way they do it at Garden Hotel in Sibu or Sugar Bun. But I love the seafood platter! Yum yum, never mind the escalating cholesterol level! Love the garlic rice! Drool!
Irene: Well, then by all definations, I am very well rounded indeed. ;)
Paul: It's a quick service restaurant like TGIF and Chili's which has about the same price menu items. People go there for the ambience and convenience, I guess.
I don't really like the MFM Fish & Chips though. :)
suituapui: Yeah, I like the SugarBun fish as well. Very nice. Cheap too, compared to MFM. Plus, I actually have SugarBun shares so it works out well for me too. ;)
Garden hotel huh...haven't been there yet. Will check it out soon.
...and the garlic rice is divine indeed. Mmm...
Thanks for giving us the chance to serving you. The Manhattan Fish Market currently has 25 outlets throughout Malaysia, Singapore and Bangkok: 22 outlets in Malaysia, 2 outlets in Singapore and 1 in Thailand. We have also just introduced an array of new fishes into our menu. Please do come visit us again and we look forward to delighting your taste buds again!
-Sebastian, Assistance Operations Coach-
Sebastian: Thanks for dropping by. :)
Appreciate the feedback from the corporate side of MFM.