[Pork-free] Aposto KL is the newest addition to the flourishing restaurant scene in TTDI.
Ever since Aposto opened its doors in early April, we’ve heard nothing but glowing reviews for the modern Italian restaurant.
The name is inspired by the Italian saying “tutto posto” – which means “everything is good”.
And based on our recent visit, Aposto definitely lived up to its name.
This was despite the month-long wait for our dinner reservation which resulted in high expectations for the meal here – and Aposto did not disappoint!
Aposto in TTDI
Aposto KL is helmed by chef-founder Chu Wei Sin.
With years of experience under his belt, Chef Chu strives to reinterpret classic Italian dishes by incorporating Japanese ingredients and French techniques into Aposto dishes.
While traditional Italian dishes tend to lean on dense and heavy flavours, we found the dishes here to be remarkably balanced and flavourful.
Inspired takes include serving Saba (yes, how Japanese) that is pickled and blowtorched before being served on ciabatta, as well as Lasagnette served alongside wagyu beef bolognese and basil and quinoa arranged in a way that resembles the Italian flag.
Aposto – classy and chic
The ambiance here is classy and chic but not pretentious.
The idea is to create a cozy and comfortable space for patrons to have a casual evening out with friends over drinks, as well as private tables for lovebirds to enjoy a quiet dinner date.
Our favourite spot at the restaurant, however, has to be the chef’s table (where we sat) to get a first-hand view of the kitchen staff in action.
We also love the attention to detail in the decor – which includes a moss wall that’s a map of TTDI.
Book early to avoid disappointment
As you may have guessed, we recommend making reservations in advance to avoid disappointment. We booked a month in advance for the next available seats.
However, our recent checks showed that it is possible to secure a spot two weeks in advance.
Black Tiger Prawn Polpette
Among the 11 dishes listed on the Small Plates menu, we were most intrigued by the Burrata Caprese (RM65) but it was not available for the night.
We settled for the Black Tiger Prawn Polpette (RM36) – prawn meatballs doused with tomato sauce and crème fraîche.
Molded with fresh tiger prawns and Malabar snapper, these succulent meatballs were baked before they are finished in the pan.
The balls were sweet, bouncy and lightly seasoned so we could actually taste the natural sweetness of the prawns.
Interestingly, the tomato sauce was infused with prawn heads and shells to give it a “prawny” edge.
Finally, the crème fraîche provides a light touch to the dish, but we especially loved the sprinkle of black rice puffs on top for the extra crunch. This added texture really complemented yet contrasted with the meatballs, which we enjoyed.
Handcrafted fresh pasta
Aposto KL prides itself in serving fresh pasta vs. the dried pasta that we are more accustomed to in KL.
All of their pasta are freshly handmade daily before dinner service.
Forget your usual spaghetti and fettuccine, pasta served here includes hand-cut tagliatelle, maltagliati, lasagnette, and agnolotti.
16-hour Braised Duck Pasta
We opted for the 16-hour Braised Duck Pasta (RM56) – which features the maltagliati pasta, duck ragù and pumpkin.
Everything about this dish surprised us.
When we expected the pasta to be thick and al-dente – the noodles were surprisingly light and springy. The noodles were super silky, thin and smooth, which worked well to absorb the richness of the sauce.
We enjoyed the addition of pumpkin puree for sweetness, and toasted pumpkin seeds for crunch. When we expected muscular flavours from the duck ragu, it turned out to be delicate and tender.
This pasta dish was perfectly conceived to yield balance in flavours, and it was excellently executed.
Lobster Spring Risotto
Among the dishes in the Mains section, the Lobster Spring Risotto (RM298) appealed to us the most.
And it ended up as our favorite dish of the night (and for this year so far).
We often associate lobster and risotto with something heavy and rich – but Chef Chu challenged our perception by offering us a dish that was light and delightful.
A whole imported Canadian Boston lobster was de-shelled and cooked perfectly to retain its juiciness before being torched by Chef Chu for the final pizazz.
This allowed for the natural sweetness of the lobster to truly shine, and we loved its firm and bouncy texture with every bite.
The accompanying risotto was subtly flavoured with lemon and natural lobster juice – sufficiently putting the spotlight on the lobster’s succulent and briny qualities. The dish is finally embellished with edamame, pea sprouts, and bisque foam.
The plating has to be the most beautiful for the night as the lobster meat is arranged to resemble its natural form.
Extra points to those seated at the bar as you get to watch Chef Chu assemble the whole dish in front of your eyes.
Tiramisu
We ended the night with Tiramisu (RM36). Aposto’s version is something we will gladly fork out money for (as we know how to make a decent tiramisu) as it incorporates additional ingredients and techniques not seen before for this Italian dessert.
The traditional layers of mascarpone and coffee-infused ladyfingers are encased in a tuile (a thin crisp shell) and finally topped with coffee meringue.
The base tiramisu was on point but the additional textures from the tuile and meringue took the dish to another level.
Verdict
Overall, it was a truly satisfying dining experience for us!
The food was delicious and the service was excellent. We particularly enjoyed watching Chef Chu and the kitchen staff in action from our bar seats.
Chef was also very attentive to the customers, and would occasionally check in on us. He also personally served us our main dishes and explained the concept and ingredients.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
We will return their other pasta dishes (particularly, the Mushroom Agnolotti and Lasagnette), Burrata Caprese, Saba on Toast, and Panna Cotta.
Check out our Reel here
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Aposto KL
Address: 38, Lorong Rahim Kajai 14, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur
Hours: 5.30pm-11pm Daily (Closed on Mondays)
Menu: drive.google.com
Phone: 010-282 4990
Reservations: tableapp.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aposto.kl/
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