It has been a long time since my partner and I visited The Ship@Damansara Uptown. The last time we were there (Christmas eve? Valentines? Can't quite remember), we were late and the restaurant was super crowded.
I remember how the tables were arranged so close together that if I was not careful, my elbow would have nudged the diner at the next table.
Anyway, this time we were there on an ordinary evening.
There were lots of seats available. I am glad that they have since made the place brighter. I remember it used to be very dim.
Looking at the menu, I couldn't decide what to get and settled on the Bombay Steak.
The bun was fresh and warm. So yummy with butter.
The Bombay Steak was just alright. It was described as "Grilled fillet steak garnished with chopped fresh chili and mango chutney gravy sauce, served with french fries and vegetables".
I thought that the sauce tasted like it was made with tomato and chili sauce. I did not detect the mango chutney at all.
I thought that the sauce tasted like it was made with tomato and chili sauce. I did not detect the mango chutney at all.
My partner does not eat beef so I chose the Crispy Spring Chicken for him. The chicken was on the dry side, not the best fried chicken we have eaten.
The Ship is pretty much an institution, well established and still pulling in the crowds. As we were eating, more and more people came in.
My partner was very sweet. At the end of our meal, he asked me to order a dessert hee...hee.... So I got us a Banana Split to share.
Ice cream is always wonderful. He ate 1/4 and I ate 3/4 hah..hah...
That was a nice meal. On our way out of Damansara Uptown, I noticed that my previous favorite restaurant was all dark. They were closed. Haiz.... I couldn't help feeling sad. That's how it is in Damansara Uptown. Restaurants come and restaurants go.
Goodbye Ampersand...
Goodbye Ampersand...
The Ship has been around like forever, one at BB and the other at Pertama. Been to the music lounge many times but never been to the restaurant. Very dark, I heard...not good for taking pictures.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Your favourite grazing ground has closed? See!!! Should have gone every day, would help probably for them to stay open. Hehehehehe!!!!
DeleteI have been to the one at BB long, long ago. Yes, very dark. But this one in DU is quite brightly lit compared to what it was like before.
DeleteSuch a pity they did not last. They could not maintain their standards that's why I stopped going.
The Ship!! I remember it has one in the upscale Bintang Walk (opposite Sg Wang)?
ReplyDeleteThe Bombay Steak looked good. Nice banana split for dessert. Yum yum.
Yes, I believe the one in BB is still there.
DeleteVery happening wor, the BB one. Click this link:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0BnilNS_cU
and see, lots more on youtube. Hehehehehe!!!
Nice. Never been to one. I remembered it was packed when I walked passed it few years ago. Haha.
DeleteAmboi mentang mentanglah dating, makan sedap nampak hihi....
ReplyDeleteI rasa kalau u order fish fillet or yang relevan dengan seafood mesti puas hati PH..... nama pun The Ship kan....
Memang betul betul kasi girlfriend kenyang ni tau, siap dessert lagi....
That night lah, Hainom punya anniversary, PH pulak yang lebih-lebih LOL!
DeleteIt's great (but surprising) that an old institution like The Ship has managed to sustain throughout the years (with all the new competition) and with the same old-school menu that have not changed for years...haha! ;D I've not been to one for more than 5 years already since I've found better steaks elsewhere....hehe! >_<
ReplyDeleteOh dear, what happened to Ampersand? It wasn't long ago (4-5 months?) that I remember you raving about the ribs and chicken here. I remember seeing a lot of good reviews that made me want to try (but somehow I wasn't quite convinced with the photos I saw). So, sad...this is the second time they have failed (the first being Ecole P). How did the cooking change so much over just a few months? Change in chef? Never mind, my dear, you can now go find yourself a new favourite restaurant...haha! :D
You are right that there are much better steaks out there but people still come back to The Ship. Maybe not for the steak hah..hah... Honestly, my steak that evening was not that great. I have had better elsewhere but I suppose in DU, this is the only place that serves steak.
DeleteI don't know the real story but can only speculate. From my observation, most of the time the kitchen and the restaurant is run by their foreign staff. The chef was hardly there and as time went by, the quality of the food dropped. So even though I was a strong supporter (because I believed they had potential) I stopped visiting. In fact in September, I went up there in the evening hoping to tapau something but noticed the shutters were locked. But I heard some sounds from inside like furniture being moved. That's when I suspected they were folding up :(
ampersand is closing for good or are they moving somewhere else? So sad since you like their food so much.
ReplyDeleteI believe they are closed for good. The food used to be good but not the last time when I was there.
DeleteBy the way, PH, I just bought a new oven, just want to check for these 2 items (1) Rotisserie Spit and (2) Rotisserie Handle - are they just accessories which if we do not need to use them, no need to put in oven, sorry to trouble you, cos I don't cook often and I seldom use oven :P
ReplyDeleteOops! I already reply in your previous comment :)
DeleteThanks! So when I roast the chicken, I put the chicken on the Wire Rack, do I need to put the Drip Pan below the Wire Rack?
DeleteIf I put the Drip Pan below the Wire Rack, will it prevent the heat from going up to the Wire Rack?
DeleteI have not eaten at the Ship for more than 10 years and I could not even remember when was the last time I ate there. I only remember eating steaks at similar establishments like Victoria Station and San Francisco Steakhouse ten years ago and I think even San Francisco Steakhouse has closed down many branches now.
ReplyDeleteWell, as far as steaks go, you can get better at Victoria Station or Jake's. I suppose The Ship is long established and though they may have served the best steaks in the past, people still come due to their reputation and branding.
DeleteI wonder can The Ship and Tony Roma's be categorised as similar establishments. The food you both ate looks fine to me and it is best if I can eat a bit of everything from all your meals especially the dessert. cukai sikit sana sini, hehehe since I don't eat much.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Tony Roma's after hearing not so favorable feedback from my mum and my brother.
DeleteI will go for the Spring Chicken as i eat beef, but not really into it...
ReplyDeleteTheir Chicken Maryland should be better.
DeleteThe Ship used to be the best in Penang, fighting with Eden's chain. Both survived till now but I find the Ship at Batu Ferringhi as most eye catching tourist attraction! Look at the photo here http://www.theship.com.my/locate.htm
ReplyDeleteThey need to be innovative and keep upgrading otherwise they might sink like Titanic. LOL
I used to like Eden. The Ship is kind of a very nostalgic place since it has been around for donkey years.
DeleteThe bun! You didn't check the gebu-gebas of the bun ek? ^_^
ReplyDeleteIt has been a long time since the last time I visited the Ship. I think, before I got married which was a decade ago...
I used to order chicken chop tak pun fish n chip. That time sedaplah rasanya but now I don't know whether it is still sedap like before or not.
hah..hah.. the bun was very gebu gebas. I just snap the pic and wallop terus.
DeleteFood wise, The Ship kira OK lah. I won't say it is the best but it is the next best thing lah in this area.
Wah PH selera omputih hari ni ya
ReplyDeleteBtw semua makanan nampak menyelekan sekali
Apa lagi kita tunggu order je lagi best
Tak sedap pun sesap jugak lah kan haha
Sama lah kita akak pun suka banana split kalau tkde ais kacang mesti order banana split ni haha
Bestkannn Ph
Sekali sekala, kan Kok Noor. PH masa kecik kecik dulu minat sangat dengan banana split. Sekarang pon minat juga hee..hee..
DeleteHi Phong Hong, my first date with my hubby was at The Ship, Batu Ferringhi decades ago, then we had an evening stroll along the beach listening to the waves, hehehe!
ReplyDeleteHi Kimmy! Wah...so romantic one.... If I go to Penang, I must visit The Ship there. Maybe can go for evening stroll too hee..hee...
DeleteI have been to The Ship only once in BB and that was a long, long time ago. I love banana split.
ReplyDeleteBanana split is quite appealing, brings me back to my childhood days :)
Deletelaparr..laparrrr nengok menu ni PH... Crispy Spring Chicken tu nampak sedap sangat.. rasa nak carik gak... haha
ReplyDeletehee..hee.. Tapi tak sedap mana pun. Kalau Atie cuba buat kat rumah pun lagi best.
DeleteAlamak. Terliur betul.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm craving for both steak and banana splits. LOL
LOL! Can go visit The Ship :)
DeleteNak try juga bombay steak tu ha ha haaa... looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteThe sauce could have been better. Tak rasa mango pun...
DeleteIt is quite a shocked news that your favourite restaurant had closed down. I read good reviews regarding this restaurant and never expect it closed down so fast =.="
ReplyDeleteYa lor. They operated for less than a year.
Delete