Juniper
Other than beauty products, I have a passion for food and the performing arts. Where in the Klang Valley is there a restaurant that combines the best of food, song and dance? Well, now that Tapis Rouge at Red Carpet Avenue, Encorp Strand is open, we have a venue for dining, song and dance performance all under one roof.
Not being familiar with the area (the furthest I ever got was The Curve at Persiaran Surian), I had to take a trial run during my lunch hour on 18th November, 2011 but still didn’t get to The Strand. I didn’t have time to explore further and took my chances that same evening. After enduring more than an hour of slow-moving traffic, I arrived at Red Carpet Avenue shortly after 7pm.
Not many guests had arrived then but it was better to be early so that I had the freedom of exploring the restaurant and taking photos without getting in anyone’s way. There is ample outdoor seating as well as a spacious indoor dining area. Not so spacious however were the washroom cubicles as my face was inches from the door once it was closed. There’s virtually no room for manoeuvreing in there.
There were nice touches to the washroom like fresh red roses and peacock feathers, red rose petals on the sink area and a chandelier, how posh! There were also fresh red rose blooms on every table facing the stage and service from the servers was at all times attentive. Only hor d’oeuvres were served so I can’t comment on the main courses.
As I hadn’t had dinner yet, I reached out for the creamy mushroom and spicy eggplants on toast as well as other finger foods every time I was offered. Very soon I felt quite full – I especially liked the fish cakes and creamy mushroom on toast.
Whenever the serviette supply at my table ran out, the servers would bring fresh supplies without any prompting and they cleared the table of cocktail sticks and used serviettes from time to time too. For such a new restaurant, the service is excellent and commendable.
Tapis Rouge (pronounced ta-pee rooj) is essentially a theatre restaurant which means Red Carpet in French. It is the anchor tenant of Red Carpet Avenue, a covered boulevard inspired by Paris’ Champs-Elysees. The restaurant has a predominantly deep rouge theme with a contemporary interior decor, evoking the sense of understated elegance and sophistication.
The menu has a mix of Pan-Asian and Western cuisines designed by Modesto’s and Bob Wong, who is one of the partners in this venture. Through a strategic partnership with Modesto’s and Encorp, Enfiniti Vision Media plays the role of providing entertainment content to this one-of-a-kind outlet.
The rear of Tapis Rouge houses the cabaret/supper club lounge, an intimate space equipped with an extendable stage ideal for entertainment of various types. The Ambassador of the lounge is the Kit Kat Club Show, the song, dance and comedy revue founded by Tiara Jacquelina in the 90s. Guests at the launch of Tapis Rouge were treated to a 2-set performance from 9pm till 11pm with a 15 minute intermission. I’ll post on The Kit Kat Show later as there are too many photos to put up here.
Some of the items on the Tapis Rouge menu are as follows:-
Garlic Bread RM6.90
Trio Crostini – Marinated Tomatoes, Creamy Mushroom & Spicy Tomato on Toast RM14.90
Buffalo Wings RM12.90
Thai Fish Cakes RM13.90
Pineapple Salad RM13.90
Caesar Salad RM18.90
Duck Breast Carpaccio RM24.90
Duck Carbonara RM23.90
Lamb Osso Bucco RM48.90
Salmon Fillet RM39.90
Tex-Mex Beef Ribs RM48.90
Spicy Prawn Spaghetti RM28.90
Green Curry Chicken (with rice) RM21.90
Nyonya Curry Laksa RM22.90
Sea Bass Thai Style RM28.90
Tom Yam Prawn RM28.90
Kampung Fried Rice RM11.90
There are Onion, Oxtail and Tom Yam Soups and desserts are Tiramisu Tapis, Chocolate Mousse and Sago Water Chestnut.
The Kit Kat Club performs 2 sets every Friday & Saturday from 9pm. Comedy nights are on Tuesdays while Stars nights are on Wednesdays with guest appearances by Ida Marina, Stephanie Van Driesen, Onn San and others.
Tapis Rouge Restaurant & Theatre Lounge is located at Unit 48G, 50G & 52G, Jalan PJU 5/22, Red Carpet Avenue, Encorp Strand, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya.
Their facebook is www.facebook/TapisRougeMY
