By VIVIENNE PAL
Published: 13 March 2015 8:41 AM
Naughty Nuri’s is now in Desa Sri Hartamas, all the way from Bali. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 13, 2015Among the plentiful F&B outlets in Desa Sri Hartamas is one that has hogged the limelight in more recent times. Naughty Nuri’s, which prides itself on its “killer ribs” and “twisted martinis” has been bursting at the seams with an endless stream of hungry, pork-crazy patrons since its opening in December 2014.
Originally from Bali, Indonesia, Naughty Nuri’s Warung joins the ever-growing collective of pork-serving restaurants in the capital. Its menu is truly a piggy affair, offering a smorgasbord of western and Balinese dishes, tapas, and a commendable range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
In the last three months, Naughty Nuri’s has gained quite the following: I arrived at 8.30pm on a Thursday night expecting a relatively quiet evening but was greeted, instead, by a swinging dinner crowd!
Even on a Thursday night, Naughty Nuri’s draws quite a crowd! – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 13, 2015Rather than wait for a table, I settled for a spot at the bar counter – a fabulous decision, as it turned out. The bartenders were an especially fun bunch and I was entertained by their hospitality and friendly banter. Despite the crowd, food came fairly quickly and the wait staff were courteous and efficient.
One of Naughty Nuri’s greatest attractions is the “killer” Signature Pork Ribs (RM39). While not personally a fan of western-style barbecued meats, I happily pigged out on Naughty Nuri’s brand of ribs which were tender and grilled to a wonderful char. Marinated with Balinese spices and a secret special sauce, the ribs were moist with a delightful hint of smoky sweetness. This dish comes served with no frills, save for a wedge of lime and the house spicy sauce – both of which elevate the flavours to another level. I only wished that the portion was bigger.
Naughty Nuri’s Signature Pork Ribs is extra ‘killer’ with a squeeze of lime juice and a drizzle of the house spicy sauce. Down it with a martini and you’ll leave satisfied. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 13, 2015Although the ribs can hold their own, I decided on a side of Caramelised Onion Rice (RM7).While not the most conventional accompaniment to pork ribs, this number was surprisingly pleasant. Grainy and subtly flavoured with shallot oil and caramalised onions, the rice had a light buttery fragrance. It also goes well with the Makassar-inspired ‘Bak Kut’ Soup (RM21.80), an intense and peppery stew of seared pork ribs in Balinese spices.
Go the Asian way and have barbecued pork ribs with rice. This dish is simple and subtly flavoured. Pair it with the Signature Roast Pork Salad for some fibre. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 13, 2015The Signature Roast Pork Salad (RM24.80) was a medley of vegetables tossed with apple fruit vinaigrette and dressed with grated brie, pork skin croutons and pork belly. It wasn’t particularly mind-blowing, but did well enough as the obligatory bit of fibre.
The tapas menu offers an interesting selection of dishes, but you won’t find something from a typical Spanish tapas kitchen. My current favourite is the Sambal Petai topped with Crispy Roasted Pork (RM21), where the nutty, uniquely-petai flavour blended perfectly with the slightly salty roast pork. Unusual and lovely.
An unusual tapas of Sambal Petai topped with Crispy Roasted Pork, the writer’s favourite. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 13, 2015Naughty Nuri’s is also well known for its blend of martinis (shaken; not stirred) which, having been vouched by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain as the best martinis in the world, is perhaps the ‘naughtiest’ and most famous item on the menu.
Overall, Naughty Nuri’s seems like a great place for friends to get together for some ‘swining’ and dining. The ambience is invitingly hipster chic, the food is worth going back for, and service is good. Oh, and did I mention that some 10 tonnes of pork ribs have been consumed at Naughty Nuri’s since its opening? – March 13, 2015.
Recommended dishes: Signature Pork Ribs, Sambal Petai topped with Crispy Roasted Pork, Makassar-inspired ‘Bak Kut’ Soup
Naughty Nuri’s Warung | Address: 2, Jalan Sri Hartamas 22, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur | Tel: 019-339 9611| Opening hours: Mon – Sun, 12.00pm – 12.00am | GPS coordinates: 3.164360, 101.650374 | Non-Halal
