Quivo @ Pavilion

I was attracted to try out this place ever since I saw (and read) glowing reviews on TripAdvisor.  This new restaurant and bar with a Mediterranean twist, which opened late last year, is pretty popular with non-locals (judging from the majority of the clientele dining there). 

Arriving at Quivo @ Pavilion for a weekend dinner one evening, I saw that the restaurant was rather full, so much so that I couldn't take any photos of the interior as I do not wish to intrude on the diners.  In fact, these few shots of the exterior were taken at another time when I was passing by the restaurant (in the morning).

We started with an order of Zuma Calamari @ RM27 from their Nibbles Menu for sharing.  This featured fried white calamari pieces with fresh jalapenos and charred lime served with a fiery curry aioli (it wasn't fiery at all).

The batter for the calamari was light but not as crispy as we would have liked.  The squid pieces were nicely tender and pairs well with the slightly spiced aioli and a squeeze of that charred lime.

If you're a fan of burgers, their Bespoke Burgers are customisable with a selection of fillings such as Signature Grain-fed Wagyu, Grind Lamb Loin or Fresh Catch of the Day and a choice of homemade rolls like Sesame Brioche, Spicy Jalapeno Focaccia or Multi Grain.

We chose the Spicy Fish Bespoke Burger @ RM35 which highlighted a grilled barramundi fillet that had been rubbed with a blend of herbs and spices and topped with hot tomato salsa, curry aioli and jalapenos for that extra kick.

The grilled barramundi fillet was fresh and delicate, flakes off easily, with a nice spiced flavour, in between a light and puffy classic sesame brioche.

The burger was served with a side of Cajun Spiced Wedges and a petit Mediterranean salad.  The wedges were fried to a nice crisp on the outside while still retaining a soft inside...they were excellent!

The Mediterranean Salad offered a mix of crunchy and fresh vegetables of lettuce, onions, tomatoes, Japanese cucumbers and small pieces of crisp (pita?) bread in a light herbs and lime dressing.  It was certainly a refreshing salad which I had no trouble finishing.

We went with the Signature Mini Quivo Sliders @ RM28 as our other main from the Nibbles Menu.  The Quivo minis is a board of 4 pieces of sliders comprising of a Wagyu Beef Burger, Lamb Loin Patty, Chickpea Falafel Bites and Dungeness Crab Cakes which you can mix and match to make a board.  It was a no-brainer as to which ones I'd choose....I went with one each!  It was again served with the same top-notch Cajun spiced wedges.

Wagyu beef patty (top left)...nicely seared and juicy, lamb patty (top right)...it was alright, Chickpea patty (bottom right)...nice and crisp but a bit dry and Dungeness crab cakes (bottom right)...fresh and light.  If I were to have these again, I'd go with the beef patty and crab cakes...those were my top favourites!  All the mini burgers were served on a nicely buttered and toasted mini brioche bun that was utterly soft and crisp on the edges.

As I was there for an early dinner, I was drawn (you might be too) to their "Ever After Happy Hour, 7 days a week from 4pm to 8pm" Deal of two cocktails, wines or beer for the price of one!  Initially, I thought it was any two cocktails for the price of one.  So, I thought I'd try a Fresh Appletini and a Mediterranean Margarita.  But, alas, I misinterpreted.....it's actually two of the same cocktail for the price of one! :'(

So, I went with the Mediterranean Margarita @ RM31 which is a mix of semi-sweet white wine, tequila, lime juice and sugar syrup with small chunks of fresh fruits of strawberries and apples in it.  I chose this because it was described as light and refreshing...I should have known better coz that's a description meant for drinkers! :D  As a non-habitual drinker, it was anything but that.  For real drinkers, I'm sure this would be perfect as not-enough-alcohol in their alcoholic beverages wouldn't please them at all.  But, for me, a less seasoned tippler (or more like a non-tippler), it was too strong...and I had another one coming....OMG, what am I going to do?

I told the server to get the bartender to reduce the alcohol content (and increase the lime juice and sugar) in the next one.  It was slightly better but still not 'favourable' for me.  Was it the white wine in the mix that I wasn't so fond of or that the tequila was too strong?  Hmmm....

I've had margarita before at La Mexicana which I absolutely loved.  It could possibly be because those were flavoured margaritas (mixed with fresh juices), so the taste was more in my wheelhouse.  Maybe, I should have stuck with the flavoured margaritas here (strawberry, raspberry or mango), but I wanted to try something different and was feeling a bit more adventurous (after La Mexicana....hee...hee) and thought that I could come to like more cocktails.  Oh well.....

My Personal Opinion

Other than the drinks boo-boo (which was entirely my choice and my fault), the rest of the food was certainly up to standards. 

Service is fast and polite with a welcoming ambience.  Great place for a drink or two (for drinkers) and people watching if you take a seat at the al fresco part of the restaurant but may have to deal with a number of smokers there even though it's an indoor walkway.

I hear that their paddle pizzas, cooked by a wood-fired oven, are rather scrumptious too.  Wouldn't mind returning to try those (or even having the burgers again)....and probably a safer bet to stick to non-alcoholic drinks (for me)....hmmm, but then again, maybe I might try a fruit-based cocktail, who knows! :D

Quivo
Lot 3.09.02 Level 3
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2141 7711