Manhattan Fish Market @ Pavilion

Since a particular member of my family likes to eat seafood, we would frequent Manhattan Fish Market (MFM) @ Pavilion for some affordable seafood meal whenever we are there.

For starters, my favourite is the Garlic Herb Mussels @ RM14.90.  This dish is made up of poached mussels in MFM's signature garlic herb sauce and served with slices of baguettes to soak up the delicious sauce.

 

The only grouse is that the mussels are not big enough but, looking at the price, we can't really complain.  Just wished that there were more baguettes to soak up the garlicky sauce.

 

 

Another starter that we would normally order is the Crispy Whitebait @ RM11.90.  The whitebait (albeit a bit small) is lightly dusted in flour that has been flavoured with herbs, fried to a crunchy golden brown and served on a bed of refreshing coleslaw.  Although the whitebait was a bit small, it was acceptable, when paired with the slaw, as it was meant to provide the crunchy factor to the slaw.  [#Tip: If you are a small eater, who likes something light, then these 2 starters will be more than enough to make a complete meal for you.]

Even though they are called MFM, fish is not what I would normally order when I dine here because I find their fish quite ordinary tasting.  They fare better with their prawns.
 

 

That is why our favourite dish is the Small Flame @ RM29.90 where you get their signature Flaming Prawns (3 pcs), with grilled dory fillet, on a bed of garlic herb rice, chips and veggies.

 

Their Manhattan Flaming Prawns is brought to your table, covered in some kind of white sauce (probably their garlic herb sauce), 'flamed' right in front of you, and it never fails to draw onlookers!  The flaming imparts a 'charred' flavour to the prawns and the (cheap) "entertainment" is as delightful as the prawns.  [#Tip: The product (ie. the prawns) and the cooking can be a bit inconsistent though.  Sometimes, the prawns are fresh and sometimes, they are no so fresh (that's when you get ones where the heads are rather black).  There have been times when the prawns are cooked and flamed perfectly and there had been times when the prawns were undercooked and had to be sent back to the kitchen to be 'refired'.]
 

You can also order the Manhattan Flaming Seafood Platter @ RM53.90, which can feed 2 - 3 persons, for sharing.  This platter comes with battered fish fillets, calamari and oysters plus 4 pcs of flaming prawns.

 

My Personal Opinion
 

Overall, the food at MFM is palatable though inconsistent.  I guess my verdict can be summed up in the sentences that are inscribed on their plates --- "Life's like a sea of fish.  You'll never know what you're gonna catch."  It was exactly that....because sometimes they're fresh, and sometimes they're not (prawns/fish/oysters); sometimes they're small and sometimes they're a bit bigger (mussels).
 

Likes:  Without a doubt, their flaming prawns.....especially when they are fresh and done well.
 

Dislikes:  Their inconsistencies (in cooking and freshness of the produce)!
 

Manhattan Fish Market

Level 1.18.02 Pavilion KL

168 Jalan Bukit Bintang

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2141 4341