New-York-Daily-News-ooh-look: Still in the Mood for Love

Another great restaurant in the dining precinct of Westfield Sydney Level 6. And you don't even have to wait till Valentine's Day or anything.

We've been to Chinta Ria Mood for Love a couple of times now, and each time have had the tasting menu because it's such great value. It's called "Chef John Poh's Sensual Delight Menu", and for $55 per person, you get around 8 courses plus dessert.

This menu is billed as something that you should share with that special someone, but you get heaps of food and it is so fantastically flavoursome that it would be a shame not to share the pan-Malaysian food love with lots of friends. Also, the menu has had slight changes with each visit, but it's been great every time.

Nice, dark and moody decor inside, with owner Simon Goh's version of the movie Mood for Love projected onto a wall. Waitstaff are mainly young, and helpful and friendly.

Starters

Satay chicken, satay beef (lovely charred charcoal bits)

Otak Otak - Spanish mackeral mousse (sooo spicy! sooo tasty! This has become my fave Malaysian dish)

Seduction roll - minced chicken with 5-spice seasoning in beancurd skin (reminds me of the fried ham roll in old-school Chinese restaurants, remember those?)

Chilli scallops - steamed half-shell scallops with sweet chilli sauce (nice fat scallops, very spicy sauce)

Mains

Monk's mushrooms - fried enoki, braised trumpet and shiitake, snow peas

Pearly butter prawns - prawns in buttermilk, snap-fried (lots of butter gives it fantastic flavour)

Beef rendang - braised beef with spices and coconut milk (this is great with heaps of rice)

Squeeze me squiddy - deep-fried squid with turmeric and chilli (great version of salt and pepper squid)

Roti ($3.90) - no pic; the waitress suggested some roti, but the serving was tiny and the roti were a bit chewy

Sensual Dessert Platter

Pandan sago - swimming in sweet coconut milk. Divine.

Kueh dadar - coconut and palm sugar wrapped in pandan crepe

Durian panna cotta - lovely texture, but you'd have to like durian to like this. I'm iffy with it.

Coconut slice - like kueh, I think. It was alright.

So if you haven't been to Mood for Love yet, or don't want to queue over at Chat Thai, give it a go. Not having tried the regular menu, I can't comment on it, but the tasting menu does contain items on the main menu, just smaller portions. But like I said, there's plenty of it and we'll probably experience this 'sensual delight' many times more.

Chinta Ria Mood for Love is on Level 6, Westfield Sydney, 100 Market St, Sydney NSW

ph: 02 8072 8888 web: http://www.chintamoodforlove.com/

We've always been able to get a table without a booking (in the evenings).