Steaks & Seafood on The Ship

Classic Food in a Classic Setting

Ships. They've always fascinated me. From their proud bows to their long decks, there's just something mythical and magical about them. Maybe its because they promise adventure and romance in far-away places or maybe its because they promise long, lazy times sunbathing and relaxing. Or is it because I get seasick easily thus it is a "monster" for me to slay? Oh well, can't win them all.

Whatever the case may be, the recent long weekend due to Merdeka gave me and the wife a chance to finally dine at The Ship in Batu Ferringhi. For those who don't know, the restaurant is actually built in the shape of a seafaring ship. Quite an architectural statement and an attention grabber as many "orang putih", mid-East tourists and locals could be seen heading there for their dinner.

We arrived early, about 6.30pm, to get a good seat since the restaurant does not take bookings. Strange but nothing to quibble about. Service was prompt and friendly and we were shown to a window seat on the port (left) bow with a view of the sea. Nice. Although it wasn't crowded yet, many of the tables were already full with guests enjoying their dinner and people were coming in frequently.

As my wife is a small eater, we shared a starter - US Seafood Chowder - a tomato based soup. It came hot, not piping which is to my liking, but still sufficiently warm as to not congeal into sludge. The kitchen was generous with the ingredients as it was filled with fish slices, squid rings, mussels and prawns. The taste was not overpowering tomato-ey nor fishy. It was rather savory with the tomato base rounding out the brininess of the seafood. All in all a nice way to start the evening much less a meal.

For the mains, my wife ordered the Grilled Black Cod. I was dithering between ordering seafood or the steaks. In the end, my love for bovine meat ensured that the tug-of-war for my stomach was won by a cow. Sorry uric acid, its time to get high so the Carpetbag Steak was selected. Just an aside, a carpetbag steak is not a steak cooked to look like a carpet bag. It is a piece of meat which has been stuffed with oysters before cooking. The Ship stuffs theirs with smoked oysters. Cow and oysters - a match made in heaven but hell for my liver, heart and cholesterol levels .

My steak arrive first, thank God, as I was already ravenous at that point. Glad to say that it did not disappoint. The meat was cooked properly to my liking being just a tad over medium-rare so it was tender and juicy with that hint of iron a good medium steak should have. The smoked oysters added an extra level of flavor with its meatiness and, just for good measure, the pate-like texture complemented the meat very well. The smokiness also lent a nice savory, umami-punch to the dish. The oyster sauce was a nice complement and the vegetables were crisp and fresh. The only disappointment was the fries. Limp and soggy, they were probably cooked straight from the freezer.

My wife's fish arrived minutes later. Two pieces of cod accompanied with a small salad, the same limp, soggy, sad-looking fries, and tartar sauce. The fish was nicely done, more pan-fried than grilled, but still juicy to the bite. The skin was crispy and the seasoning was just right, allowing the natural fishy sweetness to come through. However, the serving was a bit on the small side and the fish was not filleted but come in steaks i.e. with the bone-in but that's just personal preference.

The meal was washed down by iced tea and iced water. By the time we finished, the place was almost full and so were we. No space for desert but we did finish the meal with ice-lollies from the nearby 24-hour convenience store. All in all, it was a good meal, considering the place and time. There is a high possibility for a return visit as some items on the menu seem interesting e.g. the T-bone Steak and Roasted Lamb Rack. The only thing which needs improvement is the fries. For the price and place, nothing less than hand-cut and freshly fried fries should be the order of the day. After all, if McDonalds can serve good fries at less than RM5, why can't a fine-dining restaurant? Oh, before I forget, the bill was about RM120 or less.

The Ship @ 69-B, Jalan Batu Ferringhi, 11100 Penang, Malaysia. 04-8813870