Restoran Cowboy Station

01.03.2008
We had dinner at Restoran Cowboy Station or Cowboy Station Steak House located at Kelana Jaya.

I had grilled fish and Naz had steak. I can live with the small portion but the fish had no taste as if is was cooked in a haste and to add more insult, it was freaking pricey. Oh ya, the chips were being over-goreng, thus felt like I was eating keropok goreng. The steak fared no better.

Please read neutral review below.

**********Extract From The Star**********

Steak lover Ismawi Alek is so crazy about Western food, especially steaks, that his wife told him that he should make it his business. And that is precisely what Ismawi has done – he opened a food stall in Damansara Uptown Hawker Centre in Kuala Lumpur several years ago and called it the Cowboy Station.

The specialty dishes include steaks, of course, and other reasonably-priced dishes like chicken chop and lamb cutlet. Business was so good that Ismawi soon opened a second stall. Now, he is going “upstream” by opening a proper Cowboy Station restaurant at the Kelana Jaya lakeside in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Lamb Cutlet served with steamed vegetables and fries.
Together with his business partner and director, Wan Norain Wan Shamsuddin, Ismawi has taken over the former premises of a seafood restaurant and food court.

The scenic surroundings complement the new restaurant’s rustic brick-and-timber interior perfectly. There is a new jetty walkway and boat landing area complete with small dining tables for those who want to enjoy the serene ambience at dusk.

A range of frontier paraphernalia such as cowboy hats in various shapes and sizes, bows and arrows, posters depicting classic Western movies, and black-and-white prints of John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and other screen cowboys give the main dining area an unmistakably “wild wild west” feel.

The menu features hearty staples like steaks. Diners can choose from 11 varieties, ranging from the house specialities of Cowboy Steak (RM26.80) and Love Me Tenderloin (RM19.80) to Char-broiled Cowboy Station Beef Spare Ribs (RM38.80). In addition, there is a wide selection of seafood and poultry dishes to keep non-beef eaters happy.

According to Ismawi, the outlet uses Australian and New Zealand beef and lamb cuts. “All meats are marinated with pineapple to tenderise the meat before they are cooked according to customers’ specifications. We also give the steaks a distinctive edge with our special concoction of black pepper sauce, brown sauce and top quality Sarawak black peppercorns,” he said.

Appetisers such as Escargots with Garlic Butter Sauce (RM15.80 for half dozen) and Freshly Baked Scallops (RM15.80, half dozen) with Herbs, Cheese and Chopped Parsley are a great way to start your meal.

The Cowboy Steak that we ordered was tender enough. Although my dining partner found the peppery Cowboy Sauce rather overpowering, I reckon its strong flavour would suit diners who like thick, robust sauces.

My Lamb Cutlet (RM24.80) was flavourful but a little overdone and slightly tough in parts. It was accompanied by a chunky mushroom and brown sauce.

Even though it was raining cats and dogs on the night we went, the eatery managed to draw a decent-sized crowd. We noticed several tables ordering the BBQ Spring Chicken (RM15.80), reputedly one of their best-selling items. It looked pretty delectable from the way a fellow diner at the next table was devouring her order.

If you prefer crispy, crunchy fried chicken, the Southern-style Fried Chicken (RM15.80) is a good bet.

For those who have a penchant for seafood, the Lakeside Platter (RM20.80) of grilled tiger prawns and squid, deep-fried fish fillet, scallops and crabmeat or the Kingdom of Heaven (RM38.80), a hearty dish comprising half a Lobster Thermidor, deep-fried fish fillet and scallops with grilled squid, is recommended.

Dessert is quite limited but the Cowboy Brownies A La Mode (RM5.80) should satisfy any sweet cravings. I prefer the Chocolate Milkshake (RM4.80) – it was a rich, smooth and chocolaty enough to rank as one of the better milkshakes I have had in a while.

Dressed in checkered shirts, jeans and hat just like typical cowboys, the service staff is warm and friendly and eager to assist. The outlet also has a private function room, Cowboy Saloon, that can accommodate up to 70, as well as an open-air function area for 200 called the Cowboy Ranch that is used for product launches, company dinners and personal parties.

While the outlet may not be Malaysia’s best of the best, the Cowboy Station looks like it will garner its own faithful posse of customers – namely, people who like affordably-priced Western dishes without anybody needing to get on their high horses.

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Restoran Cowboy Station
Kelana Jaya Lakeside,
Jalan Stadium, SS7/15,
Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-79636369

Cuisine: Western
Rating: Food = D (tak sampai hati to give an 'E'), Ambience = C+

Rating System:
A = Recommended
B = Worth A Visit
C = Average
D = Below Average
E = Waste Of "Hard-Earned" Money. Seriously, I'm Not Kidding!