More space for Ramadan diners

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IN a competitive industry like food and beverage, re-branding is necessary in certain instances to hold on to that strong customer base and help build a bigger one.

When the Verandah Coffee House at the Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa in Cyberjaya closed its doors a year ago for a stellar refurbishment exercise, guests had to find other options to break fast during Ramadan in the cyber city.

Resort feel: Breaking fast at the Verandah Coffee House will put you in a holiday mood.

Recently, the annual “buka puasa” guests to the lush resort strolled in and were awed at the transformation the Verandah had undergone during the 12 months. It retained its name but the coffeehouse was no longer recognisable. It had shed its old rustic feel for the lure of the contemporary.

Designed along the theme of a Pan-Asian coffeehouse, the Verandah is now equipped with a high roof, newly-polished timber flooring and clear pane glass windows.

The nouveau art pillars with seemingly dancing leaves extending outwards as they reach to the ceiling definitely caught everyone’s eye.

Seating arrangement during Ramadan always posed a challenge before but the new Verandah can now comfortably accommodate 260 people in the main dining area, including the smoking and al fresco sections.

Two private rooms ensconced in the non-smoking section can hold a further 40 guests and these offer the privacy desired for family or corporate gatherings.

The food at the Ramadan buffet was well spread out with the main set-up kept within the indoor dining area and select live stations like the grill section and steamed offerings section retained outdoors. The arrangement also helped to spread the crowd so everyone had their fill in an orderly manner.

Verandah’s usual stalls offer Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay and Western cuisine but the spread varies a little during Ramadan when the special hawker stalls set up for the month steal the show with little effort.

Boasting a wide array of local and international favourites, the stalls entice diners with tempting delicacies like Whole Roast Lamb, Ikan Bakar, Roasted Chicken Rice, Carrot Cake, Char Keow Teow and the special Roti Durian.

A touch of Chinese: Stir-fried Mussles with Vegetables.

Local fare to whet the appetite from the buffet line-up include Nasi Beriyani, Kerabu Mangga, Sambal Tumis Udang, Sotong Goreng Kunyit, Indian Fish Curry, Ayam Goreng Kasturi and more.

Kids will love the Chocolate Fountain with a variety of sweets and fruits laid out for dipping in hot, molten premium confectionery.

After they have had their fill of the fountain, enjoy some Bread Pudding, Lepat Pisang, Tepung Pelita, French pastries and ice cream.

The Ramadan buffet is priced at RM70++ for adult and RM35++ for child.