Last night, I took my daughter and my sisters to a newly open Italian restaurant near to the Penang Ferry Terminal. It is called Via Pre and it is operated by real Italian expatriates. It is located on the same side as the British Council and near the office of DSOP, an office equipment supplier. The building is very old and is now under renovation. You have to slow down your car or vehicle to notice the restaurant as it was hardly noticeable from the outside.
The restaurant was not very big and it house about 12 tables and it was by reservation as the restaurant was always full. The design is a typical Italian restaurant with cool lights and Italian plates and glasses. It was full last night but as the dining guest leave, it was fortunate that we can grap a table. The restaurant must be very new as the waiters were not organized and the services were poor. The ordering is through the owner who speaks English with an Italian slang especially the words “ Fork on the table” and “ peace on you”. Well , just a light bits of jokes here.
We ordered pizza , different types of sphegetti and Italian pork chop . We shared among all of us and it was actually quite filling.. At the last, we ordered, cakes and tiramitsu. The pizza was excellent and for 5 person, the bill was RM461.00. I have warned all of you that it was pricey especially when we did not ordered wine or beer. It was an experience I wanted to have as some of my friends have tried out the joint and they have been talking infront of me. Maybe, it is just ego or an adventuring spirit , I don’t really know.
Lately, there are many such joints in Penang heritage town. The town is still gloomy and dark at night but gradually, the State Government is revitalizing the town and make it more lively with drinking joints, fast food and fashionable boutiques and shopes. The town is gradually been lighted up and this is the good job of the new State Government. Give them another term, I think the whole Penang will be a fun place in the night time.
With such development, the price of land and building have shot up to RM2,000 per sq ft and it has gone beyond the reach of wage earners but it has attracted many foreign investors who have been buying pre-war houses and turn it into hotels, motels and food joints. This is good for tourist trade and make Penang well known in the world. Of course, there are good points and bad points. It we leave it as a ghost town, it is still alright for some as they do not want changes and arm chair critics can start yelling and shouting of poor management. All these clowns is their plying trade.
To all those wonderful people who enjoys eating, please be reminded or be careful of the fat bill if you ever decide to try the joint.
Namaste.
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