Rocking out at Hard Rock Cafe, Batu Ferringhi, Penang

Hard Rock Cafe was established in 1971, and came to KL 20 years later in 1991. Yet I've somehow or other never gone to a Hard Rock Cafe, and that's even despite me spending the better part of the 200x decade in the U.S. So anyway since in my latest short makan trip to Penang I stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel, it was as good a time as any to pop my HRC cherry!

(That, and the darling was also a first-timer. So we both lost our Hard Rock Cafe virginity together :P)


Inside of HRC was actually quite dark. It's nicely decorated, though of course not in the 'fine dining' way, but rather in the 'rock n roll' way. There's rock n roll memorabilia everywhere, and LCD TVs blasting rock songs from the 60's all the way to modern rock. Oh, and a stage in the corner.


Speaking of memorabilia, we sat right next to an axe (that's slang term for electric guitar for all you classical music lovers) autographed by Weezer!


Incidentally, don't come here if you're looking to impress a first date on a romantic evening. Unless she's a rocker chick. The music is loud! Menu has nice rock touches as well:


So, does the food rock as hard as the ambience? The darling has the Legendary 10oz Burger ($42.00). Packed with fried onion ring, seasoned bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickles and of course the patty, it's pretty delicious. However the bacon, being non-pork bacon, is a let down. Because eating turkey, beef or chicken bacon is the same thing as going to one of those Chinese vegan shops to eat fake meat made out of soy (or whatever). Pork or nothing!


I go for a 2-meat combo of Brisket and Ribs in the Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Que Combo (MYR58.00). There's a third choice - chicken - but I'm in a mooooo(d) for cow. The beef is BBQ'ed quite nicely, although some of the rib meat was perhaps a tad dry. And although the sauce is pretty nice, it does overpower the taste of the meat somewhat. Portion is huge, had lots of trouble finishing it.


I forgot what these desserts are! One of them was creme brulee, the other one, chocolate of some sort. To be honest they were just so-so only lah. Not bad, but also ultimately quite forgettable.


So that's that! Total bill was over a hundred after taxes and service charge. I'm not sure what the scheduling for the live band is, sees to be past 10.30 or 11.00pm, so unless you're here for a very late dinner you'll have to make do with rockin' music videos.

Hard Rock Cafe is located in Hard Rock Hotel, Penang - on the Batu Ferringhi Beach.