Dandy Modern Food @ Arena Curve, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Western and Fusion food are commonly found in the Penang cafe scene but Middle Eastern cuisine has not gotten the same attention and limelight. Dandy Modern Food is making a breakthrough here... a new kid on the block at Arena Curve that offers Mediterranean fare with a Fusion touch in a comfortable-cozy cafe atmosphere. The cafe uses an open-kitchen concept and allows diners to have visual access to the Shawarma meat-carving process or reassuring the hygiene conditions of the cafe. The menu covers an interesting array Middle Eastern food and some Western dishes; price points are standard-average but the entire package, including the service level and quality is somewhat spectacular. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary cafe fare in the vicinity, Dandy Modern Food might be a good option.

Hummus & Arabic Bread (Rm 12)

Dandy Lamb with Rice (Rm 24)

Dandy Kebab with Tabbouleh Salad, Grilled Roots Vegetables and Tzatziki Sauce (Rm 23)

Traditional favorite like Hummus is a fun way to start the meal, Dandy's rendition had a good mix of Olive Oil and maybe Sour Cream. Apart from its creamy-smooth, it possessed an indelible acidity but it was within our acceptable range. In fact, we thought it was an acquired taste- the more we had, the more we thought it (the sourness) blended well with the Chick Pea paste. The Arabic Bread was a delightful addition, though it was not really crisp or soft-pillowy but the pleasant charred aroma added a nice touch to the dish. 

The signature Dandy Lamb with Rice did not disappoint either. While we thought certain cuts of the Lamb were a tad too dry to our liking, the flavored long-grain Rice was most lovely. It had traces of the Lamb flavors (probably from the Lard) and perfectly seasoned; the cleverly use of spices kept the flavors varied and multi-dimension. The Dandy Kebab on the other hand, paled in comparison with the former dishes. The meat lacked the juicy bite and the serving portion was less-generous. No complaints for the taste but the "X" factor was not there, not a dish that left us with a positive impression.

Ratings:

Taste: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Service: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Price: 7/10 (1-3 expensive, 4-7 average, 8-10 cheap)

Ambiance: 7.5/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Parking: 7/10 (1-3 bad, 4-7 average, 8-10 good)

Halal

Service Charge: No

Government Tax: Yes 6%

Additional Information:

Address: No. 72-1-17 & 18, Arena Curve, Jalan Mahsuri, 11950, Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Business Hours: 10 am to 10 pm. Closed on Tuesdays.

Contact Number: N/A

Dandy Modern Food Facebook Page