Bait

source: Keith Chee

BAIT
65, JALAN TELAWI 3
BANGSAR BARU
59100 KUALA LUMPUR
E: [email protected]
T: 03 2201 8187
OPEN: 8am – 12mn (Mon – Thurs, Sun)
8am – 2am (Fri – Sat)
WWW.BAITKL.COM
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BAITKL

BAIT, CAST, AND REEL
Nestled between the numerous dimly lit watering holes-cum-eateries off Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru – the shop row opposite Bangsar Village II – is Bait, a restaurant-bar occupying a shop lot that formerly housed the original Madame Kwan’s. While the cuisine served is not geographically specific, it’s Western in general, they specialise in seafood (if the venue’s name wasn’t already abundantly clear to you). That alone makes it something of a godsend considering seafood joints in KL tend to serve dishes of the Asian variety – discounting one of those subpar franchises of course.  Bait gets their ingredients by the seasons, guaranteeing only the freshest of fresh there. Interestingly, perhaps due to it being more of a restaurant than bar, Bait is very well-lit, making their bar area the only one that doesn’t depress the crap out of us while we’re drinking a nice cold one. This is a recurring theme with Bait actually – its colours are warm and earthly, reminiscent of a seaside shack during summertime. The materials are mostly salvaged, the decommissioned Telekom posts and lights from the old MAS building being the most noteworthy of the lot. If the interior’s width and length reminded you of a certain venue on Jalan Changkat, that’s because the owner used to co-own Daikanyama. And just like that venue, they aren’t put off by their own size to organise music events there. Currently, Bait hosts Birth of the Cool every last Sunday of the month with plans of other events in the offing.

CLIENTELE The Bangsar Baru crowd. Anyone from business yuppies to expats to hip young upstarts. And yes, that means you won’t be seeing any obnoxious teenage and college-aged crowd here.

DRINKS Affordable wine under RM100 – sold in groups of fixed prices (depending on its type) as to not confuse patrons. The expected premium spirits, strictly no housepours. Cocktails come with special ingredient of the month varieties.

HAPPY HOUR All days till 9pm. Includes wine and beer.

EATS An ever evolving menu, Bait is still fine-tuning their selection of dishes. While we prefer the pan-seared barramundi, most patrons go for the easy option; fish & chips. Raw seafood included, with the oysters being a perennial favourite. Aside from that, they also offer tapas-style small plates, think chicken skins and friend calamari with salted egg.

MUSIC POLICY Happening every last Sunday of the month, their vinyl-themed party, Birth of the Cool, features soul, funk, and other oldies. Twilight Actiongirl’s Ribut spins along with peers of his age range. It’s an afternoon party that we’ve been told lasted till way past midnight.

DRESS CODE Nothing strict, wear whatever you want.

PARKING Parking’s a bitch in Bangsar Baru, but you already know that.