For Penangites who frequently eat in Pulau Tikus area, I am sure they would have heard about Top Top Restaurant which used to be at a shop along the main road of Burmah Road.I remember it used to be quite swanky (at least by my student days standard) and eating there was considered a luxury. The food is also quite good.
That was quite a long time ago and then one day, they closed down. I didn’t know what happened to them until in recent years, I heard that they are operating out of their home in the same area. Now, hearing about it does not make it easy for me to find the place. Then my personal chef (aka The Food Critic aka The Food Hunter) found out the location and we went there for dinner.
It was still as good and in quite a cosy atmosphere despite it being based in the ‘restaurant’ owner’s home. So, here’s introducing Top Top Restaurant, now known as Yaw’s Roast and Grill.
The 'kitchen' is outside in a corner of their house compound
They filled up the rest of their compound with plastic tables and chairs and even placed some tables and chairs inside their living room. And no, there is no signboard outside the house. That’s why it wasn’t easy for us to trace them until we were specifically given the address!
A view from inside the living room, looking out to more seating outside
Now, let’s get on to the menu and food, eh?
Here's a menu of the food offered here
And here are the food we ordered…
Grilled giant sausage which is the specialty of the day
They have specialty dishes on different days and on the day we went, they have giant sausage so we ordered that. Nothing really all that great about it since it is just sausage they probably got from somewhere to be grilled and served.
Mixed grill
Their mixed grill consists of lamb chops, sausage, bacon and grilled chicken breast meat. It is served with a small serving of fries and some fresh greens. It is practically meat galore with a dusting of black pepper. Considering the different types of meat on this plate, all of it are grilled to perfection and in quite a good portion size. The Food Critic could finish this whole plate of meat but he didn’t and shared it with me instead.
Chicken Maryland
We went there with another couple and one of them ordered chicken maryland. I can vouch for the chicken maryland as I’ve ordered it the first time we came here.
I ordered the fish version this time around. Of course, I shared my fish maryland with The Food Critic and my picky toddler. Here’s a closer look…
The fish is deep fried with a crispy, crunchy crust and since it’s maryland, naturally it has a sausage and a slice of ham with the fish. The fish was not bland and is rather tasty as it was probably seasoned before it was deep fried. What’s more, it is quite a big portion too…that’s why I was able to share it with my son and The Food Critic.
Chicken Chop
My other friend ordered chicken chop and it looks pretty good too. I’ve tried their chicken maryland before and since the chicken is probably fried the same way, I can safely say it is crunchy and good. As usual, the chicken is the deboned chicken thigh so the meat is tender.
I don’t know about the chicken chop sauce though.
My verdict: the overall experience of eating at Yaw’s is that of cosyness and far from being a quiet place, it is often packed with most tables occupied. So, be prepared to enjoy great western style food in the midst of chatter from the crowds there. However, it is a great place to hang out with friends and catch up while waiting for the food to be served.
The prices are pretty reasonable and I could say it goes with the portion. I would not say that it is really good food but it is good enough for me to want to go back there again. Only problem is that parking space is not easy to find as you will have to park along the roadside. It is located within a residential area after all.
Rating: 6/10
Price:$$$
Yaw’s Grill and Roast
1, Gerbang Midlands
Tel: 04-2276273 / 012-4848178
Here’s the location of this restaurant within a house.
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Oh wow, what a neat looking place (even if you weren’t super crazy about the food)…
+Jessie
a.k.a. The Hungry Mouse
Jessie’s last blog post..Feasting on Cupcakes: A Photo Tour of Lyndell’s Bakery
Very interesting operating a restaurant from a house. I wonder what challenges and advantages that situation provides the chef owner.
Cheers,
CCR =:~)
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I always read your blogs when I’m most hungry and then want to go out to eat!! Great review as usual!!
Freya’s last blog post..Our First Award!
Visited this place a few times, food is good and reasonable. The only thing is that you have to take off your shoes if you are given a table inside the house.
ck lam’s last blog post..Penang Restaurant – Bistro @Hardwicke House
This is one of those places where you will definitely park illegally, run down, polish off your food in seconds and be out of there. Or risk getting a parking ticket or the evils from some irate driver, or otherwise, anaemia from feeding the mosquitoes that swarm under the tables outside in the evenings!
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Jessie: It has the homecooked environment and the food isn’t all that bad but if it were better, I’d probably go there more often!
Ryan: I guess they will have the challenge of keeping their house clean and presentable at all times and not being able to have friends over at night. The main advantage of this is that they do not have to rent a place for their restaurant!
Freya: Awww…thanks.
ck lam: I don’t mind taking off my shoes since they do keep the floor pretty clean inside. After all it is our culture that we don’t wear shoes inside our homes!
550ml: lol. the thing is they don’t cook the food within seconds. Have to wait for awhile before your food gets served. Nah…probably won’t get a parking ticket since at night most of the enforcement officers are not working…we all know how ‘hardworking’ they are. mosquitoes? Hmmm…I remember they do have some mosquito coils under the tables.
Ok, I am the ‘friend’ who had the chicken chop. The sauce is so-so, not bad but nothing to blah about. But the chicken is really tender and crispy. I lurve crispy *crunch crunch* chicken! Yes, I would rate the place 4-star. Especially the neat and cosy environment. Suits my slightly clean-freak bf very well. Thanks for bringing us there
YT: OMG. Did I send you the pictures? I think I forgot lar….heheheh…sorry lar. old already, memory all gone. Eh, we should make a date for the seafood dinner we talked about!
ohhh i had this when i ws so very young (at the corner in Pulau Tikus shoplot!) back then they were the pioneers of “western food” in Pg!
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