Unlike their other outlets, Maria’s SteakCafe 1 POWERHOUSE packs a punch with its panoramic views and melt-in-the-mouth meats. Known for its juicy steaks, the latest outlet is located on the top floor of the 1 POWERHOUSE building, also known as Skyforest. Getting here was challenging as there was a lack of proper signage, but the hunt for the restaurant was worth the trouble.
Maria’s SteakCafe is not only known for its steak offerings but also for how affordable they are, and Zafigo had the pleasure of spending an afternoon sampling some of their best dishes.
How it began
For starters, we were presented with New Zealand Spicy Mussels with a side of garlic bread and an Orange and Baby Spinach salad. The mussels were cooked just right, topped with a spicy, tangy tomato base sauce, which cut through the briny taste of the mussels (not that there was any). The sauce was also a lovely accompaniment for the toasty garlic bread.
Moving on to the salad, which we fell in love with. Not only did it do its job as an appetiser, but the flavours mingled on our tongues, sending us to salad heaven. The combination of baby spinach, cucumber, walnut, orange, cheddar cheese, and pickled red onion (my favourite part of the dish) served with a poppy seed vinaigrette stimulated our appetites for the main course.
The stars of the show
We kicked off our main portion of the dining experience with Maria’s SteakCafe’s Japanese Kobe A5 Striploin, and for someone who isn’t much of a red meat kind of gal, I was floored by how perfectly cooked it was. It was so tender, and it felt as though the pieces of the ‘Grand Champion’ cattle hailing from Hyogo Prefecture in Japan just completely melted in my mouth.
Next, we braced ourselves for more meat with the Australia Hereford Grain-fed Ribeye. The dry rub seasoning paired nicely with the meat’s natural flavours, and the sweet and savoury combo really hits the spot. The soft-as-clouds mashed potatoes and homemade salad on the side perfectly accompanied the entire dish.
By now, you would have thought we’d had enough of the meat, but thankfully not, as we were served their decadent N.Z. Baby Cutlet. Three of the juiciest pieces of lamb cutlets I have ever tasted with the most fresh and flavourful mint sauce that elevated the meat even more.
And if you’re not a fan of meaty meat, their seafood offerings are much to rave about as well. Especially the Pan-Fried Canadian Seabass––premium white cod served with sake sauce, which made the dish so special. Want something a little more carby? You cannot go wrong with their Seafood Aglio Olio, which was al dante perfection and served with a smorgasbord of selected seafood meats.
End it all on a sweet (and alcoholic) note
The desserts may seem simple at first glance, but their taste tells a different story. Among them, my top pick is the chocolate cake served with vanilla ice cream. This cake stands out for its light, moist texture, making it a perfect complement to a rich and flavorful steak. Similarly, their prune cake shares the same delightful qualities—light, fluffy, and exceptionally moist.
On the other hand, the tiramisu didn’t quite hit the mark in terms of its alcohol flavour, although it was still enjoyable. It doesn’t quite rival the authentic Italian version. If you’d like to try their non-alcoholic version, they carry it at their KLCC branch.
Address: 1Powerhouse, Level 30, 1, Persiaran Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Contact: +6016 902 0490
All images by Xin Xin Lee unless specified otherwise.
