The Beach Grill, Pool & Bar, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi 

Monica Tindall

Beach, pool and sea – The Beach Grill at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi has all three. A stylish, contemporary, open-walled pavilion encourages guests to soak up the surrounds and relax with a refreshing cocktail and a simple menu of salads, sandwiches and grilled items.

Although it’s rainy during our visit, I couldn’t imagine a better place to be in this weather. It’s the middle of the day and the temperature is gorgeous! A gentle breeze caresses our skin (yes I know that sounds cliché but I can’t think of a more adept expression) and the overcast sky means we can take in the vistas without quinting.

Cocktails at The Beach Grill

It is an exemplary spot for a drink, and cocktails at The Beach Grill are designed to be light and refreshing. One the signatures is the Bamboo (RM90) – a medley of Cachaça, green tea coconut syrup, lime juice, basil mint and ginger beer. Another is the Message in a Flask (RM90), which carries with it the romance of a sea story through white rum, lime juice, triple sec, five-spice syrup, grapefruit juice and ginger beer. The former is green and the latter is orange, one with a minty finish and the second with a sour citric tang. Both do their job of building on our cheery holiday spirit.

Bread

While waiting for our food orders, a basket of mixed house made breads is served with butter and seafood rillettes. Mackerel mixed with olive oil and black pepper makes the perfect seaside companion to the bread. Crostini, mini-baguettes, green tea scrolls and soft white buns are dangerous if you’re trying to watch your carb intake as the variety makes you (me) want to sample them all.

Healthy Salads

Buffalo Mozzarella (RM88) is a good rendition of a classic with an enormous bowl of red vine tomatoes (skin removed), oregano and lemon basil oil dressing supporting an attractive plump sphere of soft white cheese. It’s so simple, yet so good.

We test the kitchen by requesting something off menu, and it’s not a problem. I want a green salad with a bit of fruit and some nuts and seeds. “We can do that,” our waitress says confidently, and what comes out of the kitchen backs it up. A colourful bowl of mixed greens is tossed together with grapes, strawberries, kiwi fruit, pecans and pine nuts. I ask for a lemon dressing to be served on the side and only need a small amount to give the salad a little lift.

On the second day of our stay we visit again and this time try the Quinoa Salad (RM78) with the super-grain, grilled chicken vegetables and coriander. The dressing is light and tangy, finely diced red and green capsicum and red and white onion are tossed through the grain, and the serving size large enough to make it a meal in itself.

Sandwiches and More

Even though we’ve been advised that our order of seafood and salads will be enough for two, hubby insists on ordering the Beef Burger (RM112) too. He’s just been to the gym, he tells, and needs the protein. A soft poppy seed bun holds a juicy homemade beef patty with tomato, lettuce, onions and a melted slice of cheddar cheese. A bowl of thin crisp fries sides it, and without looking to slow down, hubby polishes off the chips and the burger, signalling completion with a single word, “Magnificent.”

From the Grill

The Beach Grill Seafood Skewer (RM120) comes highly recommended and we wrangle the kitchen staff to serve it to us for lunch even though it’s a dinner item. A trio of prawns, scallops and grouper are delivered on a smoking portable barbecue. Sprigs of rosemary sit in the bottom on hot coals and smoke up through the seafood infusing its herbal flavour into the skewers. It’s fab! You must give this one an order.

Straight out of the Andaman sea comes the fish for the Pan-Fried Sea Bass (RM125). Sided with roasted potatoes, mixed salad and tomato salsa it’s another dish that is big enough to share, especially if you’re a light eater or you back it up with a starter. The flaky flesh remains moist and the skin has been crisped and sprinkled with a seasoning of salt, pepper, dill, olive oil, and chefs add, “a handful of love” – no wonder it’s so tasty 😉

Dessert at The Beach Grill

Although the menu has several sweets, we want to continue the healthy theme and so think we’re ending with a fresh platter of Tropical Fruits (RM38)…

Our healthy aspirations, however, are not achieved as apparently we can’t leave without trying The Beach Grill Ice Stick (RM42). Chef sends it out even though we haven’t ordered it. Despite our cries about additional kilometres we’ll have to run to compensate, sometimes it’s really best to listen to the chef. He’s handcrafted this sweet that resembles a Magnum ice cream. Inside is a creamy stracciatella ice cream and the outside is coated in a dreamily thick chocolate shell with little pieces of crumbled cookies. It’s scrumptious. Chef knows best!

Reasons to visit: Gorgeous views; stylish pool and seaside setting; contemporary décor; fresh seafood – must try The Beach Grill Seafood Skewer and The Beach Grill Ice Stick.

The Beach Grill Pool & Bar
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi
199 Jalan Pantai Kok
Kampung Teluk Nibong
07000 Langkawi, Kedah
Malaysia
+604 952 4888
www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/malaysia/langkawi