Bahari H.
Google
Fiz is doing something truly special for the local dining scene with their EP 3.0 Sajian Warisan menu. A massive highlight of the night was Chef Hafizzul himself. He is incredibly humble and took the time to share his heritage, skills, and cooking journey with us. It was a completely eye opening experience, and his passion really shines through in the food.
The meal kicked off on a high note with the Fiz Kaya Toast, delivering a brilliantly rich and decadent bite. The Ang Kar Prawn followed, bringing a serious, sweat inducing heat with its white curry custard. The flavours were massive, though I do wish they provided a knife, as eating the large prawns with just a fork and spoon was cumbersome. The salad gave it a great crunch, but the the delicate uni got a little lost in the spice. Next was the Shima Aji. It had a very sharp, sour kick similar to a celok sauce. The finely diced fish and creamy avocado base were nice, but overall the dish leaned a bit too salty overall and had me reaching for my water. It was also slightly repetitive to see caviar used again so soon in the tasting.
The absolute star of the show was the Blackmore Short Ribs Percik. Chef Hafizzul uses a traditional slow basting method over 38 hours, and I have never seen anyone pull off this level of effort in a commercial kitchen. The beef was unbelievably marbled, pulling apart over a thick, cashew heavy Massaman curry gulai sauce. It was a total masterpiece. The Sotong Sumbat Sambal Hitam was decent but felt a bit safe, and the lightweight plate it was served on kept sliding around the table while I tried to cut the squid. The sides, however, were spot on. The Nasi Dagang made with rare rice had flawless grain texture, and the Chef Special Gudeg hit right at the heart. Chef Fiz explained it replicates the flavours of Gudeg Yu Nap, which had a pop-up in Raffles Hotel some time ago, albeit less sweet than the usual fare from Jogjakarta.
A quirky frozen papaya palate cleanser with popping candy reset our taste buds. The sweets brought everything home perfectly. The Permata Rimba offered a deep chocolate hit with a great nutty crunch, and the Signature Bahulu was addictively crispy, blending Gula Apong and santan for a very clever savoury and sweet finish.
I am happily giving Fiz 5 stars because the culinary vision is just that good, but the front of house experience does need a bit of polish to match the kitchen. The greeting at the door felt a little disorganised, making us feel slightly unwelcomed. Our server also seemed quite tired and unkempt, and missed the refined introductions you expect at this level of dining. However, minor service hiccups aside, the incredible flavours and Chef Hafizzul's dedication make this a must visit spot for any serious food lover.