Barney's, Kluang

Barney's, Kluang, Johor (3 August, 2019)


Barney's (GPS: 2.03468, 103.31896) is a Western-cuisine restaurant in Kluang, Johor. Established by entrepreneur cook Barnabas Lim, it has become the main watering hole for local food connoisseurs hungry for the kind of premium food that would transport them momentarily from Kluang to a different world. So if you should find yourself in Kluang, and developed a sudden pang for fresh premium food, this is the place to satisfy your cravings.

Barnabas Lim, or Barney, comes from a food background. It was his grandfather who established the famous Kluang Rail Coffee, which still remains today in the family. After a stint in the United States and then Europe, but never far from the food industry, Barney decided to pack up and return to Malaysia, where he first started off by opening a hawker stall selling pizzas, but eventually opening a Western-style restaurant. It was a bold move, but turned out to be a right decision, as there was simply no other dining outlet of its kind in town.

Barney's occupies two adjoining 3-storey shop lots. The restaurant proper in on the ground floor, which was where my wife and I visited for the first time, on the evening of 4 August, 2019, to have some drinks. We were on a food tour of Kluang organized by Singapore cookbook author Evonne Lyn Lee.

As part of our Kluang itinerary, we returned to Barney's the next day for menu dégustation. I have to say, I am most impressed that there's menu dégustation in Kluang. As in most chef's tables, we were sat on tables next to the kitchen, without a prepared menu, and willingly offers ourselves to the culinary adventure that lies ahead.

So what did we experience at Barney's table? Here we go ...

Here I am with Mr Barnabas Lim aka Barney (5 August, 2019)


Here I am with the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese wheel - the cheese is good enough to be eaten as it is. (5 August, 2019)


The guests are all set for menu dégustation at Barney's. (3 August, 2019)


We started off with fresh oysters from Ireland. (3 August, 2019)


Arriving early, I had a bonus pleasure of also enjoying fresh oyster from Tasmania. (5 August, 2019)


Next, we were served crispy corn tortilla topped with Norwegian salmon tartare and guacamole. (5 August, 2019)


Here's the guacamole for the appetizer. It is made with avocadoes, tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, olive oil and lemon juice. (3 August, 2019)


Norwegian salmon tartare and guacamole. (5 August, 2019)


This large squid torched to be caramelized, is so nicely done, not rubbery at all. Simply delicious. (3 August, 2019)


Mussels pre-cooked sous-vide and then sautéed with the prawns in a light creamy sauce. (3 August, 2019)


Spaghetti, cooked to a perfect al dente, then tossed in the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese wheel. (3 August, 2019)


Chicken roulade stuffed with chorizo sausage. (3 August, 2019)


Satisfied diner. Mr Koichiro Hosoi looking very satisfied with the squid grilled and torched, then served with lemon slices and wasabi tsuke. (3 August, 2019)


Sea trout head, barbecued in sweet teriyaki sauce, then torched, and served with wasabi tsuke, which is a paste made from the wasabi stems pickled in sake. (3 August, 2019)


The pièce de résistance, Wagyu beef, not from Japan, but rather from Australia. This is served with sautéed mushrooms and garlic. Just savour the juiciness of the medium rare meat. (3 August, 2019)

Visiting Barney's

Barney's is open daily from 11:30am to 10:00pm. Menu dégustation is only available if it is pre-booked in advance for groups, so check with Mr Barnabas Lim at the restaurant.

Address

Barney's
7 & 8, Jalan Komersil Kluang 2,
Pusat Perniagaan Komersil,
Jalan Haji Manan,
86000 Kluang, Johor.
Phone: +60-7-774 4992

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