Dusk has fallen and it was already dark when I was seated at DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru’s Italian restaurant, Tosca, located at Level 13 facing the swimming pool outdoor. Tosca known for its specialised Italian cuisine downtown has revitalised its menu with healthy plant-based varieties, gluten-free options, and quality dry-aged meats.
Showing the trattoria-style restaurant’s commitment to being more sustainable, 80% of its made-from-scratch menu was put together using locally and sustainably sourced ingredients, fully supporting the local farming communities.
“At the heart of good food is the quality of the ingredients. With this refreshed menu, we hope our guests would enjoy authentic Italian cuisine made with the very best of what our land and sea have to offer – from the freshest catch of seafood to the vegetables plucked fresh from our farms,” said Chef Hassan Mohammed, Executive Chef of DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru.
He also added, “Locally grown food creates important economic opportunities, provides health benefits and helps to reduce environmental impact. Therefore, we have included vegan-friendly dishes as well in this menu. Utilising local produce also helps bring the community together and gives people the opportunity to make a difference, in line with Hilton’s Travel With Purpose initiative”.
As I took sips of the welcome drink, a zesty mocktail, it surprisingly went well with the Buffalo Mozzarella starter which is a classic Italian appetiser. I had to sadly pass the highly regarded Oven-roasted Local Giant Sweet Water Prawns for our allergy but the other invited guests made up of foodies were in love with it – I suppose for seafood lovers this is a must-try.
Big on meat and a self-proclaimed burger connoisseur, I would not miss my chance to try Tosca’s signature Wagyu Burger which gave me a pleasant, mouthful of sturdy yet crispy bun sandwiching the juicy, premium patty.
It’s a bummer that the restaurant was such a hit that night that they ran out of the taste test sets but we got to experience the full-size meals like the Scottish Salmon and hearty Mushroom Soup that were served in large portions.
The new menu also features a refreshed Kid’s Menu which includes their signature pasta and a pizza selection.
The desserts came along and my favourite had to be the Cameron Highland Apple with a dollop of ice cream on top and of course another Italian classic – the deliciously bittersweet Tiramisu.
Private dining rooms are also available and for a request of a specific menu, you are advised to make your bookings 3 days before the date of dine-in. Tosca operates for lunch on weekends from 12-2 pm, snacks from 2-5 pm and daily dinner from 6.30 – 10.30 pm.
For more information or reservations, please call +607 268 6868, email JHBDT_FB@hilton.com, or visit www.takeus-home.com or www.eatdrinkhilton.com.
