Scott’s Pub & Restaurant in Fraser’s Hill: Smells Can be Misleading

What: Scotts Pub & Restaurant, Fraser’s Hill, Malaysia

When: February 2013

Food: Western and Asian

Rating: 3/10

There was a rumour circulating when I was at university that one of the popular supermarkets in the UK would pump out the (artificial) smell of freshly baked bread purely to tempt shoppers to the bread section. I suspect similar tactics are employed at Scott’s Pub & Restaurant.

Fountains and flowers!

Appearances were rather winning when we strolled up past the tinkling fountain into the charming old brick building of Scott’s during a weekend at Fraser’s Hill, a dainty colonial hill station two hours from KL. The smell of something delicious accosted our nostrils as we stepped into what was surely a rabbit hole, transporting me Alice-like to a mediocre pub of my homeland. It was all there – the wooden chairs, the tired looking sofas, the jumbly décor, the London Pride banners, and the manful attempt at charisma (the fireplace, the cosy nooks).

Chintzy and cute keeps the hope flowing

The BF and I were bouncing with hope, still in a state of delight at how quaint and lovely Fraser’s Hill was, how it screamed of British colonial cosiness, and how cooling and fresh the air was after a week breathing in the fug of KL.  

Empty? Very. But it was 3pm...

I suspect it was this merry cloud of optimism that enabled me to ignore the uncleared plates gathering flies at the empty tables and the vacant expression on the face of the “chef” leaning aimlessly on the bar. It was the optimism that enabled me to retain buoyancy as we perused a menu of the cliché range of edibles served only in a place where the staff aren’t all that enthusiastic about food in general - chicken chop, sirloin steak, pasta, fish and chips, noodles, fried rice, cheese sandwiches.

Specials chalked up

But still we fussed and shone with hope, settling ourselves by the open window at a darling little table and snapping away at the cuteness of the breezy room. The photos on the menu dazzled us, and so we swiftly ordered the two things that looked good and settled back to await our lunch.

The ding of the microwave should have been the first sign that the optimism was misplaced, but when my mug of tea arrived with REAL milk, I managed to wave off my worries. But then my juice arrived (both tea and juice came free with my English Breakfast order), and I began to sense this may not be the meal of my dreams: so small was the vessel, the contents satisfying to only the most diminutive of drinkers, that the BF had finished half of it in a single gulp while I used the bathroom.

You can't go wrong with a cuppa

Full English Breakfast..so much promise...and yet..

And then my breakfast arrived (RM18), and it almost looked ashamed to be there. The food and I eyed each other with embarrassment as I shamefully snapped its picture. I had opted to avoid the beef bacon, which was probably a wise move considering that the jumbo chicken sausage taste like that vague, generic “meat” of school dinners. 

Doesn't look like any chicken I've met..

The fried egg (the staff had been unable to poach it for me), was oozy and nice on the top, but crinkled with grease below and lacked a little life, oozing sadly into the heap of lettuce that served as a garnish.

The vegetables, surprisingly, managed to salvage the meal – baked beans may have been a small heap, but they tasted reassuringly as they should straight from the tin; the tomato was well roasted and sweet; and the mushroom heap was lightly peppered, the earthy taste managing to make itself known through the grease.

Two slices of toast

Toast was included too – two whole slices of that supermarket stuff that I suspect contains 70% cotton wool – and the piece de resistance was probably the butter: REAL butter! Alas, I am not much of a fan of butter anyway, so the breakfast was, needless to say, somewhat sad. But such was the optimism disease and the charm of the open window, the tinkling fountain outside, that I managed to laugh, enjoy my tea, and put it down to experience.

Irish Stuffed Chicken

The BF’s order of Irish Stuffed Chicken (RM23) fared a little better (although there wasn’t much competition). Reasonably meaty chicken thigh was stuffed with grated carrot and cabbage (hmm…) and breaded and fried till crispy, before being daubed with a bland white sauce. The taste wasn’t too bad, all things considered, and it certainly made up for the fact that the wedges (requested instead of chips) looked like they had been left to kick back with a movie between cooking and serving.

Carrot and cabbage stuffing...not such a winning combo

We chuckled, we shook our heads sadly, we winced at the fact that tea costs RM5 a pop, and then we made our way back towards the outdoor charms of Fraser’s Hill, our mood not buffeted by what could be deemed a pretty uninspiring meal. Still, with few options in this small colonial hill station, you can’t blame Scott’s for doing the typical thing in a void of competition: serving lacklustre food at high prices to captive eaters.

I tried my best, lah

As we stepped back down the steps and into the cute garden of Scott’s, a trio of tourists were making their way up the path. “Oh that smells good…” whispered one woman, her face shining in optimism. I didn’t have the heart to shatter her hope – it was perhaps the only thing that would get her through.

Optimism is hard to kill!

Scott’s Pub & Restaurant

Fraser’s Hill

49000 Perak

Malaysia

www.thesmokehouse.com.my

Open: Thursday-Tuesday 11am-10pm

Halal