Suffolk House is considered as the fanciest
restaurant in Penang. It is located in a colonial bungalow that is full of fascinating
history. The house is standing on a previously pepper estate encircled by forest.
Despite the busy Jalan Air Itam, this is an extraordinarily serene spot that is
enclosed by sweeping lawns, peeve trails and big old trees. The bungalow has
lost none of its unique greatness. History-wise, this house was just a simple
wooden bungalow constructed for the first governor of Penang, Francis Light
before it turned into this beautiful mansion in 1805 after his death. However, in
the second half of the 20th century, this place begins to fall apart.
After its refurbishment in 2007, it has
been open to visitors for RM10 self-guided tour. Visitors would always go to
the back veranda after the tour to have high tea. While enjoying a cup of tea
looking over the trimmed lawns and hardwood trees, will surely bring you back
in time when colonist was still around. Be sure to indulge yourself with the
delightful warm pies, petite sandwiches, precisely cut salmon, a selection of
biscuits, tarts and cakes, and of course freshly baked scones. They are all
served on a two-tiered plate stand, and don’t forget to choose from a variety
of teas available. It is served on the veranda every day, between 14:30 and
18:00.
Otherwise, this fine dining restaurant also offers lunch and dinner delicacies with an extra touch of colonial era. Despite of it being the fanciest restaurant around, the price range are also pretty fancy. Lunch meals starts from RM30, while dinner from RM50. The popular dishes in here are lamb shank, risotto, roasted duck, pan-seared fish and salmon steak.