Celebrating 53 Years of Feringgi Grill at Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Penang

A Menu From Ferringhi Grill’s Early Days

The restaurant pioneered a gourmet tableside experience, which included its signature Caesar Salad, then priced at 4.50 Malaysian dollars (the currency’s name was only changed to Ringgit in 1975). A wine list, composed of Old and New World labels dating back to 1966, with prices in handwritten script, offers a snapshot into the prevailing tastes of Penang’s wine cognoscenti: Antinori’s Chianti Classico ($22), Nuit-St-Georges ($30), Château Smith Haut Lafite ($38), and Dom Pérignon ($92).

House Specialties

Fifty-three years later, it lives on as the longest-serving grill restaurant on the island, still serving new creations and old favourites such as its Tomato Soup, prepared theatrically tableside and flambéed with a splash of gin before being finished with a swirl of cream. Over the decades, it has hosted royalty, celebrities, and esteemed guests from near and far, and has even earned a place as a ‘Selected’ restaurant in the Michelin Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2025.

The establishment’s longest-serving staff member, Mohd Safari bin Mohd Noor, who joined Feringgi Grill in 1997, shared that the restaurant’s true beating heart lies in its service and warm hospitality. “Many guests first came with young children, who have since grown up and now return with families of their own,” the captain of the restaurant says. “One guest even attended my daughter’s wedding, which took place recently. That is the nature of the relationships we build here—some of my regulars even call ahead before visiting to make sure I am working that day.”

A Peek Into The Past

Catherine Loh, another long-serving staff member, says, “I first joined the restaurant as a trainee in 1994 when I was still studying at KDU College. I immediately fell in love with the hotel and its enchanting grounds when I stepped foot here. I told the beverage supervisor that I would be back to work here. Thankfully, they kept a spot for me four months later.”

Now working as a hostess and cashier, Loh adds, “I was heartbroken when the restaurant closed for renovations, but I returned in July 2006 when it reopened. Sometimes, I feel that we take care of our guests even more attentively than we take care of our own parents. We have many elderly guests whom we help cut their steak for, and we even accompany some to the bathroom. I love everything about the hotel—my guests and the way the love we give is returned to us too.”

Datuk Suleiman Tunku Abdul Rahman, the hotel’s current Director of Communications, got his first job at the resort at Feringgi Grill. “I worked there for several years as a waiter, and it was great fun. We got along so well with our guests that, even on our days off, we would meet them and take them on tours around the island,” he shares. “One I became particularly close to was an Arabian guest, Muhammad Al-Ataas, who visited every year before he passed away. Our bond grew so strong that I was even invited to visit his home in Indonesia.”

These sentiments are echoed by Penangite V. L. Tan, who shares that he has been a regular at Feringgi Grill since his bachelor days, with his children now all grown up. His family’s fondness for Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Penang, which is rich in memories and stories for them, even led them to purchase two chandeliers during its 2004 renovations. “The staff’s friendliness, attentiveness, and the consistently excellent food make Feringgi Grill our dining destination time and time again,” Tan says.

Mohd Safari adds, “Unfortunately, the restaurant has faced significant challenges over the past year due to increasing competition and worsening traffic congestion, which deters customers from making the drive over. We truly hope our customers will continue to return and support us in keeping our legacy alive,” finishes Mohd Safari.