Noontime on Tuesday, my daughter and I went to the Sibu Esplanade…

Sibu Esplanade

…because we wanted to go to The Ark for lunch. The restaurant is located to the left of this waterfront park, if you are facing the mighty Rejang River, the longest in Malaysia…

Rejang River express boats

Those are the express boats that link Sibu to the towns upriver like Song, Kapit and Belaga. Here, if somebody tells you that he came by express, he is not talking about a bus or a train, but one of those boats instead.

Unfortunately, The Ark is closed on Tuesdays, so the two of us went to the Garden Hotel cafe instead. This is the open air section outside…

Garden Hotel cafe open air section

…and as you can see, it was empty. Inside, it wasn’t much better with around 3-4 tables occupied only, a far cry from those days when the place would be packed by yuppies on their lunch break. I also noticed that it was somewhat dimmer than the last time I had dinner there with a sweet and young birthday girl but I reckoned that they must be trying to cut down the electricity charges.

I had the RM8++ set lunch…

Garden Hotel cafe set lunch

I had the fried lamb with curry sauce and two side dishes – fried ladies fingers and sambal ikan bilis, plus rice and complimentary soup…

Garden Hotel cafe set lunch - complimentary soup

…and a free cold drink…

Garden Hotel cafe set lunch - free drink

My daughter had the iced Milo and this plate of fish and chips from the a la carte menu…

Garden Hotel cafe - fish and chips

I did not check the price but I guess it is still around RM11-12++ but it was a lot less substantial than before, that’s for sure, and I do wish they would serve the tartar sauce in something more presentable than that horrendous melamine bowl. No wonder business seems so poor these days especially when compared to the time with their RM5 nett set lunch – one specific set menu per day for the whole month. Now it is RM9.20 altogether and they give a choice of one out of 4 or 5 set meals everyday in one entire month. They should have maintained the old prices and with the huge turnover, they would be reaping higher profits, I’m sure, even though they may be earning less from each diner.

Compared to what they used to serve before, the set lunch was not really that great and at that price, especially during such difficult times economically, I am sure it will just go on being one pathetic and miserable empty garden….