After the wedding and the grand banquet, my girl’s friend/coursemate and hubby from Miri left town the very next day and on Monday, another coursemate of hers and a college mate, their junior in college, who were here too, were taking the evening flight back to KL and Bentong, Pahang respectively.
They were so busy the previous few days, caught up with everything that was going on but we managed to take them here…
*Archive photo*
…for lunch after they had checked out of the hotel.
Of course, this is one place not to be missed, anyone who comes to town and besides, one of them is a vegetarian so I thought this would be a good choice as there were some things on their menu that she could enjoy.
Later, I asked her what she liked best and she singled out the mushroom roll (RM16.00, RM8.00 each)…
…and their unique version of the mashed potatoes (RM8.00)…
…that is quite different from any elsewhere.
She also enjoyed the pomelo salad (RM8.00)…
…and the Payung rojak (RM12.00, large)…
I guess everyone knows that theirs is different from the fruit rojak elsewhere including the celebrated one here in Bintangor but I was quite surprised to find out that there is no prawn paste in it, just gula apong (nipah palm sugar) and whatever ingredients there are in their special recipe. One thing I do know is that the special sambal is cooked, the same thing with their mashed potatoes, something that is not done usually.
The newly-weds were able to join us too and of course, I ordered a few of our favourites here to share like this huge plate of their belimbing prawn spaghetti (RM17.00)…
…for instance, and we had their mango (our local quinee, actually) ice cream and their lovely banana cake with ice cream for dessert.
While we were enjoying the desserts, Andy came and served everyone a glass of water each even though we did not ask for it and that sure impressed the ladies and prompted one of them to remark, “Such good service here!”
The two girls had to check out of the hotel by noon and their flight was not until 7.00 p.m. and since they had been busy and did not have much time to go sightseeing, I drove them around to see some of the places of interest here…and much to our surprise, at the Permai Lake Gardens, we met the junior in the teacher-training institute of one of the girls and her family who came all the way from Sungai Petani, Kedah on a visit. Gee!!! I sure am glad that there actually are people who would want to come here and they said they loved it here, so very nice and different from the way things are back home!
We got to the airport before 6.00 p.m. and very soon, they were on board their flight on their way to home sweet home.
PAYUNG CAFÉ (2.284049, 111.833014) is located at No.20F, Lanang Road, Sibu, Malaysia, back to back with the multi-storey car park of the Kingwood Hotel which faces the majestic Rejang River.
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
Payung, a must go makan place when in Sibu…
Definitely a place not to be missed!
Flights to Sibu are too expensive, i think some rants on facebook went viral recently, complaining the flight prices are too high
The worst would be around Chinese New Year and other festivals and during school holidays. For some reason, it seems we in Sibu are being victimised. Cheap fares to Kuching, Bintulu, Miri, KK…not to Sibu. My niece in Singapore flew to Shanghai that day for the weekend – she said cheaper than flying back to Sibu!
Mushroom roll, pamelo salad & payung rojak, a must to have. That’s a nice lunch to wrap up their visit.
Hopefully, that will be something for them to remember.
Phew! What a rush. But good that they get to enjoy unique dishes in Payung before flying off.
Yes, very tiring! Took me two days to recuperate, this old man but it was worth it. Love to have people around, enjoy the food, enjoy the company!
Of course I enjoyed hearing about your vegetarian friend. Looks like this place had some interesting choices!!!
Indeed, it has!
Such interesting dishes, the only one I know there is that mashed potatoes
They dare to be different! Most everything here is original or twerked, not quite like the originals. The mashed potatoes taste nothing like any you have had before.