Rumours

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

This new venture in the city centre is informal without losing its manners, and reasonably priced without selling itself short. Malaysian cuisine shows the influence of other Asian countries, so the spices of India, the savoury tastes of southern China and Thailand's fragrant characteristics all play a part alongside the subtle, hot flavouring of 'Malay' cooking itself (both satay sauce and the 'Chinese curry' are as much this region's as any). Thus, at Rumours one can expect to find many (not entirely) familiar dishes, such as seafood tom yum soup with the zest of kaffir lime; Malaysian-style kung-po chicken with fried chillies and not the sticky sauce, and a creamy-but-ferocious fish curry. The food is vibrant and freshly prepared in front of customers – plus, it's also proving popular with the local Malay community. A bit of momentum and Rumours should do well.

• High point: Exciting menu
• Low point: Might need more staff at busy times