Durbar at FMS - Ipoh, Perak

Jaye S.

Visited this hidden gem in Ipoh with my family last Monday, and it was a truly memorable experience. The ambience was cozy and welcoming, but what made our visit really special was the exceptional service by the staffs. Susan, a wonderful lady, made us feel like we were guests in her own home. She was so attentive and kind, going the extra mile to ensure we were comfortable. She even shared the beautiful history of the restaurant with us, which added a personal touch to our meal.

The food was delicious, and the warmth of the service made the whole experience unforgettable. Highly recommended!

장은영

뭔가 굉장히 고풍스러운 느낌의 펍 레스토랑입니다.
나이 지긋한 전문적인 직원분들이 그런 느낌을 더 강하게 느끼게 해주는 것 같아요.
음식은 양이 많은 편이어서 나눠먹기에 좋고, 맛도 훌륭했습니다.
특히 Fish and chips 랑 Crab 요리 맛있었어요.

Mark L.

Durbar FMS is truly a nostalgic gem in Ipoh. I had the Chicken Maryland, my wife enjoyed the Hainanese Chicken Chop, and my son went for the Fish and Chips – each dish was delicious, hearty, and carried that old-school charm you don’t find often these days. The flavors brought back a sense of comfort, almost like stepping into a different time where food was simple yet full of character.

The ambience of the restaurant was just as memorable as the food. The vintage décor, colonial-era touches, and warm atmosphere made the dining experience feel like a journey into the past. It’s rare to find a place that balances great food with such unique character, but Durbar FMS does it perfectly. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Ipoh who wants more than just a meal – it’s an experience.

Lee F.

Food was great on its own but was made all the more better with excellent service from Susan. Her stories of the history of FMS and little tour of the mezzanine made the dining experience all the more memorable. We especially loved the chicken starter dish (can't recall the name) and fish and chips. Chicken Maryland was rather special. Pity we couldn't try the bomb Alaska (item not served) and the crepe suzette was too big for our party of 5 after our full meal.

P.S. I enjoyed the many thoughtful little details that went into decorating the place; preserving the architectural heritage of the place and the spirit of a bygone era. The wooden covers to hide the AC units are really clever and tastefully designed!

Lorena

Un lugar especial en Ipoh, con historia propia y con una propuesta de fusión occidental y china que funciona de maravilla. Todo estaba delicioso. El ambiente es acogedor y el servicio excelente: Susan, nuestra camarera, fue encantadora y muy atenta, lo que hizo la experiencia aún mejor.

Lena N. M. Y.

In my books it deserves a 5 stars plus... plus for that extra something called warmth. Great service, nice warm service, just enough and nothing over the top. Enough to keep you entertained and not too much to let you enjoy your meal and time with family. The atmosphere, wow we should learn to appreciate it for all it is, the stories and history it wrote.

The food oh the food... excellent. Every bite worth the stomach space haha. Some may feel it to be a tad too salty for some patrons (but i loved it) but its all flavoured and cooked right. Love all the classic dishes being served. Portions are good and orices reasonable for what they are trying to serve us.

If there is one thing I'd like to have improved if all food can be served our simultaneously. That would be a great plus.

Kudos
Keep up the good work and hope the place can becaround for coming generations to enjoy.

Jessie S.

I gave s three star service although the food tasted ok because they do not have any concept of serving western dishes course by course.

We ordered soup, salads, sides and main dishes for 9 pax. Soup was served, mushroom soup was served hot and tasted good. Oxtail soup had too much herbs in it so does not sit well with our palette. When we were halfway done with soup, the garden salad and salad nicoise were served and we accepted it. But before we knew it, all the sides and main courses like pork chop, fish & chips, classic chicken, maryland chicken and two other steaks were served at the same time! We had to stop them from serving another two tenderloin as the table was so filled up!

I commented to servers that I felt the pace was as quick as Mcdonald’s! Servers were wonderful people but serving was just too swift. We arrived at 6.15pm and before 1hr, all food had been served.

I have never came across an issue like this while eating western food in many parts of the world. The whole experience made me feel so rushed and I could not feel relax despite smiling faces and wonderful service rendered by Kevin and other servers.

KM S.

As someone who considers myself a regular at Durbar at FMS, I recently revisited the restaurant after quite some time and was met with a few surprises—some pleasant, some less so.

First, the menu has been revamped with more food and drink selections, which is great to see. However, I did notice that prices have gone up significantly. While that’s understandable with current market conditions, it naturally raises expectations when it comes to quality and portion sizes.

We ordered:
• Three Hainanese Chicken Chops – Still one of their signatures and thankfully, it did not disappoint. The portion matched the price, and the chicken was tender, flavorful, and satisfying. That said, I personally found the chicken and the fries a bit too salty for my taste—though I do appreciate that the fries were not your typical commercial type, which was a nice touch.
• One Chicken Maryland “la Hainanese” – A creative twist. The chicken was a bit dry as it came without sauce, but a staff member, Susan, helpfully offered black pepper sauce which made a big difference. It was also nice to see a banana fritter served on the side, giving the dish a unique and local touch.
• One Traditional Grilled Chicken – Flavour-wise it was good and balanced, but portion-wise, noticeably smaller compared to the Hainanese Chicken Chop and Chicken Maryland.

For appetizers, due to not much vegetarian options,he had Mac & Cheese and Mushroom Soup—both were decent, but honestly, the pricing felt steep for what was served.

As for drinks:
• We were introduced to an off-menu drink: Orange Juice with Ginger. It was refreshing and unique, with a gentle ginger kick that lingered pleasantly after each sip.
• The Lemon Tea was a standout for its smoothness and aroma, thanks to the use of Ceylonese tea. It wasn’t overly sweet, which we appreciated.

However, there are a couple of drawbacks that stood out:
1. The paper straws used weren’t of good quality—they became soggy quickly and were essentially unusable halfway through.
2. The service felt a little rushed. While the staff were polite, they cleared our dishes and glasses a bit too eagerly, even when there was still some drink left and we were still chatting. It made us feel slightly pressured to leave, which dampened an otherwise enjoyable meal.

Our total bill came to over RM300, inclusive of taxes. Given the setting, quality of food, and experience, it’s a fair price if you’re coming for the ambiance and a full-course meal, but still on the premium end, especially with the recent price hike.