An unforgettable culinary journey from beginning to end. As its very well suited name suggests ('Gēn' translates to 'root'), this little gem in the middle of Penang offers a world class food experience without neglecting its Malaysian roots. The Communal Table offers a carefully crafted meal with a perfect combination of flavors, that paired with an impeccable service will make you feel at home. If you are in Penang and you can only pick one place to dine, this has to be your choice. Pro tip: before dinner, enjoy a glass of wine watching the sunset in the wine bar above the restaurant.

Another open concept fine dining Malaysian cuisine, just like Dewakan in KL. However, the food quality better & price is much more affordable here (RM300 for 2 pax). The floor manager is very attentive and friendly. I will definitely be back again when i drop by to Penang.

Third time dining here and first time feeling disappointed. Ordered baby ribs, but we were served the top/back part of the ribs, the ribs served were the part connect to the back and impossible to cut through. (That doesnt live up its name as baby ribs). And it was served in a small plate, when we tried to cut it, nuts that was sprinkled on top spilled everywhere. Also I found plastic in the seafood donabe served. The first and second time we dine there, we get complimentary dish for anniversary and birthday celebrations. This time round, we were told there will be no house special because we did not order dessert. I felt biased the way they treated the customer.

I love my dining experience here. Came once for dinner & 3 times for their high tea set. It's hard to find fine food with a twist of Malaysian flavours & they are doing it very well. I personally love my dining experience here. Pictures i post are not the latest, it's from my previous visits.

A fabulous night of extraordinarily good fine Malaysian dining. Service, food, wine (and sake) and the sheer nature of kitchen ‘theatre’ was wonderful. Such huge flavours from such a small space. Loving all thing Gēn is involved with, and @communaltablegen is a serious star! Dishes: - prawns & betel leaves - charred leek - kam heong clam noodles - duck breast bao Impeccable night. Thanks guys!

“Root” - a phrase turned into pure beauty here. Following local ingredients, the flavours and the tender imaginings of its people elevate this menu beyond an ordinary dining experience — leading by following roots, and setting the path for those to come. Highlights: vegetable crudité, claypot fungi, pork neck and the coconut dessert. The transparent kitchen is also a nice touch. Worth coming for the reputation, worth staying for the vibe.

Visited this place tonight as it is close to my mom's house and she was in the mood to try fine dining restaurant. I am rating the overall experience and delicacy taste with consideration of the price. Then conclude if I would visit again. Service: nothing to complain on the service Food: most of the dishes are done just fine, nothing to be complaint yet nothing memorable. I'm not an expert but my tongue feels some of the dishes ingredients are not complimentary, e.g. duck that is already oily (thick skin) with BBQ kailan. Have to give the credit that duck is done well. My biggest hope was on the fish but it turned out to be okay only. Comparing based on the same price range, if you're reader from KL, I wld strongly recommend a restaurant named Rocksalt at Hartamas. The Seabass served in sizzling salt rock is awesome. I'm someone who doesn't favor lamb shank - but I'm hooked with theirs lamb shank. All friends I brought wld eventually visit the restaurant again. That's the kind of experience I looking for. Hopefully Gen chef can give it try too! So taking Rocksalt as my benchmark, I definitely won't visit Gen again. It''s really not bad, just not good enough. And my mom? 😔 Obviously she wasn't excited... the duck skin was quite rubberish for her. But looking at the reviews history which most low eating are from the past - I'm sure Gen can be better and bEtter! 加油！

young and ambitious team. very professional and engaging service. it was our first time here and we would come back. quality and simple, but tasty ingredients. i saw some critical reviews from before but it seems they have been improving a lot since then

The food here is simply excellent: from the crudites (seasonal raw vegetables with budu dip), the sourdough with allium spreads (hummus), the seafood claypot rice: it's just an explosion of tastes in my mouth. We were also given a couple of dishes on the house (this amazing cherry tomatoes and yogurt dish simply must be a permanent dish here!). Sadly they were short handed so couldn't do the chef's menu that could accommodate some of our dietary restrictions. Their short handedness is also obvious in that food took a while to arrive (about 30mins from the time we ordered). But staff is friendly and the ambience is wonderful. Very aptly, it's situated in Jalan Presgrave, where a lot of fantastic food is available (mainly street food). Street parking is available but can be hard to come by.

Can't really recommend. We ordered mostly vegetable focused dishes. Very disappointed that they didn't do it justice and not really highlighting the produce. The spices wasn't well balanced either, really heavy on the spices that it overpowers everything or smothered in chili sauce or cheese. The mushroom rice was burnt and all we could taste was bitter. We were thankful that we didn't order more and went out to get Street food right outside for actually tasty dinner.

Had an amazing experience at Communal Table! The food is high quality, very tasty and an inventive fusion of Asian cuisine. We ordered 2 portions of the crudités just because the veggies were so fresh and we loved the dip. The Aged Duck big plate was also done very well with a crispy skin and aromatic meat. Most of all, the staff and chef were really lovely - so friendly and attentive! Will definitely be back :)

Only open for high-tea and dinner. Made reservations for dinner on a weekday night. Not crowded at all. Good way to try local produce in a farm-to-table concept. We spend about RM280 for 5 dishes. Raw threadfin fish slices are tender and texture is smooth. Pork balls texture is bouncy and delicious. Wing bean dip in budu sauce is my new favourite.

Fantastic meal! Our favorite meal in Penang. Everything was so delicious and the team were so friendly and nice! We tried the Crudo, tartare, Crudités, prawn bao, pork collar, & the duck. I normally don’t eat duck but their aged duck was so tasty, soft and juicy! Everything was chef’s kiss. I would have loved to order more food from the menu but husband was feeling full. Highly recommend dining at this establishment and I hope to visit again when I’m back in Penang.

It's my first time walking into this place and first time eating their food. Wasn't sure what to expect. But walked away impressed with a throughly enjoyable meal and experience. The seating is unique. A long table facing an open kitchen concept where you can see your food being prepared. The advantage is that you can appreciate the chefs skills as well as be sure that food is freshly prepared and clean. I found the snapper ceviche fresh and well seasoned. The sourness definitely gets your apetite going for the next course. The whipped tofu was unique. Thick, creamy and tasteful complimenting the veggies well. There's a lingering spiciness to the dish that surprised me. As for the pork belly pau, the pau was fluffy and delicious while the pork belly was well flavored and had an enjoyable mild crispy layer from the grill. It was an enjoyable bite except that I felt the saltiness to be a bit heavy. I would've enjoyed it even more had the salt been a tad bit less. The seafood donabe was an interesting dish. I enjoyed the creamy thick gravy that they poured over it which looks deceptively benign. However the underlying spice did overwhelm my palate after awhile. I will use less gravy next time. But that's a personal choice. Most diners are likely more spice tolerant than me. The prawn however was beautifully cooked while the fish tasted fresh. The combination of veggie and rice was unexpected but pleasantly delicious. Overall the components worked well with each other, ending up with a mouth watering treat. All in all, had a great time and will look forward to try out their other food offerings in the future. Shout out to the staff for their great meal recommendation. When in doubt, just listen to their suggestions

We chanced upon this place on our first night in Penang after cocktails. Pop in without a reservation. Friendly and professional team who gave good recommendations. We were served by Reuben who is well-versed with his menu and attentive to patrons preferences. He offered us a card with all the interesting food and bar hunt. Produce are locally sourced which made this restaurant quite unique in the region. The dishes were excellent and we love the natural wine recommended. Highly recommended during your visit to Penang.

Great Service and really creative food presentations. What impressed me was the food quality was exceptional while filling you up and also being delicious at the same time! Can probably include a few cocktails to go with the food!

Excellent experience, great recommendations by the host, interesting food. Gastronomically great.

Fusion with combinations of local and international spices and good balance. A world level restaurant. We sat on the bar, the chairs feel slightly too low. The timing of the dishes could have been better, first many at the same time and then a pause. One of the first times I felt a meal went too fast. Will be happening to return if I am again in Georgetown.

Great space to have friends gather with chef's table seating. Lovely food. Definitely recommend the aged duck breast with bao. The other stuff on the menu are all worthy!

Must try if u drop by Penang. Creative and affordable Malaysia local ingredients fine dish.

Fine dining dishes with Asian influences. Most dishes are spicy. The pork belly bun is nice.

The perfect joint to round off your Penang food trip. Ruben will take care of your taste buds with his recommendations of organic wines and superb dishes from his menu.

Celebrated my partner's birthday here. Tried their Chef's Table menu. There are a lot of wow factors in terms of the taste & most of dishes executed well. Only the claypot rice dish I would prefer more of the fluffy rice instead of the crispy burnt rice. The explanation are clear & easy to understand. Overall very good experience, will definitely coming back & recommend to friends.

recommend but only certain items, not everything on the menu. i had aubergine, was v good and innovative. lamb skewer is off the mark, the lamb is tough to chewy and not using a good quality meat. seabass was excellent with delicious tom yum broth but i noted it was not 100% cooked through. the inside was just slightly raw, u know it when the meat doesn’t flake off and still a little “transparent”. need to be careful when cooking a thick piece of fish. the duck was a 50-50, while the leg confit was a hit while the breast is just plain normal, but nothing wrong, just wasn’t outstanding in anyway. IPA was good. staff was great although they really mostly focused on the larger group that probably spent more. for the price, i felt it needed to be critically reviewed. i would recommend this place but only for certain items.

- Service was friendly, personal and knowledgeable - The experience feels very personalized and doesn't feel pretentious or snobby - Atmosphere was chic, cool but casual (I like their choice of music) - Open kitchen with long table is fun. I imagine more efficient in the back end service procedure too. This is what I ordered: 1. Whipped Tofu [4/5] (RM. 36) - It was amazing and I am not even a fan of pickle. The focaccia combined with the whipped tofu which tasted more like mayonnaise and the mala was amazing. I am not even a fan of pickle! I usually order my burger without pickle! 2. Pork Collar [5.5/5] (RM. 28) - downright bomb diggity doggy darn good. I don't know much about soy with chives on top or something like that (what I caught when our friendly server explained it to us) but that soy and chives did a tag team clothesline on that dish. 3. Prawn toast [3/5] (RM. 25) - The only dish tonight that was just ok for me. It was their newer menu and while the presentation was cool, and you can tell thoughts were put into the dish, in the end, it was just ok for me. YMMV 4. Grilled Seabass [4/5] (RM. 68) - It was not as juicy (a little on the dry side) as I would like, but it was still a delicious dish. 5. Osmanthus Custard [4/5] (RM. 28) - It was recommended by our amazing server and in her word it was "refreshing and light". I can attest that it was refreshing and light. Such a delight. Not too sweet and the texture was alright, alright. After I had this, I was inspired to create this rhyme right and tight. - Will definitely bring my wife here and try other stuffs on the menus (I been giving the steak tartare the naughty eyes)

Cosy space staffed by well-groomed and knowledgeable young professionals. Food uses local produce whenever possible and strives to celebrate local culture and tradition. Delicious, unpretentious and also full of potential.

This is my second visit. Was impressed the first time round but wanted to come back to try a their other dishes before I gave a review. All the dishes were well executed. The ingredients complemented each other. Service was also excellent. Would definitely come back again.

Highly recommended this place. Fine dine environment with reasonable price and great portion. Their food are mainly for sharing, so come with your friends. Limited seats, so remember to make reservation. Their service was top, very personal and very attentive. For food, I would recommend the steak tartare, you have to try it! Whipped tofu was quite oily, as they put in the mala oil, so for you to decide. For main course, we have ordered the striploin because they sold out their duck, it was okay. We ordered the off menu dessert, which is the donuts with corn cream inside and dip with kaya. It was very good. Overall, it was good and value for money.

Great place to be! Had two days the opportunity to enjoy their food, one day alacarde supported by craft beer and one day the chefs menu with natural red wine from Australia. Highly recommend and will go there again to enjoy as well their service.

Communal Table by Gen deserves a glowing review, especially for the star of my evening—the flawlessly grilled seabass in Tom Yam broth, sawtooth, and crustacean oil. The broth's perfect blend of acidity and spice takes the seabass, with its crispy skin and flaky flesh, to a whole new level. The Crudités, featuring fresh local produce and the delightful Budu emulsion with a mayo-like consistency, add an extra layer of charm to the dining experience. The Prawn Toast is a marvel, seamlessly blending prawn flesh, crispy You Tiao, and Indian spice for a uniquely delightful Chinese-Indian fusion. The Coconut parfait steals the show with lime meringue sticks, white ruby, and coconut ice cream, and my experience was topped off by a delightful surprise anniversary pastry, a nod to the place’s attentiveness of my booking! An evening at Communal Table by Gen is an enchanting journey through flavors and surprises, making it a must-visit for culinary enthusiasts.

The staff is friendly and attentive. Patiently explain the dishes for you All the dishes taste delicious except the price is on a high side Overall it’s a lovely evening to dine there

Casual and friendly atmosphere. Serving food that comforts your soul. The communal by gen is on the other side of its mother "gen", the restaurant be more like a playground for the young chef creating the easy but tasty foods. Simple, casual elegant and the taste that makes you want to hit the like button.

Impressive young and energetic crew cooking up impressive dishes

Waiter/waitress needs to be better. Explaining of each dish needs to be more professional and louder. 4 of us went but waitress kept explaining to 2 of us only, leaving the other 2 out. Food is very good and worth the money though. But let down by the non-food part. Just thought that service could be better for the price. Some improvement to be done.

Definitely one of the best restaurants I have been which bring great memories and heart warming experience. Friendly and patient and handsome chefs. Awesome food with great combination of local ingredients. All the dishes looking good but it actually tastes even better than it looks. I love how humble yet outstanding flavours they have put in where u can actually taste each ingredients like lemongrass, etc but also as a dish as a Whole. I will definitely be back and this time I'm gonna order chili crab rice all by myself and duck egg Kaya is a bomb! 🤩

One of the best fine dining I had in Malaysia. The food is very interesting and flavorful. My favorite was the egg and the desserts. The service team is very young and energetic. I can’t wait to come back to try their new menu

Well what can i say other than i was one of the best meals that i had ever had. I came here around 6pm to a kitchen buzzing with activity. The kitchen is actually right in front of you as the seats are set out in a bar style configuration with views of the creative kitchen staff two meters away. A comparable restaurant in Europe would be 5 times the price of this place. If your in Penang for a culinary journey then this has to be at the top of your list to visit. FOOD I took the 12 course tasting menu with wine paring but as i came to find out i enjoyed some other drinks too like mirin & a cocktail. The chef makes the tasting menu different daily with what’s in season. Truly this was some of the most innovative food that i have had please to eat in malaysia. The creativity, attention to detail put into every dish was mind blowing. From the fish with coconut & calamasi to my personal favourite duck breast from Ipoh & the liquid nitrogen cooled Indian spiced ice cream breaded lolly ice it was a true masterclass in culinary excellence. I have to also give a big commendation to the wine pairings they were perfect. It’s hard to get good wine in Asia but they have curated the menu carefully here.. bravo ATMOSPHERE Interesting concept where the kitchen is totally open only a few meters from the bar style seating. I found it very refreshing as it was kind of a theatre to watch all the young chefs in action crafting the dishes for the customers. Johnson; the multi award winning head chef of Gen has crafted a young team of talented chefs pushing the boundaries of new Malay food. SERVICE Absolutely perfect. The chefs & staff interacted with me on every occasion & with each new dish came an in-depth description of all the ingredients.

A friend have recommended this to me. I was curious and eager to check this place out and my latest trip to Penang includes this restaurant at the very top of my to-visit list. I walked out of my hotel without an umbrella and took a hit from one of the island's famous quick evening shower. Having arrived soaked and bedraggled, I was contemplating to postpone my dinner. However, the interior looked so inviting and everyone smiled and greeted me and I was ushered in with great efficiency. My tummy persuaded me to stay and I am glad I always listen to my tummy! The entire culinary journey was remarkable. I chose the 13 course degustation menu (my tummy ordered me to do this) and it turned out to be an excellent choice. Each item on the menu is explained with enthusiasm. Before you take a bite, you will learn what the dish is all about, why the chef chose those exact ingredients. I may arrived wet and slightly miserable but I left with a happy tummy and a great big smile.

Was here over two nights. 2nd night just for desserts because we didn’t have time for it on the first night. Young creative team should be applauded for their daring and innovative approach. And it all tasted delicious without any hiccups. Perfect professional service and felt very well taken care of. Premium prices but not unexpected for the quality and inventiveness. Food concepts are balanced and well-thought through. None of the culinary misadventures young chefs tend to fall into when they have too many ideas and don’t realise that Less is often More

It was a very joyful and enjoyable fusion dinner. The team serving us was so nice and enthusiastic. Food was good and each dish was served like an art. Great experience. Thanks.

Great dining experience in the middle of Georgetown. A very nice and neat location, staff was friendly and competent. The 7 course menu with wine pairing had some very innovative combinations, althoug some courses were a bit too fancy. There are actually not 7 courses, but 13 small ones, which in the end was a bit overwhelming. Most of the dishes however were very delicious, recommended to go there if you are looking for a fine-dining experience with flavours you have never tried before and great service.

A nice ambience resto, Young passionate chefs, friendly helpful informative staffs. Table counter is unique with open kitchen. Nice serving and plating, fusion tasting menu with Malaysia and Asian flavour. Good wines and other drinks option too. Menu is variety to offer, we chose Chef’s Menu: 10 tasting food courses for 2 pax. Cute appetisers in layer box, surprising taste in every serving. Happy with the food and service. Very recommended!

This place is great for after work relaxing...The food they served are tasty. Worth a try!

What a total disappointment. The squid dish was like eating rubber. The pork ribs not marinated well. Food overall was a disappointment. Only the radish cake was good. Service is good