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Restaurant Highlights
Share the Season & Festive Love at Wooloomooloo | 20.12.2011
Christmas is just around the corner. Having thoughts about the best-of-all Christmas celebration? You may find many reasons for happiness in this blissful season – one being a joyous meal to be shared with family and friends. With Wooloomooloo Group’s restaurants spreading in some of the most conven...
Porcini at Grissini | 07.09.2011
September is the beginning of the school year for many excited students, and it is also an exciting time for many connoisseurs for it marks the start of the porcini season. Porcini mushrooms are one of the most precious exports from Italy. The rich, meaty and heady mushrooms season salads and soups...
Sponsored Feature: The News Room | 05.09.2011
It is no news that the dining landscape is expanding eastward, from Causeway Bay towards Tai Hang and Tin Hau, and now, Quarry Bay is the new neighborhood with numerous new openings offering from regional Chinese cuisine to foreign fare. Among notable openings is The News Room, operated by the same...
Robuchon a Galera | 21.06.2011
There are so many reasons I should have come back to Robuchon a Galera sooner: impeccable food, world-class and friendly service, an unbeatable bargain set lunch, and the bread trolley, to name a few. Macau is only an hour away by jetfoil so getting here is not a problem. The obstacle? Planning a tr...
First Dip at JAR | 08.06.2011
The first time I entered the JAR space, it did not feel like it was just a restaurant, as it claimed to be. Brought to us by the creators of 798 Unit & Co, JAR has a different ambience resembling to that of a perfect beach house during a vacation, and this was not the only thing that marks differenc...
JW's California - A Culinary Journey | 07.06.2011
Some foodies are lucky enough to be able to travel to exciting culinary countries, regularly planning entire trips around food and restaurants. For those not so lucky, chef de cuisine of JW's California, Jordi Villegas, has what he considers the next best thing to travelling to eat with his 'Culinar...
Angelini - A Revisit | 23.05.2011
A restaurant's reputation is often linked to the chef that heads up the kitchen, so what happens when a head chef moves on to explore other career opportunities? Sometimes the second in charge, who knows the recipes and the dishes, and who has been cooking them more than the head chef, will take...
Restaurant Highlight - MIST | 05.05.2011
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When it comes to Ramen (or Rahmen), we think of a small kitchen with customers squeezing along a bar slurping on steamy noodles in flavoured broths. As satisfying as it may be, there are still few noodle shops in Hong Kong replicating the exact same style. Instead of putting tradition in play, MIST...
Amber's Weekend Wine Lunch | 24.03.2011
Value-for-money and two-star Michelin dining are not normally found in the same place. Also often at opposite ends of the dining experience is value-for-money and fine dining. To find them together is a treat, and is exactly what we found at Amber's Weekend Wine Lunch....
Sponsored Feature - Miyabi | 17.02.2011
Miyabi Japanese Fine Dining has a competitive edge: Its location on the 18th floor of The ONE with a gorgeous panoramic view of the city and the Victoria Harbour. The location and view have garnered much attention, yet one should never forget Miyabi as a fine-dining establishment, serving a colorful...
Restaurant Highlight - JW's California | 26.01.2011
I don't have any scientific method that I employ when deciding which of the many restaurants in Hong Kong to review. Sometimes it is obvious — a new opening that has created a buzz, sometimes it comes recommended to me by fellow foodies, and sometimes it comes about unexpectedly. In the case of JW's...
Sponsored Feature - Cafe Deco | 25.01.2011
Cafe Deco is HK's most priceless address. With a view that'll make your eyes water, and food that caters to any of your cravings, it's truly everyone's dream dining venue. Allow one of the Kitchen Specialists to pull together one or more amazing authentic international dishes that will transport you...
Sponsored Feature - Sing Yin | 24.12.2010
A star of Cantonese cuisine is born, with an aura embracing the old and new of Hong Kong. Sing Yin, the latest from W Hotel, is located on the first floor of the hotel. Steve Leung, renowned architect and interior designer, takes elements of old Hong Kong and fuses them into the décor of Sing Yin, c...
Restaurant Highlight - Xi Yue | 29.10.2010
The Maxim’s Group, Hong Kong’s largest restaurant empire is wooing us again with a new suave Cantonese affection, Xi Yue. Xi Yue is a fine place to entertain important guests, or have simple dinners with the valuable people in our lives....
Whisk's Sunday Brunch | 06.09.2010
Dining trends can be as fickle as fashion trends, and to borrow a line from Heidi, one day you're in and the next day you're out. One dining option that is currently back in, is brunch, but not the humble brunch of the past. Brunch is now glamourous and in keeping with brunch's new look is the seaso...
Dining at the Beach | 11.08.2010
From where I am sitting it is a perfect summer’s day…the sky is blue, the sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze, the soft sand stretches out before me to meet the waves breaking on the shore, while in the distance small islands dot the horizon....
The Bostonian's Sunday Brunch | 10.08.2010
It seems that Sunday brunch is becoming more and more popular in Hong Kong, and with a slew of restaurants and hotels recently introducing brunch it is now a highly competitive market. One of the most recent additions is the return of The Bostonian's Sunday Brunch....
Restaurant Highlight - Lime | 23.06.2010
Those of you that read my reviews on a regular basis will know that most of the meals I have had recently have left me less than impressed. On the plus side I was becoming more skilled at putting my critical views on paper, but at the same time it was starting to increase my cynicism towards life. I...
Restaurant Highlight - Top Deck | 31.05.2010
Summer months are fast approaching, and what better way to lighten the coming weather by introducing a new genre of summer dishes....
Restaurant Highlight - 798 unit & co. | 28.04.2010
When you hear the word “bistro”, immediately a casual dining experience of heartwarming honest food comes to mind, or does it? So why is the good ol' Bistro still so foreign in Hong Kong? Lo and behold, 798 unit & co., a New York style bistro in both Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui, will change the w...
Restaurant Highlight - The Press Room 2 | 24.03.2010
The Press Room is the best modern European brasserie in the city. Nearly three years after opening its doors, The Press Room still serves unpretentious food made with the finest ingredients. Fresh seafood and poultry are delivered daily, and its crowd-pleasing, classic dishes of French Onion Soup, P...
Nam Fong | 10.02.2010
Tucked in HK Island’s hi-tech community lies a hidden gem amongst the Cantonese cuisine scene. Nam Fong, a contemporary Cantonese restaurant located on the third floor of the Le Méridien Cyberport is one of HK’s best-kept secrets delivering robust Cantonese flavours at its purest....
Coast Bistro & Bar | 10.02.2010
After making a booking at Australian restaurant, Coast Bistro & Bar, I began to ask myself, what is Australian cuisine? As a food writer and an Australian surely this would be easy to answer, it wasn't. A quick Facebook quiz revealed comments such as "meat pies", "hamburgers with beetroot", "beer ba...
Restaurant Highlight - Posto Pubblico | 13.01.2010
The first time I went to Posto Pubblico it was a hit-and-miss experience, featuring small portions, average service, and while some dishes were tasty one was so heavily seasoned I couldn't eat it. As a new opening I gave it a second try. It was an improvement on the first, the dish I found inedible...
Azure | 09.12.2009
Christmas and New Year are a time for celebration, a time to catch up with family and friends, and a time to indulge in good food and wine. Ideally, it is best to combine all three. Dining out is one way in which this is possible, and it lets everyone relax and enjoy the occasion. The problem can be...
Yamm | 09.12.2009
Award-winning restaurant Yamm has been serving an impressive buffet since its opening in 2008. It is one of three popular restaurants at the ultra-hip new hotel, The Mira Hong Kong. It is famed for its jet fresh sashimi, its array of seafood from international destinations, and its freshly shucked o...
The Press Room | 09.12.2009
After undergoing a slight nip-tuck, The Press Room reopened its doors with intentions to give you a few more reasons to keep coming back. It has axed the tables upfront, turned the entrance into a crustacean market, and expanded the bar area to establish a niche for drinks pre/post meal so people ca...
Restaurant Highlight - W52 | 11.11.2009
Wyndham Street is becoming Hong Kong's version of Little Italy, with numerous Italian restaurants on both sides of the street. This is good news for the diner as with so many Italian restaurants in one street each restaurant needs to be doing its best to attract the hungry diner. One of the latest i...
Marouche Grill | 09.09.2009
My recent dinner at Marouche Grill was the fourth time I had been to the same location for dinner, yet the first time for dinner at Marouche. The previous two restaurants (two restaurants, three chefs) had closed soon after opening despite the food being good and I had begun to think the spot suffer...
Fan Tang | 09.09.2009
Fan Tang had been recommended to me by two foodies who thought I would enjoy the restaurant's modern interpretation of classic Cantonese and Sichuan dishes. Accompanied by a friend, a food writer who is well versed in Chinese cuisines, we set off for the frenzy of Causeway Bay to investigate. Would...
Izote Restaurante Mexicano & Bar | 26.08.2009
Izote Restaurante Mexicano & Bar is unique in town as its serves authentic Mexican cuisine. The majority of Mexican restaurants serve what is called Tex Mex, which is not actually Mexican. All the regions of the country are represented on the menu, which features classic dishes and those that are mo...
Olive (Elements) | 23.07.2009
As part of our value-for-money buffet series I turn the spotlight on Olive. Its Sunday Brunch is not only value for money, it is delicious. The dishes on the buffet table are as colourful as any Middle Eastern bazaar and everything has been prepared fresh that day. I was glad that I arrived hungry a...
Cadero Grill and Oyster Bar | 08.07.2009
Cadero Grill and Oyster Bar is a restaurant with a split personality. From the name one can understandably assume that it is a grill and oyster bar, and it is. The oysters some of the best I have eaten in Hong Kong. However to my surprise when opening the menu I saw that the cuisine being served was...
The Greenery | 25.06.2009
I am sitting next to a shallow body of crystal clear water with its own mini waterfall, nearby are streams of water raining down gently. Behind me, and around me are large palm trees in giant terracotta pots adorned with green fairy lights. A man is singing classic hits, accompanying himself on the...
Restaurant Highlight - Tuscany by H | 10.06.2009
Tuscany by H is one of the top rated Italian restaurants in WOM Guide 2009. After two meals there recently I can understand why. The dishes are all so appealing, the food cooked with a deft hand and the service is solid. The man behind the restaurant is the well-known chef Harlan Goldstein, who h...
Restaurant Highlight - Uno Mas | 10.06.2009
Uno Mas is an absolutely fantastic Barcelona-inspired tapas & bar in busy Wanchai, and as soon as you get off the street and head upstairs, you'll feel like you stepped into a hip, modern Spanish hotspot. The high ceilings, clever use of mirrors, spacious tables, choice of either bar-style, table se...
The Lounge | 26.05.2009
Sunday Champagne Brunch at The Lounge of JW Marriott is an indulgent experience. Combine Piper Heidsieck champagne, with luxury food items, comfy sofas and an open view, with good company, and you have all the ingredients for a memorable day....
Restaurant Highlight - Jen Cafe | 15.04.2009
It seems that everyone these days are having to tighten their belts and the first thing to go are the non-necessities. One of those is eating out, and while hongkongers love to eat out, and this is not likely to change, more and more diners are looking for value-for-money dining experiences. One...
Shang Palace | 11.03.2009
Recently, I have been on a bit of a quest to try a number of the city's star-rated Chinese restaurants. I wanted to achieve two things: to deepen my knowledge of Cantonese cuisine, and to come to some personal understanding of what makes food star worthy. This is how I came to have dinner at Shang P...
Va Bene | 11.03.2009
Two days after I first arrived in Hong Kong many years ago I had a memorable birthday dinner at Va Bene, enjoying both the food and the ambience. The restaurant has been popular since it first opened, and moved to larger premises a few years ago. I had not eaten there since the move and was therefor...
T'ang Court | 11.03.2009
One of the unusual things about the dining scene in Hong Kong is the quality of dining at the city's leading hotels. Dining in a hotel restaurant is a common occurrence and is often the first choice when it comes to special occasions, unlike many other cities. Hotels are now also an internationally...
Restaurant Highlight - Hutong | 11.02.2009
Contemporary northern Chinese restaurant Hutong has an impressive view, and in my opinion food that is at times as good, both in terms of taste and presentation. The restaurant was recently given one star by Michelin and it is easy to understand what would have appealed to the reviewers....
Ming Court | 02.01.2009
This month begins my 2009 quest, or perhaps it is more a culinary resolution, to feature more Chinese restaurants on the website, from the inexpensive to fine dining. One of the first to be highlighted is Ming Court, an award-winning restaurant that was recently given a Michelin star....
Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao | 02.01.2009
Crystal Jade has eight restaurants in Hong Kong and is originally from Singapore. Most outlets are extremely popular and the specialties of the restaurants are its xiao long bao and its range of noodles dishes....
Pearl on the Peak | 08.12.2008
Pearl on the Peak is perhaps a place you have had a meal with a visitor, or taken your mother-in law or perhaps even enjoyed a romantic evening. The restaurant does after all have breathtaking views, some of the best in the city in fact, but what about the food?...
Angelini | 08.12.2008
Everyone has their favourite Italian restaurant and given the number of choices in Hong Kong opinions on the best are varied and staunchly defended. A favourite of Princess Ira von Furstenberg is Angelini, who was impressed by the authentic and varied menu....
WAKO | 10.11.2008
A Japanese-style Korean restaurant may sound like a funky fusion, but at Japanese Yakiniku WAKO Restaurant, meat-lovers are offered fine quality wagyu, kalbi, and bulgogi to name a few, marinated to perfection in order to enhance their tenderisation....
Tribute | 10.11.2008
Tribute began life as a private kitchen in 2002, and quickly became a hit, evolving into a boutique restaurant serving modern, playful Californian cuisine with a focus on presentation. The man behind the restaurant, architect and chef Frank Sun, also owns Bricolage and Maison....
Tivo | 10.11.2008
I have had a glass or two of wine at Tivo and enjoyed the complimentary canapes, while other drinkers munch on a pizza. I have also seen the crowds of “beautiful” people spilling out on to the sidewalk on the weekends....
One Bar | 10.11.2008
One Bar, an elegant restaurant and bar in One Exchange Square, is plagued by a problem that afflicts many good restaurants. At lunch it bustles with hungry suits and lunching ladies, yet it has trouble attracting the dinner crowd. Why? After having dinner at One Bar recently my dining companion and...
Classic Hong Kong Restaurants – M at the Fringe | 10.11.2008
M at the Fringe is constantly rated one of the best restaurants in Hong Kong and for good reason. For the past 18 years this Hong Kong classic has consistently been serving no-fuss, quality food that keeps diners coming back because it tastes great and is comforting in its honesty....
Hot Table – Lotus | 10.11.2008
Modern Thai restaurant Lotus has been popular since its opening and for good reason. The food is superb, the cocktails rock and the atmosphere is conducive to letting dinner merge into a big night out....
Habibi | 10.11.2008
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Egyptian restaurant Habibi recently celebrated its eight birthday by introducing a celebratory menu and appointing a new executive chef from Egypt....
WasabiSabi | 01.11.2008
When it comes to Japanese food, Hong Kong diners have plenty of choice. This abundancy of Japanese restaurants means that any Japanese restaurant that has been around for more than a few years and is still popular must be doing something right....
Sabatini's Sunday Brunch | 01.11.2008
Sunday Brunch has become increasingly popular in recent years, and those that offer a combination of quality food and free-flow bubbles appear to be attracting the biggest crowds....
The Pawn | 01.08.2008
While many restaurants in Hong Kong are popular for a brief time after opening, The Pawn continues to be extremely busy every night since it came onto the dining scene a few months ago....
Aqua | 01.07.2008
Aqua has recently appointed a new chef de cuisine, Eugenio Riva, who previous to this position had his own, highly-praised, Italian restaurant in Sydney. He was brought onboard to expand Aqua Roma’s menu of authentic Italian food....
Qube+ | 01.06.2008
Qube+ is described as a Japanese-style Italian restaurant. In this case the description means taking mostly Japanese ingredients and preparing the food in an Italian inspired manner. Willing to try most gastronomic experiences I had dinner there recently to explore the complementary relationship bet...
Joia | 01.05.2008
Italian restaurant Joia opened last November at Elements to mixed reviews. In response owner and restaurateur Pino Piano decide to rework the menu, which led me to dine there recently to see how it rated in the competitive Italian cuisine stakes....
D.Diamond | 01.04.2008
I recently tried the White Flag menu and found the experience to be one of the best gastronomic adventures I had been on recently. Read more for an overview of my 12-course dining extravaganza....