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Make a ReviewSML Bar / Restaurant / Patio
(Causeway Bay)
- 11/F Times Square, Causeway Bay
- 銅鑼灣時代廣場11/F
- District: Causeway Bay
- Cuisine: American
- Website: View
- Email: info@smlrestaurants.com
- Phone: 2577-3444
Ratings & Information
We asked voters to bear in mind the following when rating restaurants:
Food (& Drinks)
taste, quality and presentation, plus selection of menu
Service
courtesy, friendliness, and knowledge
Ambience
décor and atmosphere
Food (& Drinks), service and ambiance are rated on the scale of 1 to 10.
1-2
Don't bother
3-4
Below expectations
5-6
Decent to good
7-8
Very good to amazing
9-10
Extraordinary to perfection
Price:
Estimated price for dinner per person including one drink
Price is rated on the scale of 1 to 5.
1
< $100
2
$100 - $200
3
$201 - $400
4
$401 - $600
5
> $600
Review:
Honest and witty comments from our voters paraphrased by our editors
Corkage:
Corkage fee is by the bottle, where $0 means no corkage charged. “No” means that no outside wine is allowed
Restaurant Details
-
Credit Cards:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Valet Parking: Yes
- Reservations Accepted: Yes
- Delivery: No
- Takeaway: Yes
- Can accomodate large group: Yes
- Children friendly: Yes
- Pet friendly: No
- Post 11pm order: No
- Al Fresco: Yes
Restaurant Promotions
There are no promotions available at this moment.
Restaurant Events
There are no events available at this moment.
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Read moreRestaurant Reviews
Add ReviewPlease log in to submit a review.
Service Madly Lousy = SML
The whole concept is fresh, and vibrant, nice for the young chics and boys to show their pride in a lively lounge. It also reminds me of school dinner days too, a rejuvenation of youth, relive the young days again, sitting amongst other hip and cool people.
If you do not fancy being on display, I guess it needs time getting used to, like California fitness gym for a specific part of the target market.
Chicken Confit & Foie Gras with Truffle Salad
Basically two pieces of sliced baguette served with salad and a pot with shredded chicken, bits of foie gras topped with poppy seeds. The chicken was not dry or chewy, and the bits of silky foie gras buttered the chicken, but there was not that much of foie gras. I thought it should have been layered chicken, then foie gras then the poppy seeds.
Prawn Toast with truffle
Same comment as Babedolphin, no taste in truffle, overly greasy, I suppose the bitterness of the alcohol sauce took away that greasy taste.
Honestly I have had better prawn toasts at Takeaways in UK.
Octopus salad in olive oil
This was a very good mixed of diced yellow peppers, leaves, onions and the octopus, the octopus was chopped tentacles which were very big in diameter, I thought the octopus would be chewy, but it wasn’t at all. There was also some sort of jelly that had formed on the octopus, so it is probably the tinned version.
Lamb kebab
This was a huge stick of minced Lamb on a stick, I tried it with the olive oil from the salad, it was quite nice, and the lamb was strongly covered in Cajun powder. The yoghurt sauce that came with it was lovely, pure sour yoghurt.
Mushroom risotto
This had a very strong smell, but not that strong when I ate it, the texture of the rice was a bit hard, like red grain rice.
I think for a good meal, its best to pick out the fine stuff rather than the stuff you can get anywhere, or it just defeats the purpose.
How much did you spend?
around 300
Overall Rating
OK
A Stylish International Mess Hall
I have always dreamed of opening up a shop that served my favorite appetizers from around the world - no main dishes, just a travelogue of tapas - like a tasting menu of life's greatest culinary hits. SML (Small, Medium, Large) takes this concept one step further with an eclectic range of offerings in made-to-order sized portions that allow diners to condense main dishes into appetizing morsels or, conversely, upgrade starters into full-blown entres.
An attractive mix of CWB locals filled the bright and spacious dining area, which resembled a Terrence Conran mess hall, while the chatter around a well-stocked cocktail bar added a nice buzz.
Our selection of 'S' sized starters included a savory pork belly roast layered under crisp skin; a refreshing salmon ceviche spiced with onions, lime and cilantro; a cal-mex quesadilla bursting with monterey jack cheese and chicken with herbs; and a simple bowl of freshly steamed vegetables. Our mains consisted of fajitas with plump shrimp and peppers, along with an oven-baked cod over a light pesto sauce. The variety recalled an international potluck day at the office, and while no single dish stuck out as spectacularly good, each was uniquely tasty, and it all blended together into a fun and satisfying meal.
How much did you spend?
600 for dinner for two
Overall Rating
Good
SML from a regular visitor
This place has to be one of my favourite restaurants in Causeway Bay. Whether it is a birthday party of 30 people (for which the communal dinning table are spot on for) or a casual dinner for 2 or even a solitaire meal, they have a delicious variety of foods that keep your palate interested each time you go. I have been here about 10 times so far and while there can be the usual variance of quality from time to time that you will see at any restaurant (especially new ones) that you frequent; I have been thoroughly pleased with the food. My personal favourites are the sea bass, lasagna, and spicy meatballs. I could say something great about every dish I have tried there thus far as the ingenious concept of Small Medium Large really allows you to be adventurous with your sections should you want to step outside your usual favourites.
For some, the area of communal seating may be a bit uncomfortable, so rather than be one that complains about that, just take a minute to get a normal table so you can focus on the food. The outdoor seating area is a beautiful space that is unique to this restaurant in the area…no one else is going to give that to you. However, because they are waiting for a permit to serve a patio area, this great space is sadly “self-service.” The seats out there are also a bit uncomfortable for a nice dinner. Overall, though the restaurant has a great low, warm glow with the lighting and beautiful colours and materials that are all very tactile.
As you can see, my criticisms have little to nothing to do with the food, which is great. One or two dishes I am not too fond of are the sea urchin pasta and the Jamaican chicken. The sea urchin is just something I never liked anywhere & I can be a bit pernickety with my chicken…just a bit too dry and it is no good to me. If it is your first time, go for the small dishes and try about six things to get a feel for what is going to hit the spot for you. Do not forget to leave room for a small or medium dessert with a glass of port or sherry or maybe even a Riesling if you are more into the white. In any case, the desserts are well worth it.
This place is a good value whether you are alone or in a group. It is very easy to eat just the right portion (SML Concept) or stuff yourself silly. Average prices are 200-300 per person depending on the dishes, drinks & sizes.
How much did you spend?
200-300
SML ....
There have been much hype about this place recently and I can finally give this a try. First thing first, when I called in to book for a table, I was repeatedly being reminded within that 30 seconds conversation that I only have 1.5 hours to dine and must leave before a certain time! (of course unless I book like 8:30pm or 9:00pm then I MIGHT be able to sit longer!) What is wrong with restaurants nowadays? There are actually a few I can name on top of my head that impose a time limit for diners! I am not eating wonton noodles at some hawkers center for cry out loud, I am paying good money for a decent meal and I expect to enjoy them as long as I want! Anyhow, enough blah-ing from me at the moment and let's get on to the venue and food.
In addition to the interesting figure at the entrance, the main dining area was large and filled with three long wooden table like those school canteen bench. It somehow reminded me of the movie Harry Potter and the long dining table. And yes, due to the setup of the tables and seats, you will be sitting shoulder to shoulder with a stranger. (I think this setup created a certain confusion for wait staff when it comes to serving the right parties, a dedicated server must be assigned to minimize confusion)
While ordering, I noticed something that ... captured my attention. It was not the fact that the place offers Small, Medium and Large dishes for all items as its name SML suggested, it was the menu itself. The menu was bilingual, English and Chinese, but in Simplified Chinese ! I guess the Press Room Group which operates this restaurant has bigger plans ahead of them. Anyhow, the idea of offering small, medium and large dishes was not a new idea, some Chinese restaurants like Lei Garden has some offerings with such options. Nonetheless it was a good idea because there are people who like to try little of many things!
(1) French Fries (M)
I was actually expecting Press Room quality fries but it wasn't. Rather disappointed.
(2) Salon tartare (M)
Nicely presented indeed! Also, we can pick and choose the different garnishes to go with the salmon. The liquid was a lime juice which was actually a good mix. Of course I preferred the quail eggs!
(3) Caesar Salad (L)
Not surprises here as well but it was a refreshing salad to start with. A bit more dressing would be nice.
(4) Crispy Pork Belly + Red Cabbage-apple Coleslaw (M)
It was too fatty. The fatty layers occupied over 50% of the piece of meat! The flavor was a bit too strong and too salty as well. We finished the whole dish by separating the fat from the meat of course! One more thing, it was not served at optimal temperature in my opinion, a thumbs down. (I tried the item as soon as it was served already) Many items must have been semi prepared in one way or the other but they should try to maintain the food temperature as well.
(5) Spicy Lamb Kebab + Mint Yoghurt + Onion Salad (M)
A decent surprise indeed. Rich in flavor and meat was tender. However, it was the food temperature that bothered me. Not of optimal temperature for sure! I think it was the fact that most dishes we ordered were served all at once within minutes of each other! (More on this topic below) Anyhow, I love lamb so I can eat as it without the mint yoghurt, give both ways a try.
(6) Grilled US Hanger Steak + Chips (M)
The steak was pre-cut !!!?? I want my steak as a whole piece and I like to cut it myself! There were too much sauce all over the steak and it was at room temperature! (I tried the steak after the crispy pork belly as soon as both items were served) The sauce was very strong that it overtook the beef flavor. Although the beef was tender, the overall impression was disappointing indeed.
(7) Seared Seabass (M)
Maybe it was difficult to pre-cooked fish so it was rather delightful and served at optimal temperature. Very flaky and tender, a well prepared dish. The sauce was light, just enough bring out the fish taste of the seabass. Also, the skin was very crispy as well!
(8) Pot of Chocolate + Chocolate mousse + Fudge (M)
Interesting presentation with chewy fudge cubes on top and chocolate mousse at the bottom. It was rather sweet even with the cream but a very nice dessert to end the meal if you are a chocolate lover like I am.
(9) Caramel Profiteroles + butterscotch sauce (M)
I did not try any but it reminded me of Beard Papa's cream puffs. It looked sweet and according to my friends, it was very sweet indeed with the butter scotch sauce.
One other thing I like to mention ONCE AGAIN was that the food/dishes came almost all at once! The problem? Food temperature! Some items were already served way under the optimal temperature and leaving all the food on the table just worsen the problem. Plus it made me feel like we were being rushed! If you are to come and give it a try, order the items one after another for optimal temperature. It was interesting to find the following words on the menu as well which acted as a disclaimer for my above mentioned compliant: "each dish is served when ready." So ... the serving order of dishes can be quite random since each dish is to be served when ready. Interesting isn't it!
Likes:
* Salon tartare - the do-it-yourself (DIY) elements of the garnishes
* Seared Seabass - finally something of optimal temperature! flaky and tender
* Spicy Lamb Kebab - tender and rich in flavors (but not at optimal temperature when served)
Dislikes:
* Grilled US Hanger Steak - too much sauce, sauce too strong and was served @ room temperature + PRE-SLICED!
* Crispy Pork Belly - too fatty with too many fatty layers
* the school canteen seating arrangement might not be for everyone
Avg Spending: HKD 200 - 300 per person
Original Blog with [b]MORE[/b] pictures: [u]http://jason-bonvivant.blogspot.com/2009/11/sml.html[/u]
How much did you spend?
Avg Spending: HKD 200 - 300 per person
A chic place at the heart of Causeway
My friends and I went to try out this restaurant the other day. My first experience at this place was rather pleasant and enjoyable. I had ordered a medium sized potato dish (can't remember the name) and a black truffle pasta. Although the portion are a bit smaller than expected, the quality of the food is unquestionable. It is living up to its reputation. It is a decent casual place for small groups to enjoy their meals.
This place is definitely worth a try!
How much did you spend?
120
Nice surprise from the Press Room group
The surprises:
1) service is above par
2) price is very reasonable
3) outdoor patio
Food is decent, but not outstanding. The pasta dishes need a heavier hand (not the risottos, which are quite good)
Also a little noisy so difficult to chat. That's the problem with restaurants with no carpet. The other way to look at it is that it's a cheerful venue.
Excellent concept. Will definitley come back.
How much did you spend?
200
Nice change for Times Square
Dined here last week and have to admit I was pleasantly surprised, especially as they only opened a couple of weeks ago and therefore could still be teething. SML stands for Small, Medium, Large - as in that is the size of the plates you can order. So a bit of an Italian theme served in a tapas way. Very clever. Ambience is causal, a bit like Wagamamas with large tables so you all dine with people you don't know. Makes it a bit more fun an socialble. Light and airy and spacious, with an open kitchen, stand alone open bar and a massive outdoor roof terrace which I promise is going to be very very very popular once the wearther cools down a bit.
Food was good. Menu was varied but not a huge choice. The small plate really is small, less than an appetizer size. Medium is more like your usual appetizer portion and large is your usual main course size. me and my firend took a few smalls and then a medium for main course, which actually work well as we then had the chance to share a large dessert!
Servie started fast and furious, with plates arriving within seconds of us ordering, but once we were served the main course they left us alone. A bit too much. Had to wave to get attention to order dessert, and then again for the bill.
Overall I would go back, especially when I'm in Causeway bay. Fun, active enrironment that would also be good for group lunches / dinners. The cocktails also looked amazing, although I did not try any.
How much did you spend?
250
interesting place
Small platter, good selection, great idea! Love it.
How much did you spend?
160