Better Ole Restaurant     適雅餐廳  

Hello,

It was indeed not my first visit to this Better Ole in Sheung Shui, but the dinner yesterday had only end my infatuation to it. Perhaps only after comparison would one really know the “Better” and the worse.

I ordered a dinner which consisted of the followings:

1. 酥皮焗奶油湯
2.紐西蘭肉眼扒配薯菜
3.Cold coffee

Let’s first talk about the environs of the restaurant, the first thing that came to my senses was the stench of the carpet inside the dingy surrounding, although the cleanliness of the furniture and dinning utensils were still ok. I made my ordering at once knowing that it wouldn’t be a balmy environment to stay for long. The service was ok as the waitress explained quite patiently for the different sizes and thickness…etc of the steaks that I had kept asking for.

The first item 酥皮焗奶油湯 came after a few minutes after ordering, the 酥皮eclipsing the soup was supposed to be crispy, wasn’t it? But it was more like a layer of bread and worse still it was tasteless to neither my tongue or nose. The soup itself was nothing better, it was not thick enough like creamy water albeit the vegetables inside were quite crispy fresh.

The steak looked very potent at first but the infatuation ended right after the first mouthful of anything on the dish. The steak didn't taste like the meat of a cow, it was literally tasteless to be frank. The vegetables on the dish such as the carrots are much overcooked in order to decimate the vitamins inside, only a few small lumps of potatoes could be found on the dish which were supposed to be your last meal before breakfast next morning. I kept on eating only because I didn't want to feel hungry and I needed the energy to walk back home safely!

Courtesy will never be a problem in the restaurant, the waitress which had made my ordering even asked me how did the steak taste, and I told her the truth for the welfare of gourmets coming after me, considerate enough right?

I'm newish to Hong Kong, having been recently sent there from Australia for work (had an earlier stint some years ago).

I moved into the area and a couple of months ago and needed a pub, of course. I asked a couple of mates who are also from around and they all recommended the Better Ole. The pub has a great atmosphere and the usuals are an interesting lot, the manager Tony is always a reliable source for good banter IN English. Plus they have the rugby.

It is possibly the best place to go to on a Saturday afternoon after golf, or any other day after work. I usually down a couple of beers before some dinner, and then a couple after. I highly recommend the 160z Sirloin with a side of chips, I think it's the best steak I've had in Hong Kong. Other favourites are the Vienna Schnitzel and the Southern Fried Chicken Basket, and don't forget the curries. The rice dishes are also interesting and popular with the locals, if you want to try one make sure its the Better Ole Baked Pork Chops and Rice.

I was there a few times for lunch. I try to go there seldom due to the bad smell that place has. Obviously from the time when smoking still was allowed. The carpet may also hold food and drink items of the last 30 years.

The menu is typical for those pseudo-western places. Usually the many is way too big for that kitchen staff to handle, so quality suffers a lot. Why do those places always need to have such a large menu instead of concentrating on a few good sellers?

But they do have a few cheap lunch items that eatable. That's it though. Lunch quality is similar to the nearby Steak Expert, another place that can't cook. As in steak expert, their coffee sux too. Undrinkable.

Go to there last week.

I saw there were 2-3 numbers of cockroach (蟑螂)running across the wall in front of me!! one of them is quite large.

I complained about this to Manager but he just say sorry but no action.

So Dirty and NEVER go there!!!

Though the location is not good at all, the style of the restaurant is good enough to focus. There is a bar as well. Overall, whenever you go into the restaurant, you will be attracted to stay.