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2014-06-23
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We have been to many of the nice brunch places in Kennedy Town that have sprung up e.g. Jaspers, K-Town, High Street Grill, etc. and now Tivo. Saw it while catching the bus and thought it would be a nice place to try for a Sunday brunch. We arrived amidst the rain (around 12:30pm) and were surprised to find the place was 85-90% full. Luckily, the wait staff were able to seat us (4 adults and 1 baby in a stroller) almost immediately on a nice table by the door. The FOOD:We ordered 2 Tivo breakfas
The FOOD:
We ordered 2 Tivo breakfasts, 1 pancake, 1 slow-cooked bbq pork bun, and, 1 formaggi pizza. The Tivo breakfast was a 3-out-of-5 and we generally thought that Jaspers and K-Town did a much better big breakfast. The eggs were not as good as they could have been and the sausage didn't have that satisfying blend of crunch from the skin and salt from the meat. The pancakes, were not too bad and had an unusual (in a good sense) sweet sauce on them with some cream and bananas. We would rate this 3.5-out-of-5, but again the pancakes at K-Town and Jasper's are better. The slow-cooked bbq bun is a nice try at something different, but I can't help that they have ripped this off from David Chang's Momofuku. While it's a nice try at something new, it just doesn't seem to come together in the right way and left me feeling like. "OK, I've tried that, but I'm not going to order that next time." 3.5-out-of-5 (may be should be higher, since it was an attempt at sth new, but at the end of the day, it didn't succeed on the execution)
Probably the best dish out of all of those was the formaggi pizza. It's a blend of 4 cheeses (gorgonzola, mozarella, paremesan, and 1 more which I can't remember). Its was really delicious and while, not your standard quattro formaggi, it was really really good. If we do return then this would probably be the only thing that we re-order. 4.5-out-of-5.
We finished the meal with a latte and flat white. However, as an Aussie, we really value a good coffe and the offering was weak to say the least. They have a big fancy coffee machine behind the bar and it seemed to be getting a work out, but after receiving the coffee's we did, it is clear that the barista/waiter/etc. clearly doesn't know how to use the machine and the latte was watery with a non-existent foamy top. 0-out-of-5. If management is reading this. Please fix your coffee. It was really poor. If you're thinking of ordering a coffee here, DON'T. Get a take out from Jasper's or K-Town.
Service:
Giving an overall rating for the service, is a tough one because the first half of our meal, the service probably deserved 2.5 to 3-out-of-5. The reason being, we asked if there was a changing table in the bathroom for our little one and we were greeted with a very rude flat NO. While that's fine, we don't expect everyone to have one, it was rather an undeserved rude answer. The waitress later somewhat amended for her unsuspecting rudeness by telling us that she had suggested it to the manager.
At the end of our meal, the manager told us that they are still getting up to speed and haven't gotten all their 'accessories' such as high chairs for babies, etc. They promised that they had plans to get a changing table for the bathroom and apologised for the lacking facilities. That sort of customer service is sorely missing in too many HK restaurants and has redeemed the reputation of the restaurant in my humble opinion to a 4-out-of-5. I think a restaurant always deserves another visit, if the management/staff/chefs, etc. are always trying to make things better.
CONCLUSION:
Overall, we had a nice brunch at Tivo, in what is now becoming a gentrified neighbourhood. It's good to see restauranteurs trying something different and they have tried in terms of the decor. However, if the restaurant wants to be successful and capitolize on its great location along the main road, it has to deliver. 5 years ago, it probably could have succeeded just by being the only one in the Kennedy Town area, but there is competition and choice for customers in the area from others delivering a more than competent brunch (K-Town and Jaspers, etc.). All in all, its a average offering that could be much improved and there is no reason to say that it won't improve as the chefs, waitstaff, etc. get to know their customers and the menu better, but if not it will be a big shame. The cost for our meal of 2 tivo breakfasts, 1 pancake, 1 pizza, 1 pork bbq bun, 2 coffees and 2 orange juices was ~$850. Not cheap, but basically on par w. the other places around the area. Overall 3 out-of-5.
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