地中海美食 (Closed)

After reading some good reviews online (and in search of a venue for a private dinner), I decided to check out Portofino tonight. Unfortunately, we had the great misfortune of going on a "Fado Night," which happens every 2 months. Basically, during this evening, guests are limited to a set dinner of $450 + 10% service charge each, and they get to enjoy live Fado music all night (singer + guitar player, singing Portugese music). The menu tonight roughly includes the below:StartersCod Fish CakesTuna PattiesCheese & Ham PattiesPatanisca Cod Fish SteakVegetable PattiesGrilled Smoked Red Wine SausageGrilled Alentejana SausageGrilled Paprika Chorizo SausageGrilled Smoked Pork Blood SausageGrilled York Sausage ExtraGrilled Short Thin SausageGrilled Traditional Smoked Lean Meat SausageGrilled Bacon ExtraGrilled Smoked ShoulderGrilled Smoked Collar SausageGrilled Black PuddingMain CourseOven Roasted Pork TenderloinCreamy Cod FishGrilled SardinesOven Roasted PotatoesChorizo RiceMediterranean SaladDessert:SerraduraMember’s: $450 (no service charge)Non – Member’s: $450 (+ 10% service Charge)We were not aware that a la carte was not available at reservation (come to think of it, they really should've told me at reservation. I would not have come otherwise!), but my friends and I thought, why not? It sounds like a lot of food, we will get to try a little bit of everything and enjoy live music. Worse decision of the night! It forced us to sit through a whole 2 hours before we could leave. It was so terrible, it drove me to sign up for an Openrice account just to review this. I'm not a foodie, but I still enjoy quality food!!To begin with, while the menu sounds like a lot of food, it is actually just about 2 plates of appetizers, 3 dishes of main course and a dessert. So really a 6 course meal. It started off with a plate of luke warm fried potato things which all tasted about the same (some more terrible than the others) - bland, soft and a little salty. I get that perhaps these are very traditional country Portugese dishes that may just not suit my palate, but for $450, I'd expect something a little bit fresher than some pre-cooked fried mashed potatoes, that's been under the heating lamp for too long. To give them credit, when the waiter noticed that I only took a bite of everything, he asked what was wrong. I pointed out that it was a bit luke warm, and he explained that food is traditionally served lukewarm in Portugal, but offered to heat up another dish of it for me. I honestly did not want to eat more of that, but he insisted, and let's just say that it did not taste remarkably better hot either. I get that maybe Portugese like lukewarm food, but you'd think they'd cater a little bit to local taste. I've had fried mash potatoes at Spanish restaurants in Hong Kong for example, and they are always freshly made, hot and tastes excellent! But anyway, I think this whole process extended the evening by another 15-20 minutes. The next dish was a cold platter of sausages, with some lukewarm french bread. After the fried stuff, the normality of this plate was somewhat of a relief, if a bit salty. After another 10-20 minutes (I really don't know what is taking them so long to serve up these clearly pre-made, and reheated dishes), our main course appeared. It was a plate consisting of pork, some salad and some rice. It was edible, but pretty bland and average. For a moment, I felt like I was back in my college dining hall. Then came the cod dish, which is kind of like a side of potatoes mixed in some salty cream sauce with some cod fish. A bit salty, but we thought it was probably the best dish we've had all night. It came hot! I think there was a mix up with the restaurant and they served this dish up twice... though it did come on a different shaped plate the second time, so perhaps it's something different that tastes the same? The last main dish was the sardines. We couldn't help but laugh our heads off when we saw this, because it looks (and tasted) like something out of a can. What I imagine cat food to look like. At this point, we just wanted to finish the food and leave (it is sad that we had to pay $450 and have to choke down food we didn't enjoy). But we had the dessert to contend with (by now, we've taken to walking out and asking them to serve the next dish, to speed up the process). It was basically cream mixed with some digestive cookie crumbs. It was not bad, but not quite something I'd pay to eat. After that we quickly forked out $500 each (ouch!), and made our exit feeling extremely ripped off. Over all food wise, it was terrible. It all felt very pre-cooked and rhamshody. There was no thought and passion put into the food at all. If we could've cancelled the rest of the meal after the first dish (as another reviewer did), we would've. Service wise, they are ok, but not very well coordinated. The waiters sometimes ask us the same questions twice, we had to ask them twice for napkins, they're quite slow in between dishes, and they may or may not have served us the same dish twice. They were nice enough though, and they do try (heating up my dish and all).Ambiance wise, it was not bad. The decor is simple and modern. I didn't check out the bathroom. The only thing was, whenever they started singing the Fado songs, they dimmed the lights really dark and its really loud. So it is really hard to chat with your friends, if that is your intention. In fact, I think there's a little card somewhere, which recommended you to be silent during the singing. But you'd think guests would have the option... definitely not what I had imagined. It may just be my bad luck that I came on a Fado night and Fado is not my thing (to be fair, we were amazed to realize that the restaurant was surprisingly crowded), but we were so traumatized by the food that we will definitely not be back!! continue reading

An absolute disaster from the moment I walked in the door and I strongly discourage anyone from stepping foot in this forgettable restaurant with horrendous food and bumbling, inefficient service.My boyfriend and I were the last to arrive of a party of five. Our friends were already seated and we joined them at a table for four (my seat was placed awkwardly at the end of the table, in the path of traffic). A comedy of errors quickly followed. The waiter came round to pour a glass of wine for my friend and promptly spilled white wine on my jacket I had just hung on the back of my chair. He apologized profusely and I was (understandably) very upset. But he didn't offer to pick up the drycleaning or give us a free round of drinks or flag it to the manager - nothing. He simply wandered away.A few minutes later, an older, balding American waiter came around to take our drinks order and asked us if we wanted to order any "sides." Huh? There are no sides on the menu. He quickly corrected himself and said "Oh, I mean, starters." We reminded him that my friend had ordered a glass of sparkling water 1/2 hour ago that had never arrived. We went with his recommended starters - scallops with carrot puree and raisins, the cold cut platter and the chorizo.Then, 30 minutes pass and no food arrives, besides the paltry slices of baguette with oil & vinegar that were on our table when we arrived. Our waiter sheepishly returns to let us know the kitchen is having some problems and there will be a delay in our food. He then asks us if he can get us anything. My response, "Well yes - Our food!" Finally, a small plate with four scallops on it arrives. It looks pretty pitiful (and I am initially concerned that it is not fully cooked). We divide up the scallops and quickly dig in since we are all starving by now. They are tasteless and barely lukewarm. The chef did not bother to season them and the presentation is juvenile. What a disappointment.A few minutes later, our cold cut platter arrives and I burst into laughter. A huge wooden cutting board with paltry, poorly presented rows of chorizo, salami, etc and no bread or crackers to accompany it. It looks like they opened up packages of meat you can purchase from Wellcome and Park N' Shop, threw it on a platter and charged HKD180 for it. And, I'd like to add, that there was NO COOKING involved in putting together said cold cut platter, so why did we have to wait 40 minutes for it whilst the kitchen was "having problems." At this point, I put an end to the madness and called the hapless waiter over to cancel our order for our main dishes and ask for the bill, since I knew they would be a huge disappointment and waste of money. Embarrassed, he nodded and walked away. Two minutes later, a different waiter with glasses walked over and asked if everything was okay. I responded , "No, it's not okay and we just cancelled our order for our main dishes because the appetizers were so subpar." Instead of responding, he simply turned on his heel and walked away! I couldn't believe how rude he was and how poorly the whole situation was handled. From the waitstaff to the cooks in the kitchen, this restaurant is truly a mess and the worst dining experience I have had in Hong Kong. continue reading

This new restaurant is really worthwhile!first the decoration is very nice and trendy. totaly opens on the street, it really attracts you and you immediately feel home.The staff is nice even if still a little bit confused.The food is good and generous. Try now because the owner might soon notice the doses are too much regarding the prices. ;-)The prawns from the mix Prawns/beef were a little bit too cooked, the mushroom risoto was okay, and the chicken was perfectly crispy and oily.... ;-) the chocolate cake and the cheese cake are just perfect to finish...Nice selection of portuguese wine. You can buy some traditional portuguese products as well, even mediteraneen ones. they got a small grocery shop.The owner is so nice and interesting also! continue reading