AJChan's Profile

I'm a Shanghainese lunatic before visiting the place, so that naturally explained my high expectation.  Unfortunately that anticipation was only meant to be a nosedive - beginning with the moment I was chaperoned into a shabby corner next to the fire hose (far from the stylish oriental interior you saw when you entered the place, which made me wondered how I should justify for the additional 10% charge, at least make an exemption for someone who didn't get an equivalent standard of dinning experience).  Well,  I'm a solo diner, and my age made me looked like someone less like the savvy uncles and aunties whom I guaranteed the chance for them to complain about what's happening next was 200% - so, when I sat down the waiter asked me for my choice of tea. I politely told them I had dietary preferences that made caffeine a no-no, instead of an empathetic "I see," how I was responded was, "Still, we will charge you, doesn't matter if we serve you boiled water," I was like, okay, I knew it, but honestly, you didn't have to be that mean. Alright, he could just be stating the facts, but the way he put it, plus the attitude, was not nice at all (or, am I asking for too much for Hong Kong service standard?) Rest of the story was nothing worth more than a plain sentence - I was epically underwhelmed by a lunch set that was served like nothing but a 40-ish dollars lunchbox you could get at a local diner takeaway just a few blocks away (and I bet theirs taste even better). But guess what they charged this for? HKD 84 dollars (plus the 'tea' that I never ordered, plus the service I didn't feel like that's up to what they think it deserves). Am I asking for too much? Maybe I am, to collectively bad Hong Kong restaurant service standard. But if the industry doesn't seriously learn a lesson from why people would rather commute across the border to spend their weekends, you have the answer here. …Read More

We found this hidden gem on Hong Kong’s best foodie guide. We were excited when we saw those pictures of the vintage decors - the place seems to suggest some deep, refined nostalgia that will draw the people who keep the place running seemed to suggest otherwise. Well, they’re just kids so never mind. You feel like you have gone to the wrong place. Where were we? High school canteen? Maybe. You can tell from the language, everywhere from the menu to the notices in the washroom. Lucky if you don’t speak Cantonese well enough to understand them. Well, I understand it’s weekend so your staffer advised we took the table for two despite the fact that we had a Mac with us to discuss projects over the table. Never mind. You brought a hot pot to us and the chopsticks got accidentally knocked down, we apologised (that’s how we were raised) yet we didn’t expect a poker face in return. Well, what would happen if in worse case the hotpot got spilled all over your customer. Never mind.Kid we understand life in catering is hard. So if you are upset at work, we could have been happier for self-service. Just let us know. Because we would rather be treated with respect and dignity like what cafes are supposed to be in rest of the world. Give some respect for genuine cafe culture, at the very least. This is a cafe, isn’t it? Its name says so.P.S. The pancake is a pleasant surprise. Just don’t go for whatever it’s on the lunch set menu - they are mediocre as the price suggests that so don’t expect something more than stomach-fillers for the working men. In fact, the cafe offers some so much better options on the main menu - you won’t be disappointed.…Read More

As a self-acclaimed rookie, I don't write public food commentary but I decided to give an exception this time to honour gastronomic excellence, thanks the passionate Belgian restaurant manager who made us his guests and shared with us his passion for steak craftsmanship that he had to ask the bartender for a pen and paper to illustrate how the chef cut the beef to present to us this immaculate 1.5 kilo steak that goes with the rib and rib eye. Though meant for two, this can actually serve a starving squad! Don't forget to toast with a pick from their exquisite selection of wine.…Read More