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I recently tried the summer lunch menu at Kashiwaya 柏屋 in Central - the only overseas branch of the 3 Michelin star kaiseki restaurant Kashiwaya in Osaka! Located on On Lan Street, the restaurant had been designed immaculately with paintings from renowned artist Shiro Tsujimura to even the distance diners will need to walk from the elevators to the dining room. The owner and head chef Hideaki Matsuo wanted customers to experience a moment of zen before eating his kaiseki cuisine which is designed with the seasons in mind. His well-trusted student Atsushi Takahashi, who has trained at the original restaurant for over 20 years, had been selected to be at the head chef in Hong Kong. The dinner menu ranges from $1800, $2800 and $4000 for 9, 10 and 11 courses while lunch is more wallet friendly at $680 for 6 courses. The building that Kashiwaya is housed in has 3 elevators actually but the one closest to the dining room had been locked in order to force the customers to walk a longer distance. This is so the customer can experience a moment of zen by immersing themselves in Japanese art and culture. The first thing you will notice is a bell in the shape of a fish which is used in a monastery to signify the start of a meal to the monks. As you turn the corner, there are paintings by Shiro Tsujimura which are showcasing the sentiment of summer in addition to a washi wallpaper where the unique pattern is solely owned by the Sugino family in Kyoto with over 600 years of history.In addition to 8 counter seats and 4 tables in the main dining room, 2 private rooms are available as well which are named "Kaori" and "Minato" which means Hong Kong.I sat at the counter to enjoy the summer menu using specially sourced fresh products from Japan. 先附 / AppetizerThe first course was a refreshing combination of asparagus tofu, Gyrophora mushroom, wasabi, sea urchin and sweet potato. The subtle flavors of the tofu was balanced perfectly by the sweetness of the uni and the savoriness of the mushroom. 煮物椀 / Simmered DishThe next course is a delicate simmered broth of peached pike conger, white gourd, white gourd skin and yuzu flower. The eel is a popular summer fish in Kyoto and requires a skilled chef to remove the abundant amount of tiny bones in the fish!造り / SashimiThe two kinds of selected sashimi of the day were a lightly seared Suzuki (Japanese sea bass) and Aji (Japanese horse mackerel).八寸 / HassunThe Hassun comprised of two boxes:- on the left was a pike conger sushi with sweet soy, sushi ginger, Okinawan Spinach dressed with sesame and walnuts, sweet potato, broad bean, soy marinated ricotta cheese, eggplant with red miso, snap bean and dry fig.- on the right was a roasted French duck breast, pumpkin wheat mochi, leek with tosa vinegar and mustard.I was instructed to start with the box on the right first before moving onto to the one of the left. I loved the flavorful duck breast and while I found the pike conger sushi to be a bit dry, I thought the side dishes (especially the ricotta cheese) were very interesting. ご飯 / RiceThe rice course was a Ichijyu Sansai (which means one soup, three sides) with Koshihikari rice, miso soup and three kinds of side dish. Koshihikari is a premium short-grained rice prized for its sweet nutty flavor and chewy texture which went nicely with the side dishes including tamagoyaki, marinated tuna and spinach. 水物 / DessertThe dessert signified the end of the meal which was a beautiful milk pudding with honey jelly and topped with pineapples, kiwis and blueberries. Verdict - I highly enjoyed my meal at Kashiwaya with its authentic kaiseki cuisine and attentive service which made me feel like I was back in Japan again! It is definitely worth a try for those who wish to try a traditional kaiseki experience in Hong Kong. Follow me on Facebook! www.facebook.com/supertastermelFollow me on Instagram! www.instagram.com/supertastermel…Read More

Greater China Club is becoming a one stop dining destination by offering Italian and Japanese in addition to Chinese cuisine. I had a fantastic meal in the Chinese dining room last year so I was curious to see how the other cuisines will fare. The Italian restaurant Cadenza is offered in the lounge and as the chef is Spanish, the cuisine will also incorporate other European influences as well.The Homemade Tomato Tartare Secret Recipe ($88) was unique and interesting as I've never had tomato made into a tartare before and the flavors were very nice and refreshing.The “Pettine” Carpaccio , (Scallops) with Fresh Almond, Apple and Black Truffle Dressing ($138) had a bit too much truffle oil for me which covered the flavors of the scallops but I did like the contrasting textures in the dish.The Deep-Fried Cepes Risotto “Arancini” Filled with Beef Cheek Ragout Black Truffle Sauce And Foam ($82) was another creative dish that tasted great too.The Grilled Homemade Semi-dry Aged US Prime Ribeye ($428) was aged for 14 days which was nicely cooked to medium rare here.If yout think this is just a ice cream bar, think again. It's actually a Caramel Panacotta with Carmelized Almonds ($65) in the shape of a popsicle!The “Cadenza Surprise Egg” ($65) was another creative dessert where the egg was cracked open to reveal the inner layer of passion fruit and mousse. …Read More

After the closure of the Fatina & Chefo, EAT & PLAY cafe in PMQ, Chocolate Rain's Fatina and Chefo are finally back with a new summer afternoon tea set at the Garden Cafe in City Garden Hotel! Four super cute desserts inspired by the latest fantasy book "Magic Black Forest" are being offered which you can order separately or altogether as one Magic Dessert Island ($350):1) The Magic Mushroom House ($98) with a custard-filled cupcake that looks like mushroom2) The Chocolate Rain Forest ($108) looked like a Christmas log with chocolate sponge cake filled with whipped cream, blueberry jam and maraschino cherries 3) The Treasure Box ($98) was my favorite with freshly cut bananas, candied walnuts and custard bundled together with a paper-thin crepe4) The Rainbow in the Sky ($108) looked magical with sea buckthorn berries, lychee and cucumber panna cotta toppped with a beautiful pink cotton candy ballThe afternoon tea is only available until the end of August, and the best deal is probably to order the Magic Dessert Island so you can try everything altogether and the portions are big enough to share between 3-4 people. …Read More

Le Bistro Winebeast is one of my favorite French bistro in Hong Kong with its quality food and reasonable prices, and I was glad to learn that it moved to a bigger and better location! One of its main selling point is that the wines at the restaurant are priced exactly the same as their retail shop so you're not forced to pay higher prices unlike most other restaurants. My only complaint of the old shop was the cramped spaces and uncomfortable seating which was hard for frequent visits so the new location should solve that problem as it is big enough to contain both the wine shop and restaurant as well. We came here for dinner and had the 4-course tasting menu for $458 plus wine pairing for an additional $100 which is such an amazing meal. The tasting menu changes every 4-6 weeks but you can order a la carte dishes as well which contains most of its signature dishes. On top of our tasting menu, we had an appetizer platter where you can choose from a variety of Frapas (French Tapas) at $38 for 1 Frapa, $68 for 2, $98 for 3, and $128 for 4. We had the Beef Tartare, Croquette of Haddock Brandade, and Homemade Hummus, and my favorite was of course the famous beef tartare with smoked chili, red onion pickles, basil oil and coriander!The first dish of the tasting menu was the Sea Bass Tartare with pineapple marmalade, red onion, and cream of horseradish. I liked the tartare as it was fresh but I thought the pineapple marmalade was a tad too sweet which overwhelmed the flavors of the fish.Wine pairing: Alsace, Audrey & Christian Banner, Les Saveurs 2014I loved the beautiful and colorful plating of the Seared Red Tuna and Pan-fried Foie Gras with reduced raspberry vinegar jus and fresh fruits, but there was a bit too much going on with all the different sauces and fruits so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to focus on.Wine pairing: Bourgogne, Dom. Pierre Damoy 2011However, the Braised Beef Cheek with grilled new onion, horseradish jus, and spring onion oil was executed beautifully with rich flavors and tender textures.Wine pairing: Bergerac, Ch. de Larchere, La Coste du Moulin 2013The Strawberry dessert was also outstanding with strawberry and lemongrass coulis, marshmallow, vanilla and wasabi mascarpone, and strawberry sorbet. It wasn't the first time I had wasabi in dessert and it was very well-balanced here!Wine pairing: Cremant de Loire, Langlois Brut RoseFollow me on Facebook! www.facebook.com/supertastermelFollow me on Instagram! www.instagram.com/supertastermel…Read More

Erawan Thai Premium, a sister branch of the Michelin recommended Moon Thai, is now my favorite Thai restaurant in Hong Kong! I don't usually make big claims like that, but I think you may agree with me after trying the award-winning Fried Crab with Tom Yum Paste here. Helmed by Executive Chef Lek who has over 35 years of culinary experience at Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok and Hong Kong, the food is traditional and authentic which is just what I've been craving for and reasonably priced as well. Both sister restaurants serve the same dishes but what sets them apart are the creative cocktails available at Erawan Thai Premium with a new mixologist on board. I tried the Ocean Wave ($68) which looked gorgeous with its blueish ombre hue while the taste was fruity and refreshing with lychee flavors. Grilled Pork Neck ($88) is a dish that I always order at a Thai restaurant and the texture of the pork here was juicy and bouncy but a tad leaner than expected. I loved the accompanying tangy and spicy sauce though which was really appetizing.Red Curry with Roasted Duck ($138) is another favorite of mine and while the curry was spicy and flavorful, I thought it would have been better if the roasted duck had been laid on top of the curry so that the skin would still be crispy. I liked the use of fresh fruits in the curry especially with the sweet and juicy pineapples and lychees.I usually don't like to eat vegetables but the Fried Morning Glory with Belachan ($88) was a classic dish that I could eat everyday.Finally the dish that stole my heart was this Fried Crab with Tom Yum Paste (market price)! The whole stir-fried crab was really fresh and sweet while the tom yum sauce was amazingly delicious as it was spicy and sweet at the same time. It was so good that we had to order naans in order to finish off the sauce with it. This was hands down the best crab dish I've had this year!The Fried Tiger Prawn with Spicy Thai Herbs was another award winning dish that not only looked grand in presentation but also smelled deliciously aromatic from the spices and herbs they were stir-fried in. Our meal ended on a strong note with this Mango with Glutinous Rice and Coconut Milk ($88)! The mango was really fresh and sweet while the glutinous rice was superb as it had just the right amount of sweetness and texture. J was so impressed he finished all of the rice while I happily polished off the mangoes. Verdict - I was very impressed with the food at Erawan Thai Premium and I'm definitely coming here whenever I'm craving for the fried crab with tom yum paste!Follow me on Facebook! www.facebook.com/supertastermelFollow me on Instagram! www.instagram.com/supertastermel…Read More

The rose petal gelato definitely looked pretty but the rose flavored gelato tasted pretty artificial while texture of the gelato was just off, plus the cone wasn't crispy at all and chewy like plastic - it was totally not worth HK$66 for the quality. I mean if you've had Amorino before, this doesn't compare at all and locally there are better places for ice cream. …Read More

Singaporean dessert queen and two-time winner of Asia's Best Pastry Chef Janice Wong has descended into Hong Kong with Cobo House by 2amessertbar where she will be showcasing her signature edible art desserts along with a full-blown savory food menu for the first time! Located right next to Artisan Room in Shek Tong Tsui, the spacious restaurant embraces a chic and yet minimalist design with simple black and white color tones so diners can concentrate on the food right in front of them. The best seats in the house are probably at the dessert bar counter with front row seats to the pastry chefs in action but since I was with a big group of friends, we sat at one of the tables next to the floor-to-ceiling windows and ordered some snacks and desserts to share since we were there for afternoon tea. Tsujirihei Green Tea Tart ($108) is a lava matcha tart made with Kyoto green tea and served with jasmine rice sherbet. The matcha was rich with a slight bitter undertone which was nicely balanced by the lightly flavored sherbet. Shades of Green ($118) was inspired by the Nanyang breakfast of kaya toast and kuih bangik in Singapore with pistachio sponge cake, coconut mousse and pandan ice cream where the flavors of all ingredients were evident and came together cohesively. The aerated frozen Chocolate H2O ($128) was one of my favorite desserts here with 65% dark chocolate, Evian, salted caramel, Kochi yuzu sorbet as it was both pleasing to the eye and the taste buds. Inspired by dead coral on the coast of San Sebastián, the rich chocolate and caramel flavors were perfectly balanced by the refreshingly tart yuzu sorbet!Inspired by cherry blossoms, the Cassis Plum ($138) is another must-try here with cassis bombe, elderflower yogurt foam, Choya granita and yuzu pearls. This edible piece of art was featured in MasterChef Australia and comprised of many layers of flavors and textures that came together perfectly like a sweets symphony!I was impressed with the artistic presentations and creative flavors in most of the desserts here which are definitely worth a try for the reasonable prices, and I'd definitely be interesting in coming back to try the savory menu as well! Executive lunch sets start from $198 while dinner set starts from $428 along with a 13-course degustation menu at $1280.Follow me on Facebook! www.facebook.com/supertastermelFollow me on Instagram! www.instagram.com/supertastermel…Read More

Thanks to a slew of new hipster cafes opened in this area like Teakha II and LIFETASTIC, I've come to discover Shek Tong Tsui - a quiet little neighborhood sandwiched between Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town. This time, I was here for Artisan Room which strives to encourage its customers to disconnect from technology and connect with each other instead with a large communal marble table inside and comfy sofa seats surrounded by greenery in the spacious outdoor patio. The first thing you will notice inside the cafe is the massive Gothicism slow-drip cold brewer from South Korea's Dutch Lab which is literally a piece of art itself with its intricate and ornate designs. The cafe is also the only one in Hong Kong which uses coffee beans from Costadoro - an Italian brand founded in 1890 that is known for its slow-roasting of coffee beans at low temperatures and air-cooling the roasted beans to minimize the moisture.I was recommended to try this Macchiato Latte ($40) with almond milk where the espresso and the milk was served separately on a customized copper plate. I took a sip of each before pouring the espresso into the almond milk which turned out to be a heavenly combination with its sweet and nutty flavors.Besides coffee, the cafe has also partnered up with S'il Vous Plait to offer its sweet and savory eclairs which I had been dying to try! There were about 4-5 different sweet eclairs to choose from and I ended up trying the gorgeous purple colored Sweet Potato and exotic Chili Chocolate. The sweet potato was a bit mild in flavor while the chili chocolate was seriously spicy - I'd probably prefer the spiciness to be more toned down but I applaud its bold flavors. I really want to try the Banoffee flavor too which was sold out when I was here.I love the environment at Artisan Room (especially the outdoor patio area) which offers an oasis from the hustle of the city with a diverse offering of coffee and non-coffee drinks such as tea, beer, Italian soda and juice. I'd have to come back again to try its cold brewed coffee and savory eclairs! Follow me on Facebook! www.facebook.com/supertastermelFollow me on Instagram! www.instagram.com/supertastermel…Read More

208 is a rustic New York-style Italian restaurant where you can rely on to get good food and have a great time for a reasonable price. My first visit was several years ago when J took me here for my birthday and we were impressed with the Neapolitan pizza which are made in a custom pizza oven from Italy so we came back to try the revamped menu at the lively bar area recently. We started the night with some aperitivo - J went for the classic Negroni with Beefeater gin and olive while I chose the Fiore with Suze gentian liqueur and soda. Both were on the strong side but the bartender came prepared to adjust our drinks since everyone's preference can be different. Both the Fig, Curd & Vincotto Crostini ($78) and the White Anchovies, Raisin & Almond Crostini ($78) were delicious to eat as the combination of ingredients resulted in matching flavors and I especially adore anything with fig! The Mushroom Arancini ($78) was crispy on the outside with a creamy filling which was paired with a tasty truffle mayo.I liked munching on the crispy Whitebait Fritti with Salsa Verde ($88) like fries but the fritters could have used more seasoning though. The Polenta Cake with Maple & Mascarpone ($68) was moist and mildly sweet with a crumbly and grainy texture. After we were done with our bar snacks, we got some house bellinis next to go with our pizzas and mains. We tried the Cannella with pear & cinnamon and Sicilia with Limoncello & blood orange - I loved bellinis and I would have preferred ours to be a bit sweeter.We ended up trying 3 different pizzas and my favorite of the night was the Tuscan with a delicious topping combo of mozzarella, goat cheese, semi-dried tomato and crispy bacon plus I just love the crispy crust and chewy base of the pizzas here!Salmone Affumicato ($188) with mozzarella, smoked salmon, horseradish, creme fraiche, black olive.Boscaiola ($178) with tomato base, mozzarella, cotto ham, mushrooms, peas.Tuscan ($198) with mozzarella, goat cheese, semi-dried tomato, crispy bacon and garlic.The Gnocchi ($128) with Pea, Mint, Walnut and Pancetta had all the classic flavors of a comfort dish and I especially loved the chewy texture of the gnocchi. We ended our savory dishes with a bang with this delicious Slipper Lobster with Garlic Risoni ($248). For our desserts, we each got some digestive cocktails with Hot Buttered Rum with Gosling's dark rum, Cointreau, chardonnay, butter, aromatic and bitters and Espresso Martini with Absolut vodka, Kahlua and espresso. Each were good in its own way but I think I prefer the hot buttered rum more with its rich aroma and soothing flavors. The Salted Pear & Frangipane Tart ($78) tasted rather light and not too sweet but I thought the pear flavor could have been stronger. The Warm Chocolate Fudge Brownie ($88) was my absolute favorite of the two with its rich luscious flavors, crisp edges and molten center!Follow me on Facebook! www.facebook.com/supertastermelFollow me on Instagram! www.instagram.com/supertastermel…Read More

This Purple Yam & Apple Compote Croissant was actually pretty good for only HK$28! The croissant was warm and crispy, and even though there was a lot of sweet potato, the purple yam was mildly sweet so it wasn't overbearing at all - makes for a great breakfast or snack! …Read More

Yum Cha, along with its sister restaurant Urban Park, burst into the Hong Kong dining scene late last year with 2 locations in Tsim Sha Tsui and Central, and since then my social media feed has been filled with its insta-worthy dim sum (especially the super adorable hot custard buns spewing flowing custard), so I was excited to try its food and to see if the food tasted as good as it looks!I've actually been to both locations and each has it own characteristics as the TST branch has an outdoor grass patio that is ideal for having a picnic while the Central branch has a truck as decoration and is bigger and more expansive. The decor is bright and modern with marbled table tops while dishes are reasonably priced.The Happy Farmville ($99) had us all oohing and awing as it comprised of all of its super cute dim sum creations including the Doggy Sausage Bun, BBQ Piggy Bun, Rose Bun, Green Tea Custard Bun, Pineapple Puff and Hot Custard Bun. This platter is great for those who want to try all of its dim sum together and is only available during dinner at the Central branch. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the taste of the dim sum in general because initially I was worried it would be all looks but they actually tasted pretty good and on par with what you would find at regular dim sum restaurants. The Doggy Sausage Rolls ($59/2pc) are actually traditional Chinese sausage buns and one of the new additions to the spring menu. I loved Chinese sausage buns but it's not always offered at all dim sum restaurants (especially the higher end ones) so I was glad to see it here and reincarnated as a dog with fluffy buns! The Green Tea Custard Bun ($49/3pc) is another new addition and probably one of the most popular dishes here along with the Hot Custard Bun ($49/3pc)! We had a lot of fun making our buns puke custard which, by the way, tasted pretty good too. I'd prefer the original custard over the green tea one as it had a rich and savory salted egg yolk flavor (unlike the ones at Social Place). Food that you can play with and eat? Why not!The Pineapple Puffs ($49/3 pc) which came in the shape of birds arrived in a cute bird cage, and I was actually the most impressed with this dish as the pastry shell was crispy and light while the pineapple filling was well-balanced and not too sweet.The Crispy Sweet & Sour Wonton ($59/6pc) is another traditional favorite that is freshly made in-house with fresh shrimp, minced pork and diced vegetable as fillings and paired with a sweet and tangy sauce as a dip.Moving past dim sum, we also tried a few new savory dishes starting with this refreshing appetizer Pomegranate & Curly Kale ($59). The kale was crunchy and snappy, and served with a wasabi and balsamic sauce along with sweet pomegranates. The Braised Fish Maw with Veggies ($119) will be popular with the ladies with its collagen-rich fish maw which was super soft to eat!The 3 Cups Prawn ($119) is a creative take on 3 cups chicken (a popular dish in Taiwan) which got its name from the 3 cups of sauces required - soy sauce, rice wine and sesame oil. The sauce was actually very flavorful and I found myself sucking on the prawn shell for more!The Marinated Chicken in Spicy Sauce ($69) was adequately spicy while the meat was smooth to eat. The Spicy Honey Balsamic Wings ($79/4 pc) was sweet and tangy but the sauce coating was a bit too acidic for me. Finally, whimsical desserts arrived to mark the ending of our meal! The sesame balls and sesame mochi came floating on dry ice while the mango pomelo sago was topped with cotton candy. I loved the sesame mochi as it was soft and chewy and while I didn't try the cotton candy, the mango pomelo sago was solid too.Verdict - if you're looking for a restaurant to get your Instagram game on that is reasonably priced and tastes good, then Yum Cha is the place to go!Follow me on Facebook! www.facebook.com/supertastermelFollow me on Instagram! www.instagram.com/supertastermel…Read More

If you think I'm in Japan again, guess again! Sushi Tokami, which has 1 Michelin star in Tokyo, is now at Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui! The original Sushi Tokami in Japan was established in 2013 and immediately earned its Michelin star status in 2014. I haven't been to Sushi Tokami in Tokyo but it is quite famous for its tuna since the owner of Tokami also owns a renown specialty tuna shop in Tsukiji that supplies tuna to many top-rated sushiyas in Tokyo. As it is currently ranked in the Top 10 for sushi in Tokyo on Tabelog, I was excited to give it a try to see how the sushi compares to Tokyo so I came here for lunch with J.Three lunch sets are offered at $600, $800 and $1000 with 12, 14 and 16 pieces of sushi respectively. Each lunch set also includes an appetizer, the signature tuna tossaki hand roll and fish & egg soup. The prices are certainly not cheap and nearly double the prices in Tokyo since you can get a very decent sushi lunch in Ginza for ¥5000 (~HK$340) but I guess it may be worth it if it saves you a flight to Japan. I ended up ordering the 12 piece set while J went for the 16 piece set. The space in Hong Kong is huge and spacious since it has not one but two sushi counters which I hear is much bigger than the one in Tokyo. We were the first to arrive for lunch and were promptly greeted by all the friendly staff including Taga San who is the head chef at the HK branch. He was very nice and even attempted to say the names of the fish in Cantonese!We started off with Kegani (Hokkaido Hairy Crab) served with mozuku (seaweed) in vinegar which was refreshing to eat. We then started our sushi courses and I noticed that red vinegar rice is used here which was nicely balanced in flavor - the only thing was that the size of the nigiri was much smaller than usual so our sushi looked like miniature baby versions of what we are used to. Maybe it's so we can try more pieces but we weren't that full afterwards.Our first piece was a special type of fish called Houbou (ほうぼう) which is called Blue Fin Robin in English. The manager of the restaurant even brought out an iPad to show us the picture of the fish which looked quite exotic with its bright blue fins and the resulting flavors were delicate and delicious. Our trio of tuna starting with Akami Zuke (本鮪の漬), Chutoro (中とろ), and Otoro (大とろ) which only came with the 16 piece set. Out of the three cuts of tuna, I liked the chutoro the best with its pronounced and yet balanced flavors.As I've said before, eating white fish like Hirame (平目) outside of Japan is risky because it has to be eaten fresh since the flavors are very delicate and while the piece we had here had more flavor than most hirame I've eaten in HK, it still wasn't as good as Tokyo though. I liked the semi raw texture of our Kuruma (車海老) but I only wished it was bigger. I've had kuruma before where it needed to be cut in half so that each piece can been eaten in one bite but obviously we didn't have that issue here. Part of the 16 piece set, the Kawahagi (皮剥) was mixed with its own liver and served with rice underneath.If you are thinking whether to spurge for the 16 piece set, maybe this box of heaven will help you make up your mind! The Bafun Uni (馬糞海胆) was layered three times and definitely very fresh and sweet but the temperature it was kept at was a bit too cold which destroyed some of the delicate flavors actually.The Tuna Tossaki Temaki (手巻き寿司) was definitely the highlight of our meal as the tuna used here is from a special cut near the tuna's neck which was extremely creamy and flavorful - I would go back just for this!The Tamago (玉子) signaled the end of our meal and it was supposedly infused with eel and ginger to give it a special kick in flavor but we couldn't really taste it. Verdict - Sushi Tokami delivers a very solid sushi experience by Hong Kong standards so while it may not replace a trip to Tokyo, it may just be enough to tide you over your sushi cravings until your next trip!Follow me on Facebook: supertastermelFollow me on Instagram @supertastermel …Read More

Since I live on the Southside, I'm always keen to try any new restaurants at The Pulse so I went to check out The Ocean with a group of friends for a birthday celebration over weekend lunch! The Ocean is part of the Le Comptoir restaurants that also brought us Bibo, Hotshot and Tri which are all known for their fantastic interior designs so I wouldn't expect anything less for this venue. My assumptions were confirmed once I stepped into restaurant which made me feel like I was riding the waves with its gorgeous 50 shades of blue, bright sunlight from the vast floor to ceiling windows and curving walls.The seating was mostly round sofa booths which faces the windows with beautiful views of the beach.The tableware, cushions and blanket throws used were exquisitely fine which turned out to be Hermes (ooh la la).The entire restaurant was super long and, after walking past two private rooms sharing a marine reef aquarium, I reached The UMI Bar which offers omakase sushi. Beyond the bar was the third private room which was basically surrounded by a huge jellyfish aquarium! It was definitely 5 stars for aesthetics and decor but how did the food fare?For lunch, the restaurant offered a 3-course lunch menu for $488 where we can choose our own dishes under each category: first waves, great reef and coastal view which just code names for starters, mains and dessert with 4 options each to choose from. You can also add $588-$1,288 for free flow champagne to enhance your lunch experience from 12:30pm-3:30pm daily which wouldn't be a bad way to spend your afternoon actually, but we all behaved and drank non-alcoholic drinks. Our amuse bouche were beautifully presented on coral and seashells and we were instructed to start with the lobster tartare that was wrapped in daikon on the seashell. Next up was the truffle puff pastry in the wooden box where had a rich creamy filling. The last series on the coral were the cousa with potato, leak and coriander, the beetroot and carrot spicy tart, and deep fried rice with cheese. Not a bad start but I wasn't sure all the bites packed the flavors they were supposed to deliver. The homemade honey oat bread with fluffy soft butter and olive oil was divine to eat though.First WavesFor the appetizers, J chose the slow cooked salmon with avocado, caviar, fennel seeds, creme fraiche, lemon and capers which was light and well-balanced in flavor.I chose the recommended pan-roasted langoustine with traditional potato gnocchi, maitake mushrooms and ocean broth. The langoustine was nicely cooked but it could more rare while the gnocchi was too soft and could have been more chewy as well. The overall flavors were very safe and not offensive but also not memorable either.Great ReefThe artic char en croute with broccoli, celery and micro green salad was possibly the best dish of the meal! It was like a fish version of a beef wellington as the fish was placed inside a crispy pastry crust which was very well-executed in both flavors and textures. The recommended charcoal grilled sea bass with quinoa collection, pear onion carnival and salsify textures was less impressive though as the fish was slightly overcooked.Coastal ViewMoving onto desserts, the recommended passion fruit with champagne granite, coconut foam and crispy meringue was definitely my favorite of all the desserts as it was light with sweet and tangy flavors that was nicely complimented with a variety of textures. The peanut parfait with spiced bread toast, milk meringue and infused red apple looked and sounded amazing but somehow just fell flat on execution. I was looking forward to the spiced bread toast but couldn't taste it while the peanut flavor needed to be counter-balanced as the flavors were quite one-dimensional here. Service was awesome though and after I told them that it was our friend's birthday that day, they offered to do something special for him with a very delicious cream and berries puff pastry cake! Our petit fours were then wheeled to our table on a cart as the finale of our meal. We got a bit of everything to try which was placed in an elegant red and golden box for us.The cannele, lemon meringue tart and mixed berries tart were lovely to eat and a nice ending to our meal.Verdict - I was definitely more impressed with the look and feel of everything here than the flavors of the food which wasn't bad but just not particularly impressive or memorable except for a few dishes. The flavors were very safe in general so they weren't offensive but I think they could have been bolder as well for the price I was paying. The dining experience on the whole was very exceptional though especially with the enchanting decor and attentive service, so I wouldn't mind coming here again to sip unlimited champagne on the weekends while curling up on the sofa booth with a Hermes blanket! Follow me on Facebook: supertastermelFollow me on Instagram @supertastermel …Read More

My first visit to L'atelier de Joel Robuchon was about 5 years ago when I first came back to Hong Kong and I remembered that I was impressed with the dining experience back then so when our family decided to do a CNY gathering at Robuchon, I was excited to be back because I wanted to know what I'd think of this classic 3* French restaurant now after years of eating and traveling around the world! Unfortunately it was one of those corny love story where you meet "the one who got away" years later and realized that he/she had turned into some fat middle-aged bloke. Okay it wasn't that bad but for the price, we thought that the food was not that creative in general and although we were served a lot of premium ingredients like caviar, foie gras and truffle, it just felt lazy and an excuse for them to justify the high price tags on their menu. There were also some really tacky plastic decorations on our plates that looked cheap and out of place for a 3* establishment - I mean if you want to change up your plates, either get new ones or just leave it as is. For a meal that cost HK$2,080 per person, the restaurant did not offer a dining experience that justifies the price especially when there are better options out there, but I guess it is a place that you can depend on to deliver a solid fine dining meal in HK most of the time which is why a lot of my friends come here with family because they know that it is safe and reliable. We actually sat in the same private dining room as last time and were served the famous bread basket with many different types of bread along with regular and salted butter. I quite liked the bread here actually and was glad that we got to take the rest away so we can finish devouring these at home. Our amuse bouche with black beans and chili pepper. I was impressed with the elaborate plating of the LE CAVIAR IMPERIAL with Sologne Imperial caviar, crab meat, lobster consomme gelee and cauliflower cream, but the dish was a bit salty as the flavors of the caviar wasn't balanced out while the crab meat could have been fresher. And then there were these 2 stickers placed on the upper left hand corner on the plate that left us puzzled as I mentioned before but these weren't the most offensive yet. LA TRUFFE NOIRE with soft boiled egg on golden pearl rice with black truffle and parmesan shavings.I love foie gras but the LE FOIE GRAS with pan-fried duck foie gras with mango, coriander and crispy peanut chips was not well-executed as it felt very fatty and could have used more acidity in the dish to balance the fattiness. LA CHATAIGNE with smooth chestnut veloute with Jerusalem artichoke cream and black truffle. More truffle and again there was a laminated sticker with pictures of leafs stuck onto the plate beneath our bowl that looked totally tacky and completely unnecessary. LA CREVETTE "KURUMA" with roasted kuruma prawn served with homemade pasta and pepper jus. The prawn was a bit overcooked and guess what - truffle again! LE BŒUF with pan-seared Japanese A3 Wagyu and aromatic arugula salad. You have the option to upgrade to an A5 Wagyu with a supplement of $250 but the A3 was already really fatty (almost too fatty) - I'd prefer Wagyu that is a little more balanced. The other main course choice besides the Wagyu was the LA CAILLE with free-range quail and foie gras and served with mashed potato. I'm not even going to point out the truffle (oh wait I just did!). I loved the presentation of the LE RUBY though with Cassis “Dome”, red fruits coulis and pear jelly - I'd take a edible rose over a real one any day!The final dessert LA TUILE with chestnut mousse and crispy coffee tuile with refreshing lime ice cream was surprisingly well-executed as the textures and flavors all came very well together! Not exactly a strong finish with these petit fours - I mean at least try a little harder and put them in a nice box or something. Verdict - I'm not sure if it was because my palate changed or maybe the restaurant has gotten lazy by resting on its reputation but perhaps it's best that we part ways for now - I'm just not that into you anymore. Follow me on Facebook: supertastermelFollow me on Instagram @supertastermel …Read More

We were craving for Thai food over the weekend so we went to check out Issaya Siamese Club in Midtown for lunch which is the sister restaurant of the original in Bangkok that was just named #19 on S.Pellgrino's Asia's Best 50 Restaurants in 2016! The expansive venue was extremely gorgeous with its colorful glass lamps and velvety plush sofas in the bar area while the rest of the space was brightly-lit and spacious with views of the open kitchen which was right in the center of the restaurant. The food was modern Thai so while it didn't exactly offer the typical Thai dishes we were craving for, we ended up just ordering a few dishes that sounded good on the menu to share between the two of us. Prices were on the high side though with appetizers starting from $100 and mains starting from $200.The Yum Som-O ($145) with pomelo salad with wok-sauteed baby shrimp, hard-boiled egg and peanuts in a red chili dressing arrived in a cute fashion as a potted plant which was then mixed with the shrimp at the table. I love pomelo salad in general and I liked that the one here had a more crunchy texture with the crispy peanuts while the dressing was just spicy enough. We were told not to eat the leaf though and it would have been better if they just took it away instead of leaving it on the dish because it was confusing (J almost took a bite of it before I stopped him). The Kor Moo Yang ($168) was a grilled pork shoulder salad with sawtooth coriander and chili in a toasted jasmine rice dressing that was prepared right at our table! The staff mixed a variety of ingredients in a bowl including fish sauce, lime juice, chili pepper, crushed peanuts, shallots, etc. before adding the pork neck last. The result was incredibly tasty with deliciously tangy and spicy flavors along with crunchy textures so it was definitely one of the more stand-out dish of the meal!The Mussamun Gae ($288) was a little bit disappointing though as the lamb shank, which was simmered in a mussamun curry, was definitely tender and pulled right off the bone but the meat itself was not flavorful enough while the curry was also a bit too sweet for me.For desserts, we decided to go for the Kanom Dok Mali ($88) which was a jasmine flower panna cotta served with jasmine rice ice cream and jasmine rice tuile. It turned out to be a great choice as the jasmine flavors really came through in the panna cotta which was super creamy to eat!Verdict - the tab came out to $350 per person for lunch which was borderline for me in terms of value for money - I mean the venue and decor are great but the food wasn't a complete home run for me especially at this price point. Follow me on Facebook: supertastermelFollow me on Instagram @supertastermel …Read More