alexanderhfl's Profile

After visiting Chef Philippe Orrico’s newly opened restaurant ON Kitchen Dining & Lounge, I decided to pay a visit to Upper Modern Bistro to see whether it has maintained its quality.It’s been awhile seen I’ve dined there, and every time I go I’m still in awe with the decor. The tall ceiling painted with soft colours instantly calms the mind down. If you want the full experience, I recommend grabbing a spot near the kitchen so you can watch the chefs preparing your meal.Feeling rather weighted down from the aftermath of the holiday meals, I ordered the tuna, squab and eggplant roll with tomatoes as a starter. Light and refreshing, it was just what I was looking for to start off the meal.If you’re feeling rather hungry then the foie gras crème brulee is your top choice. I couldn’t help but scoop a bite from my friend after being hit by its aroma. Rich with foie gras, you can indulge in its natural creaminess whilst avoiding the fatty texture.Next up was the veal burger for my friend. Since I don’t eat beef, I can’t give much comment on this. However, from what I saw, he finished the burger in record time, so it must meant it was good right?The Scottish salmon teriyaki was the highlight of the night. I’m a huge fan of salmon, and Chef Philippe sure knows how to cook salmon right. Rather than being fully cooked, the centre was left slightly raw giving you a medley of texture. The teriyaki was slightly coated on the salmon, so you won’t have the super sweet aftertaste that would overwhelm you. The garden of greens were so beautifully scattered around the salmon, it’s hard to not enjoy the dish.A great meal cannot end without dessert. After glancing through the menu, I knew that I just had to try the lemon panna cotta. It’s not just your ordinary panna cotta. Complemented with citrus sorbet and yuzu parfait, it blends the Asian flavours into an Italian dessert, giving you a sensation that is beyond description.I would have to say I’m impressed with Chef Philippe. It’s not easy maintaining the quality of a restaurant let alone two. I sure hope he would keep surprising us with his innovating dishes.…Read More

When I first saw that an Irish restaurant was opening in Hong Kong, I was so excited to try it out before it became too popular.Located at Kennedy Town, the decor was simple yet trendy with floor length glass windows. Although I went at night, I can imagine how nice it would be in the day to have gentle rays of light seeping in whilst having brunch. The interior design definitely caught my eye. With a wooden ceiling, sleek sofas and ceiling fans, you feel as though you're walking into a traditional Irish house (of course, the upper class ones).However, the food was a very big disappointment. Reading some reviews before visiting, I decided to order their signature dishes: the quinoa salad, the blue swimmer crab cake, the grilled sea bass, the Triple Double Realman’s Burger, and the duck leg. None of the dishes met my expectations. The quinoa was undercooked giving it an unappetizing crunch. The duck leg was by far the biggest disappointment. You know a dish is a failure when you occasionally bite into a mouthful of salt. The remaining dishes were neither here or there.Giving it one last shot, I ordered the apple crumble. It was an absolute catastrophe. The crumbles were literally crumbles of flour. You would be surprised they actually decided to serve this.Based on the decor you would have high expectations. Sadly, our expectations were probably set too high.Considering it is a newly opened restaurant, I would give it a benefit of the doubt. …Read More

Brickhouse reminds you of high school. Remember that exclusive clique that you always wanted to join? Well the place is just like that, only much more welcoming.Hidden inside an alley (a popular choice amongst restaurants trying to achieve exclusivity), you'll really need to do some research or tag along with your trendy friends that know it all in order to find it.The absence of a line is very deceiving. After walking up to ask for a table, we were told we have to wait for 60 minutes. Normally I would have just called it a night and hopped into the next nearest restaurant. However, since it was surrounded by an array of bars, we enjoyed happy hour whilst waiting for their call.Once we managed to get a table, we instantly ordered the watermelon cocktail (the Fresca). Sweet yet tart, it's actually stronger than it tastes. Don't choose to down it all in one go, it's lethal.We ordered the Mexican style street corn, guacamole, tortilla soup, taco platter, and the scallop tostada. The scallop tostada was really interesting, since it incorporated traditional Mexican cuisine with an Asian twist. The Mexican style street corn was also something I would recommend ordering if you want something that's not so mainstream.However, the tacos were the downfall of the meal. Tacos are the epitome of Mexican food, but sadly I would say the tacos here are nothing too special. It tasted good, but it's really hard to make a bad taco. The challenge is making a taco that would stir up your cravings when you haven't had a taco for a long time. The same can be said for the guacamole.If you want to hang out with the cool kids, then this is the place for you. Just not a must go in terms of food.…Read More

It’s hard to find a nice restaurant at a reasonable price in Hong Kong. After living in Hong Kong for 2 months, I decided to give the newly opened ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge a try.For any restaurant I always order poached eggs. It may be the simplest dish, but for me, using the most basic ingredients really reflects the skills of the chef.When the waitress brought out our plates, it sure didn’t disappoint. When I saw that the egg white were smooth and wobbly I instantly knew that this would be above average (I know my eggs well). The braised veal added an interesting touch to the dish, giving it a medley of flavor and texture.My friend ordered the Tourteau Crab, and I must say that it was divine after swiping a bite when he wasn’t looking. As an appetizer, it was extravagant. Served with lobster and vegetables, you can really tell that the freshest ingredients have been used. Definitely a must try if you’re a seafood fanatic like me.The main course arrived shortly, and that didn’t disappoint either. Feeling rather ‘adventurous’, I ordered the Angus beef cheek with parsnip puree. You can’t cook a steak wrong, but it’s hard to cook a steak that keep customers coming back for more. Well Chef Philippe Orricois one of those rare chefs. The meat was so tender I’m having flashbacks whilst writing this.The Penne pasta with parmesan and pickles wasn’t half bad either. Knowing that cheese can be a little heavy for some, Philippe used the tartness from pickles to balance out the creaminess of cheese. It’s the small thoughts like these that show the chef’s passion.For these two courses I paid $288. I personally think it’s a really decent price considering the superb quality it offers. I for one would definitely be returning again. Except this time with my phone charged so I can complement my review with pictures.Like everyone else, I paid a visit to the Lounge upstairs before I left. You can’t say you’ve been to ON if you haven’t seen their terrace. Although it was a bit chilly that day, the view was spectacular. For those who always wanted to experience what it’s like to live in Central, then you’ve come to the right place. I know where I’m heading for happy hours now.…Read More