domperignon's Profile

I am gobsmacked that this restaurant has over 100 positive reviews. Either these reviews were commissioned by people associated with the restaurant or it shows how much my fellow Hong Kongers tolerate and reward mediocrity. At $369+10% a head for an app + soup + pasta + tea/coffee, I expect my food to arrive at the right temperature and having been seasoned at least. I do not believe these two requirements are overly onerous but this restaurant just couldn't help but pump out stone cold scallop pieces in the saltiest lobster soup I have ever had and warm ham wrapped around a bunch of unseasoned asparagus on a bed of lettuce - that's right, no seasoning, no dressing, no nothing - which might be a culinary treat for a horse but not your average diner. It got so bad to a point that we paid the bill at the end of the second inedible course and walked out. Correction, not walked but stormed out, passing another two tables of miserable diners in an otherwise empty restaurant on the way out.I know a lot of people go to this restaurant to support the elderly which is an admirable cause and everything. But Gingko is not a not-for-profit charity, it is very much a for-profit business. Businesses compete on quality of goods and services, strength of the franchise and value for money. Winners strive losers wither. This restaurant is headed for the history books.…Read More

We had the misfortune of eating at this place tonight. Decor and ambiance wise the restaurant looked quite presentable and the waiters were a friendly bunch. Things quickly turned south when four of our dishes arrived in 10 minute intervals. Of the two noodles we had, they were unusually chewy and annoyingly all stuck to my teeth and the beef in the bowl tasted as if it was at least a few days old. The mince pork dish had soft bones mashed in so the texture was awful overall a miserable attempt at recreating a Taiwanese classic. Finally the crispy fried chicken was way too salty and simply unmemorable. Two out of five. No cigar.…Read More

This restaurant charges on average 700-900 (+10% service charge) dollars for a crab; considering this price range I cannot believe how terrible and surly their service was! It was as if the diners were doing them a favour by eating there. The headwaiter and his minions were complaining how slowly people were eating, the fact that they had ordered extra and they weren't able to turn tables over quickly enough, all in front of the diners! What a disgrace!On the positive side, our $920 crab was fresh and tasty. The sauce could have done better with more ketch-up for extra tanginess but no big deal. We also had the crispy fried chicken ($150 for 8 pieces), a small portion of veg ($80) and a noodle that turned out to be portioned for one (for $80). We should not have had the sides instead gone to Burger King for a Whopper or two afterwards. The original philosophy behind the "no signboard seafood" name was honest and simple food in an unpretentious and casual setting. Unfortunately the Hong Kong outfit has failed these values miserably. …Read More

The service was quite decent but the pleasantness stops there.We had beef vindaloo and beef rendang at $75 a pop which is hardly cheap. My biggest beef (pun intended) with the dishes was sauces, the vindaloo littered with pineapple pieces was laughably sweet and syrupy and the randang was completely bland, tasteless and without the slightest hint of lemongrass and coconut. What is going on????? To top it all off, the beef which had been pressure cooked hours if not days earlier had marbled tendon throughout which is something I could not stand. So that was a night to remember for all the wrong reasons. This restaurant is way past its glory days - it is best the owners pack it all up and get someone in who actually understands how to cook a decent curry and actually care about what gets served. AVOID AVOID AVOID. …Read More

I like the intimate and cozy setting of the restaurant and despite what other reviewers have noted, I did not feel claustrophobic at all. Between the two of us, we had the foie gras and duck confit for one, onion soup and the boneless rib for the other, and a mushroom paste to share.Most dishes were of a high standard, both the duck and rib were perfectly cooked, the onion soup and foie gras were both a little under-seasoned. The pasta was a major disappointment to the point I should have sent it back -- just lobs of cream folded in with overcooked pasta; the mushrooms did not have much favour either.BYO - awesome!Overall a good experience, 3.5 stars out of 5. Four stars if it hadn't been for the terrible pasta.…Read More

Went there during lunch to enjoy the gorgeous sun. This time we skipped the $128 lunch set but opt for a la carte. Ordered:-1. pad thai - spicy, juicy, chewy noodles2. egg fried rice - authentic fried rice wrapped in a egg omelete shapeThe outdoor terrace is particularly good if you don't mnd the heat and simply enjoy the sun!…Read More

Went there during lunch time to try this newly opened restaurant in LKF tower3-course lunch for $198- pan seared scallop : fresh scallop with summer fruits- grilled iron steak 8oz : lean and juicy.....a must try!- brownie : nutty rich chocolate....yum- cappacino: rich and foamyIt's quality worths every penny!…Read More

Haven't been to the newly revonated WTC and gave Iccho a try.Pro:-- fabulous Causeway Bay habor view- sashimi rice set with grilled beef = reasonable priced for $88 served in a hot pot- sashimi platter = reasonable priced for $88 with miso soupCons:-- The lunch sets were finally served after 45 min and numerous followup with the waiters. They claimed that the menu had just been updated and there was so error with the kitchen. Suitable for those who can afford to have a leisurely lunch!…Read More

Always wanted to try this newly opened restaurant and gave them a call for takeaway.Pro:-- pad thai : authentic noodles - curry: intense flavor- morning glory: nice textureCons:-- the food which was packed in a cute little western Chinese takeaway box (those that you usually get when ordering Chinese takeaway in the States) yet only 1/2 full!Recommend for those opt for a skinny diet!…Read More

Tried their $88 Thai buffet lunch - nice variety of food together with fantastic view from the restaurant! Finally there is a affordable choice at IFC! Downside was that they played very loud traditional thai music which was pretty annoying! Just have your ears shut and focus on the food!…Read More

Went there for a friend's birthday. Nice ambience but was extremely noisy even with the partition. You literally need to scream across the table to get yourself heard! The food itself was western food in a chinese way:-- french onion soup : cheese was so thick that had to throw away- pan seared foie gras : not smooth/creamy at all- king crab leg : only got 3 finger sized portion for $180!!!!Don't bother going unless you wanna have a ciggie at the balcony!…Read More