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NEW LUNCH SERVICEI went to Zahrabel over lunch since I heard they recently launched a midday service (they used to only open for dinner). At the beginning of June 2017, the restaurant introduced an Express Lunch Set Menu (HK$140) and an Executive Lunch Set Menu (HK$150-190). Both feature the famous Mezze Sampler packed with a variety of the restaurant's best appetizers. Their Executive Menu, meanwhile, includes an add-on of hot food, featuring their bestselling dinner dishes. They obviously put a lot of thought into their lunch service as they made sure all the food was served in a timely manner, given that most customers only have an hour or less for lunch in the middle of their work schedule. However, that didn't detract from the intimate feel of the Zahrabel experience, nor from the quality of the food.SETTINGSituated on the 25th floor of a Wan Chai high rise, you will always have natural lighting and a view no matter where you sit. The layout of the restaurant is long, with tables arranged parallel to the floor-to-ceiling windows.Nadia and Nysreen, the elegant Lebanese sisters who run the restaurant, were there when I went. As is their usual practice, they chatted with each table to make sure everything was up to standard. Zahrabel is a family business, and they said at least one member of the family has to be in the restaurant during operating hours to supervise the food and service.SERVICEThe staff are as subtle and as classy as their owners. They were trained well, with that understated and old world touch that one hardly encounters in the Hong Kong dining scene nowadays (unless of course you go somewhere like The Peninsula. Even Mandarin Oriental hasn't been able to quite get it right in terms of their staff tbh - and I'm not the only one who's noticed!) FOODI'm surprised not more is being said on OpenRice about this restaurant, which for me serves one of if not the best Middle Eastern food in town (they had me at dessert - I asked for their house made date fingers when I went but they only have it for dinner!) Let's start with drinks. I very much appreciated the service water which they offered immediately. I ordered the Hot Mint Tea with complimentary refills, included in the set. If you come for dinner, however, I highly recommend you try Lebanese wine, which is incredible. Nadia happily informed us that wine was actually invented in Lebanon. Not hard to believe.I went for the Executive Lunch Menu because I couldn't resist the Shish Taouk (HK$180) - however the Zahrabel Mezze Platter was so filling that I had to take my skewers home with me after just a few bites. They served me two grilled chicken skewers on Lebanese bread with garlic sauce. I begged the server not to forget to pack the sauce when I took it out, it's so good...The mezze platter was a nutritious classic Lebanese combination of Hummus, House Salad, Felafel, Lebanese pickles, and pita/flat bread.  And of course, the best part is the house specialty dip and my personal favourite in Zahrabel: the Jos Mahrouse, a dish you can't find anywhere else in Hong Kong. Jos Mahrouse is a slightly spicy/sweet, nut-based dip only found in the northern region of Lebanon where the El-Mahmouds are from. Both lunch menus are served with either Lebanese Coffee or Hot Mint Tea, and the dessert of the day. The latter was a house-made freshly baked baklava when I went, the best in Hong Kong imho! (I used to love Cafe Habibi's baklava as well, but sadly they closed down)Vegetarians (or healthy eaters like me) would appreciate the meatless mezze. It's such an interesting and delicious mix of flavours and textures that meat eaters wouldn't even miss meat having it. Zahrabel can also adjust the platter to suit vegan / gluten-free diets. WOULD I COME BACK?Seeing as I'm a returning customer, the answer is clearly yes! I would return just for the date fingers and Jos Mahrouse!…查看更多

After reading a decent review of Mamasita's Cantina on TimeOut or some publication, I added it to my list of 'must-trys' in Hong Kong. I was ill preprepared for the disaster that was to come.SettingLocated in the former 'Blackbird', with a terrace overlooking Wellington street, Mamasita's is already given an advantage. However, that's where all the good stuff ends.ServiceDisgraceful. At one point, my friend and I were the only customers yet the server was doing all she could to ignore us in our alfresco seats. There they were, 4 restaurant staff inside the enclosed area doing absolutely nothing while we were trying to call their attention for a few minutes. I got fed up and walked to where they were. Our bill at the end, by the way, was a whopping HKD800 for two people with that awful service. And you haven't even heard the part about the food yet...FoodShockingly tiny portions. The Mini Beer & Sausage Corn Dog (HK$108) was the size of my thumb, and one order had basically one small corn dog DIVIDED INTO TWO. Didn't they say they were street food and not fine dining?! Fish Taco - HK$58 Sol Beer Battered Fish, Red Onions, Cabbage, tomatillo, Chipotle MayoThe only decent thing we ate that nightCorn Esquites - HK$88 (V) Roasted Corn, Chili Powder, Lime Juice, Mayo & cotija CheeseThree pieces of half-corn. Decent.Sweet Potatoes - HK$68 Deep-Fried, Honey Mustard DipI appreciate that this wasn't a regular potato...Trump mess cheese cake $88 oreo, snickers, Morello cherry ice-creamWe switched the cherry ice cream for salted caramel. The cheesecake was more like creamcake, but I still finished it. Would I go back?For the food? Never. For the drinks, maybe. I just wonder how that staff can keep up with a bigger crowd seeing as they could barely even handle a house of two.…查看更多

I had been meaning to try this cozy corner shop since I first passed it years ago. I was saving it for a nice day to make the most of the alfresco seating looking out towards the water and mountains. Unfortunately, the bad service has put me off a return visit. Ever. Service at China Bear across the street is much much better.We came in and already the waitress looked anxious because we - a party of four - were taking up a big table of around 6. She told me twice to move to the other table, and my girlfriend 4 times when I went to the loo. There were no other guests coming to take the table, and if there were any who arrived after, we would have been happy to move. Her mutterings and stressed out attitude were completely unnecessary.Finally she nagged us so badly that we moved to the smaller 4-seater after a pair evacuated it. Ironically, a group of four arrived taking up the table she forced us out of. We were all rolling our eyes at this, but needless to say, it was so irritating to start our morning off like that prior to beginning the hike through Lantau Trail Stage 7.The Food...was okay. The juice was not fresh. The omelette (spinach and feta) was dry. Coffee below average. Honestly, the only good thing about this place is the setting / ambience with the perfect view. It has so much potential to be charming, and it's so small that it's hardly difficult to create a nice feeling among customers. BUT NO. Can't even do that much.…查看更多

When the skies opened last Saturday unleashing a torrential downpour that ruined Clockenflap for me, my girlfriend and I decided to recalibrate and comfort ourselves with an indulgent brunch at The Drawing Room (TDR). It also happens to be right across from where I live on Staunton Street, which means we got to avoid walking too much under the rain.I had actually gone to TDR the night before only to get turned away at the door. Fully booked on a Friday night! Guess walking in is not an option here (on a weekend). Thankfully K had the good sense to call in advance and book us a table.The SettingYou'll get decent outdoor views and natural lighting here. We would have loved to move in and out of the wide terrace for drinks / coffee / tea had the weather not been so appalling. I can imagine doing the al fresco thing here would be pleasant (I see it all the time from my bedroom window, and always thought "lovely spot for tea and a book")Layout is comfortably spaced out, arrangement is long like a corridor, so it doesn't feel like diners are concentrated.While waiting for K to arrive, I entertained myself with the paper and colouring pencils they provided. We adults never realise how we never do these things anymore - hardly do anything outside of a screen. ServiceFoodWe decided on the 3 course brunch for our eating spree. The 4 course with pasta would have been too much, so forwent the carb overload.Appetizers to shareWe thought we would choose 1 each from the 4 appetizers, but to our delight (and to our diet's dismay) - all four appetizers were served to share. The Pawn does that too, feels a bit wrong to spoil ourselves this much, really...Let's begin with the best one:Capesanta: Pan seared scallops & pork ragout on toastFresh scallops cooked exactly the way I love, the toast's crisp texture perfectly complementing the meat. K ever so generously offered half of hers to me when I gushed about it. That's a real friend.The rest of the appetizers are in random order as they were more or less in the same level after the standout scallops.Insalata: Organic mixed salad leaves w/ pickled mushroom Something green and fresh to make us feel 'healthier'  about the mealMozzarella & salumi: Buffalo mozzarella w/ italian charcuterie & gnocco frittoI can't stand cured meat but the buffalo mozzarella was amazing - both in consistency and flavour.Pesce: Marinated fish w/ avocado, green apple & espeletteBasically an Italian version of ceviche / tartare. I loved the tangy sweetness of the apple mixed with the raw fish marinated in lemon/lime.By this time I was obviously so stuffed that I could have easily skipped the mains and gone straight to dessert. But we soldiered on:I got the Merluzzo & gamberi: wild caught cod & prawns “a la plancha” w/ parsley & garlicI was able to finish the prawns, which were deliciously cheesy, but not as fresh as I would have liked. All the butter-garlic-cheese flavours made up for the slight rubberiness of the prawns.The fish was drowning in oil and seasoning, but still delicious. I had this packed and ate it for lunch on Monday. It also came with sinfully good baked potatoes that invaded my office with its rich aroma. Needless to say, food envy abounded.K ordered the ginormous Manzo: black angus striploin steak “a la plancha” w/ rosemaryImpeccably tender, cooked to perfection. Loved the greens (overly flavoured and rich again) but we didn't touch the bellpeppers. Nothing against them, I guess that's just not our favourite vegetable.If there were to be a next time, I would probably go for the 'Polletto roasted marinated whole baby Ffrance spring chicken' instead of the fish.And now to my favourite part: desserts! Unfortunately, this is not TDR's forte. The 'tiramisu' was a melting mess of cream and even more cream (except the latter was iced. Get it?!)The fruits were warm and caramelized, as if they needed to be any sweeter. I guess I prefer mine fresh and more natural. We tried to get artistic with this one. Can you spot the lady behind the complimentary sweets? Another masterpiece and joint effort by K and I.Bestie brunchWould we go back?TDR is a luxurious, pampering, 2-3 hour long affair justified by a special occasion. The price point is too high for it to become a regular weekend thing for me though, but to try it once, on an indulgent day, I would definitely recommend it. Don't forget to book in advance! …查看更多

Had dinner with a girlfriend late on a Monday night at this French restaurant I've been meaning to try for ages. I love their location on the laid-back streets of Noho, just down a few steps from Hollywood Road. I can definitely see myself becoming a regular here if not for their aloof-to-the-point-of-being-unwelcoming service. The blonde  waitress - in true Parisian style - was the opposite of warm. The nice guy down a few more steps and across at Figaro is wayyy more pleasant and gives off such a good feeling. Cocotte should just pirate him from Figaro.Having already had soup earlier at home (before Pilates class) - I wasn't all that hungry. And I knew my friend eats like a bird. So we shared one main and had three glasses of wine between us. I'm no connosieur but the wine prices averaged at HK$150 meaning they should be pretty damn good over there.The dover sole was absolutely fresh and cooked to perfection. Tender and light, but also flavour-heavy and buttery from the sauce. You think you're being healthy ordering fish but then it can't taste THAT good and be low on calories. Wish it were, though! I don't love mashed potatoes but with all that butter and cream my taste buds were exploding with delight. At least there were green beans to assuage our guilt..For dessert it was a tough choice between Apple Tarte Tatin and the molten chocolate cake but in the end VALRHONA CHOCOLATE TEXTURES (HK$100) won. Inside: biscuit moelleux, choco-peanut, crumble, ganache, raspberry (if I remember correctly). It was so-so. Cake a bit bready. Maybe we should have gone for the tarte tatin. Would I go back?Probably yes. Honestly the vibe, location, and food make strong enough cases for an encore.…查看更多

I have officially found a new go-to breakfast place. While it doesn't have the same ambience as some others (aka Aberdeen Street Kitchen, etc), the food and price more than make up for it.Price?! You might be raising your eyebrow at this. Don't believe me? Check out their breakfast menu:My girlfriend and I - on a weekday - were walking around Central trying to find a good breakfast place. We were being high-maintenance about it, wanting to check out something new (so not Oola), but no restaurants we wanted to try were open (ie. Mercato). I had to take the MTR so we walked down to Central anyway, a bit resigned to eating maybe in Landmark or IFC (gosh, #firstworldproblems much). And then we bumped into Mercedes Me's sign board announcing daily breakfast from 8-11am. And it looked good!I told my girlfriend, hey I heard about this place, it's new! But from what I had read, it seemed overpriced and snobby. But when we saw the menu and walked in we were convinced.SettingGreat decor and layouts, booths, dimensions, modern stylish... it was pretty much empty when we dined there (10ish in the morning), surprised it's not packed because breakfast there is absolutely delicious and good value (sorry if I keep repeating this throughout my review...)FoodThe menu is not exactly the most extensive out there but they focus on a few yummy things and do it well.Eggs were of perfect texture, buttery / creamy, everything just delicious. Wish I had more but a small person like me shouldn't complain.This greek yogurt bowl was actually so heavy we couldn't finish it. Although we did ask for extra honey. Yogurt was very thick. Still, it was good.Would I go back?Hell yeah. If only I didn't have to rush to work every morning! …查看更多

This is my go-to brunch place more for the atmosphere than the actual food. SettingThe best thing about Aberdeen Street Social is that you feel like you're dining in a garden, surrounded by Hollywood Road's leafy greenness. It's situated in a courtyard blocking off the sometimes-oppressing road action of Soho / Aberdeen Street. Atmosphere is light and airy, lots of space, a healthy amount of people around but it all adds to the pleasantry rather than infringing on your space. ServiceCheery enough. I just care that my water glass be filled regularly because I drink a lot of water. FoodThe Acia berry bowl was fresh and delicious, but honestly we wish it could have been bigger. That's almost $100 for something that almost fits in the palm of my hand?!I switched the bacon for smoked salmon. Spinach was good, but sourdough (or at least that's what I think it was) was awful. It was so chewy and doughy in all the wrong ways. They have yet to get their bread technique right. It tasted like something they froze a long time ago then toasted halfway, then served. Hollandaise could also be improved on.The fish & chips was the best dish we had. I guess it is a British restaurant after all! Perfectly battered, fresh and excellent texture and taste for the cod. Pancake: Bacon, fried egg and maple syrup (HK$125)Forgot to take a photo of this but it was decent for a person who doesn't like pancakes. Maple syrup a guilty indulgence. I would have preffered the waffles, though, but I was overruled.Would I go back?Yes. As much as the food is less than impressive, I enjoy the restaurant as a whole. It's a great place to hang out and relax for weekend brunch, without having to spend an arm and a leg on those champagne buffets... although in the end we spent more than 300 per person anyway, don't ask how that happened..…查看更多

I absolutely adore Middle Eastern food. It has to be up there on my top three favourite cuisines. So when I found out that the old Life Cafe has been taken over by a Lebanese restaurant, I couldn't wait to try it. This is actually my second time eating at this place - I don't know why I do it more often, honestly (it may be due to the fact that I work in Kowloon...)Hong Kong definitely has a scarcity of Middle Eastern cuisine. I was gutted when Cafe Habibi - my go to lunch place - closed down a couple of years ago, leaving a vacuum for mid-range desert fare.I'm surprised there are so few reviews on this place, and that the ratings aren't higher. I thought it was excellent! And I don't think my standards are low when it comes to food; after all, I used to be a food writer.SettingMy only problem with this place is probably the layout. It's a bit confusing, especially getting up to the top floor / terrace. I've been there over three times and even when it used to be Life Cafe, they should at least put some kind of signage to orient people.I love Islamic architecture with their high ceilings and ornate windows, so I really loved how they updated the place. Everything was very colorful, reminds me of the 1970s / retro somewhow, but with that near east flair.The restaurant doesn't close in between lunch and dinner, which was when we came, so appreciate that you can just drop by anytime during the day. Thumbs up for the all-day dining awesomenessServiceGood. I have no complaints in this department. I don't know why other people said service was bad, I thought they were quite friendly and nice! FoodThe Hummus bi Tahini had a balanced flavour and texture, clearly made fresh.The Hearth Baked Pita Bread could have been lighter, a bit on the heavy doughy side but some people like it that way.Seriously good Za’atar Fried Chicken. Servings were actually generous for this free range baby chicken, not oily at all, SUPER JUICY - yum!I also tried the salads / vegetable dishes last time I went - very flavourful and healthy. Thumbs up on those.Would I go back?Most definitely. And I would recommend it to anyone. …查看更多

Someone special took me to Arcane for the eve of my birthday, and compared to the other new fine dining restaurants around comparable to it, it was pretty easy to get a table here. I was impressed by the photos of the terrace from doing prior research, but I was a bit disappointed by the layout of the whole place stepping into the restaurant. SettingI can't quite put my finger on it, but there was something off about the way they spaced out the tables. It was as if they were trying to cram in as many tables as possible that they completely eliminated the feeling of intimacy among guests. This is pretty amateur considering the spending of about HK$800-1,000 per head.They had an open kitchen setup which always looks nice, and you could see Shane Osborn at work - the first Australian Chef to achieve one and two Michelin stars. It's a shame I wasn't able to note the artwork from NY/London contemprary Flowers Gallery, which apparently adorned the walls.The terrace garden was a nice touch, but unfortunately no breeze could get to it because it's closed in by high rises on every side, and the exhaust fans from the building was blowing right into the balcony. I would not recommend eating there during the warmer months. Hardly a street view either.ServiceQuite professional. Very attentive, and knowledgeable of the menu and its ingredients.FoodA modern European affair, all wish fresh ingredients - you can taste it. Overall, food was delicious at Arcane. The servings were just right - the appetizers were on the small side, but the mains were decently portioned. If only the ambience were better...Japanese fruit tomato with basil and pea pesto, stracciatella, lemon dressing (HK$228)This was a great refreshing starter, with the most exquisite burrata. It was healthy and perfect, except the fact that it's so expensive =0Pepper seared yellow fin tuna with romaine salad, egg, beans, tomato and potato (HK$238)Fresh, fresh, fresh! And nutritious. Feel-good.Roast ibérico suckling pig with braised red cabbage, grain mustard sauce (HK$368)The best way to cook it - Asian technique with Spanish cochinillo topped with French-style sauce. Lip-licking perfection.Chocolate mille-feuille with caramel cream, fresh cherries, lemon curd and chestnut ice ream 138Dessert. I can never ever resist dessert. It was kind of annoying that they didn't give a complimentary cake though, but anyway this was sweet and rich in just the right amount, everything in delicate harmony. I gorged it down. This was the better dessert.Yuzu and lemon posset, fresh tangerine, mandarin and yoghurt ice cream, white chocoloate tuile 128A lighter sweet ending with fresh fruit. I can never choose between the richer chocolatier option and the fruity yoghurty one - I like both, and that night, I kind of had both. It was my birthday, after all!…查看更多

I went to The Beach House for my birthday and reserved a table for 5pm. We were hikin the South Lantau Country Trail that day and arrived late - at 5.45pm. The waiter made a sidecomment about us being 45 minutes late when we arrived and that our table wasn't ready although the restaurant was 15% full. I don't know if this makes sense to you, but this already irked us.SettingThis is the best thing about the restaurant.The location and ambience of this restaurant is its greatest (and only) asset. You can hardly go wrong when you seize the beachfront property. In its place used to be The Stoep - a South African place, which served great food. The Beach House totally renovated its formerly shabby interiors and now everything is new and much nicer. Especially the bathrooms. In terms of cleanliness, however, The Beach House falters in day-to-day mainenance. I know it's a beach restaurant and there will inevitably be sand everywhere, but they could at least pick up the food and crumbs from the diners. There are stains all over their couches, which is also fine, but food scraps are unacceptable. Especially when we've made a reservation and everything should have been cleaned and prepared beforehand.ServiceThe staff were overly casual to the point of irreverence and complacency. They were just so lazy; it took forever to order. They were the opposite of attentive. We had to keep calling their attention. They took forever to bring some dishes. Obviously more training needs to be done here.FoodMediocre at best. The menu was recently updated but still the same old regular western food.The burger and steak were standard, servings were pretty large, price was high (comparable to Central) but at least you get a lot more for it. The "Moroccan Chicken" was described as 'spicy' - it was not. Tajine isn't even spicy anyway. Flavour and texture were okay for roast chicken but if you're looking for Moroccan chicken then it falls flat.The Lantau Salad was alright, needed more figs.The steak was pretty hefty. We appreciated the serving size.Chips / fries were huge. Wish they had a sweet potato (healthier) option but that's really asking for too much already here.....Mille Feuille – A thousand leaves layered with custard cream, strawberry coulis, caramelized almondsThis was absolutely horrific. It was so oily and old tasting, the opposite of crisp and light, all I could taste was oil and heavy pastry and cream cream cream drowning everything. It was every patisserie's nightmare come to life.Would I return?Not for the food or service. It was really so traumatic - especially on my birthday - that I would probably try all the other restaurants on Lower Cheung Sha before returning to this one.…查看更多

The Lai Chi Kok lunch hunt continues. This Monday's search took me and an Austrian acquaintance to modern Spanish restaurant Rustico in D2 Place. Setting & ServiceThe place was refined (especially for Lai Chi Kok) with Spanish interiors. Natural lighting cast a pleasant glow about the place, which tried to emulate the Southern European feel with wooden furnishings, earthy colours, flowers and ceramics. Rustico, after all, pertains to the bucolic countryside.Service was very good, not too hovery, but always there when you need them. They were very attentive, I never needed to raise my hand once to get their attention. The only annoying thing was they kept serving still water instead of tap, which makes your bill really skyrocket (I think I always note this in my reviews). With the set, it's + $28 for a Bottle of 750ml SPANISH Mineral WaterThe FoodWe both got the lunch sets, which were both under HK$200 but end up being more if you fall into the still water trap. Appetizer: Sweet Potato Cream Soup with Crispy LeekI absolutely adore sweet potato. This is not a traditional Spanish ingredient - more of a Latin American one - but I appreciate so much that they used this "batata" instead of the "patata" (regular potato). The latter has barely any nutritional value while the sweet potato is a bonafide superfood - plus it tastes way better than a regular potato! Obviously, I'm a fan, and this dish gets two thumbs up!Crispy Cod Fish Loin & Chips with Paprika Mayonnaise (Getting this main meant my whole set cost $178 - dinner / $158 - lunch )Fantastic texture - very light and crisply batter fried on the outside, and melt-in-your-mouth fresh fish inside. I replaced the chips with salad since I'm trying to be healthy...Iberico Pork & Seafood Paella in “RUSTICO” Style ($168 / $148)The paella was standard, on the dry side. I only had a spoonfull because this was not my dish, but I like my paella on the wet side.DAILY DESSERT (Free) - Peach TartThe Spanish have never been known for their pastries or cakes, but this was decent and buttery. The tiny slice was more than enough, but I finished it anyway because there was a generous topping of fruit. Yum.Would I go back? Yes. As an alternative to the fanciest in the neighbourhood - Amuse - Rustico delivers relative luxury in the area at more reasonable prices. But still, it charges the same or more than a Central lunch set, so they may try improving on that. Although they know they're a rarity in the area, so maybe that will only happen once competition ups the ante.…查看更多

This British all-day breakfast restaurant is the kind of place that when you see it, you already imagine spending a lazy Sunday on its terrace reading a book. It's that pretty.But the food is another story altogether. As soon as I arrived at the restaurant (the Admiralty branch; it has another location in Tsim Sha Tsui), I went straight for the dessert display in front. But of course! Unfortunately, they didn't have the Victoria Sandwich Cake, an offshoot of my all-time favourite the Victoria Sponge. I went for the set lunch, all of which were around HK$100-200 with soup and salad. The salad tasted like nothing. The soup of the day (pumpkin) was quite good. The sea bream with scallops was so-so, not particularly fresh nor well cooked, while the "Everything" breakfast was average. Service was not too good. They took forever to get anything to you, we had to keep getting their attention and reminding them of their orders. The only good thing was that they kept refilling our glasses with house water. It can be so annoying when they try to give you still all the time making your bill run up to the sky.DessertWe shared the Sizzling S'mores between two people. Obviously this was the main event. The marshmallows were nicely toasted, but they didn't give enough crackers / biscuits to finish everything. Also, the chocolate sauce / fudge wasn't as thick as I would like. But that's me, I'm a dessert freak. The sweets are way better than the entrees here anyway.Would I go back?Yes, if not for the food, then for the atmosphere. They just got lucky they grabbed such a nice place. …查看更多

Had family brunch here last weekend (7 people + 1 baby) and we were impressed. In a quiet, leafy alley off Hollywood Road and Gough Street, is this charming restaurant with friendly French service who gets everything done in the suavest of ways.It may be in the centre of things (right below PMQ) but you feel like you're in your own little haven in the crossroads of Central / NoHo / Sheung Wan.Downstairs you have the wine bar with the high table, while upstairs you have the naturally lit balcony / loft restaurant with modern European decoration.We had the whole place to ourselves that morning, such a surprise given its location. Cocotte right across enjoys way more popularity that it boggles us why Figaro doesn't get as much attention. Because it should.Brunch was a simple yet tasty affair costing around HK$150-250 per head. Within that price range you can get yoghurt, muesli, fresh juice, coffee/tea, a croissant, AND hot breakfast - per person. Food presentation was exquisite, and taste was good. Prices more than reasonable.Next time I will take more photos but for now these words will have to do. I would definitely go back.…查看更多

If you were working in Lai Chi Kok as I do, you would know that the dining options are quite limited, especially on the higher end of the spectrum. I saw Amuse on a news article once and had marked it down for trying. Finally, my boss asked me to reserve a restaurant in the area for lunch, and I got the chance to try it out.SettingI had booked a table and they placed us by the floor to ceiling glass windows with a view. The place is spacious, modern European decor, everything done up very finely.ServiceMy boss - a long staying guest at Sheraton (15+ years) - recognised our server. It was Edmund, who previously worked at Sheraton, saying that many of their team both kitchen and service staff were recruited from Sheraton and other 4-5 star hotels. They know what they're doing here, their training has been from the best.Food I had the perfectly-seared salmon with baby asparagus and potatoes. To be honest, this was the best-prepared fish I have had in months. The salmon was seared to perfection - neither overcooked nor undercooked. Texture was flawless, meat was completely fresh and juicy. Taste was spectacular, complemented expertly by the sauces. And as you can see, presentation was beautiful.My boss had the prawn pasta, which was also unerringly tasty.Portions are medium - just right in my opinion.The lunch sets are between HK$150-$300.I'm not a cheesecake person but I could not resist this cheesecake. And would you take a look at that chocolate art! Texture not to bready / gelatinous / corky, but not too thick either.As you can tell, I was impressed with this restaurant. Amuse is definitely going to see more of us in the future.…查看更多

Last night I made the trek to Kowloon in the drizzle to try the Filipino food at LAB EAT FILIPINO RESTAURANT & BAR. Upon seeing it, I wasn't convinced it would be the real deal because firstly LAB EAT doesn't sound Filipino at all, and it doesn't look Pinoy from the outside. I don't think I even saw a sign saying it served Filipino inside.After the experience, though, I'm screaming inside: "Finally, a decent Filipino restaurant in Hong Kong – newly opened! Newly renovated, spacious, nice staff, and most importantly, delicious authentic Filipino cuisine!!!"And trust me, I know what I'm talking about here, I grew up eating this stuff. Ironically though, a British person was the one who introduced me to this place.After trying the other “Filipino” restaurants in Hong Kong, I’ve been disappointed. But this one did not let me down. Entering LAB EAT I was happy to see Filipino paintings on the wall despite the awkward club-like interior design. The music made me feel like I was back in the Philippines, mostly an MYMP playlist… and they played one of my favourite Tagalog songs!Unlike other "Filipino" restaurants in HK (ahem, Cinta J), LAB EAT serves Filipino food and ONLY Filipino food - no Malaysian, Indonesian dishes mixed in. Their menu showcased a good variety of generous Filipino plates made to share (not tapas style, exactly, because they’re HUGE):They’ve got a pretty comprehensive selection of Pinoy favourites, just wanted to try everything! But we settled for the ff:Sinigang na Hipon (HK$128)the best Sinigang in Hong Kong – we obviously smashed it before remembering to take a photo…This sour tamarind soup kicks double boiled soup in the ass like 1 million times (in my opinion), verified by my local friend Karen and British friend James who adore SINIGANG. Must-try. You can have it with either fish, beef, or prawn. I like all.Kinilaw na Tanigue (HK$128)The Peruvian Ceviche, Filipino-style. It’s like diced-up sashimi/raw fish, cooked in vinegar and lime. It’s acidic but light and yummy..Inihaw na Liempo (HK$128)Grilled pork belly marinated in calamansi soy sauce. It’s so fatty but so good.Garlic RiceI don’t know how much that was BUT GET IT!!! So soft and so aromatic I just inhaled it.Dessert: Leche Flan (HK$45)This egg/milk/caramel pudding was done perfectly, with just the right smooth consistency and sweetness.Verdict: The best Filipino food in HK. Would I come back? HELL YES, planning to take all my friends here...…查看更多