Too bad restaurant Gold by Harlan Goldstein is closed. It was a great place for celebrations. Penthouse is also by Harlan Goldstein and shares a similar, but more casual, concept to Gold.

The venue is spacious and comes with great views and a rooftop terrace. The menu is produce-driven and offers a New York-style Italian fare.

We shared the 44 Degree Slow-Cooked Akaroa King Salmon with Fregola ($398) and the Maine Lobster Tails with Gnocchi ($388). Both were very nice. Nothing wrong with the Giant Fries with Truffle Mayonaise ($78) either. The fireworks came (literally) with the Valrhona Guanaja Chocolate Bavaroise dessert ($128) and continued throughout the evening from the tables around us.

Penthouse charges $30 for the sparkler/fountain candle and $10 for the I-forgot-to-ask. We responded with a "Super Mondays" card (2-for-1 on main courses) and ended up paying a total of only $750 for an enjoyable meal.

The reason that some leave the restaurants at The Wellington disappointed is because of the IT-factor. For some IT symbolises a scary clown and for some it means being in vogue.

When you come here solely to eat, you might not get the positive reviews, but when you come to socialite/socialise, either with friends or your IG-following, URA can be a great base. The space is artsy, the food is picture-perfectly presented and there is even a secret garden. I would suggest going here for drinks and nibbles, because filling up on wagyu and uni can get pricey.

Sushi Mori offers one of the better Japanese lunch deals on Hong Kong island. For $260 you can pick from a selection of donburi, tempura, sashimi and sushi sets.

Now I know you can get more for less, but this is not your localised Japanese eatery. We had a proper omakase lunch, which included a salad, appetiser, nine quality pieces of sushi, udon/soba/miso soup and ice cream/coffee.

The Chef's Selection might not be as creative and personalised during lunch compared to dinner, but the quality is equally high. You can always opt for your own selection ($400/12 pieces).

There is a sister branch on Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay, which is more formal with a higher price range. Mori Sushi on Graham Street, Central, is not affiliated.

"High quality cooking, worth a stop." It might no longer be star-worthy according to the Michelin Guide, but in my book, Upper Modern Bistro by Philippe Orrico is up there with the better restaurants in Hong Kong. There is heart, which can't be said of most of the eateries in the city.

The sophisticated yet informal setup makes Upper Modern Bistro suitable for both business and leisure dining. The location contributes to the friendly ambience, which makes it a great spot for weekend brunch as well.

The menu is elegant and refined. The signature Foie Gras Crème Brûlée was innovative and very tasty, but the toast of the second appetiser, where the ham lie on, was inedible. Hard as rocks. Luckily, bread (and butter) was brought to the table, which was replenished throughout the meal.

The mains were portioned excellently and though relatively light, they were balanced well with either a heavy sauce or side. My Milk-fed Veal was superb. It needed more jus, which was brought rapidly upon request. The side, Gnocchi with Cheese, overpowered the main unfortunately. Serving it with a juicy ribeye would have been much more suitable (steak, for one, was not on the menu that evening). The recommended Shiraz paired nicely.

The Profiteroles came with a birthday candle, chocolate blessing and song. Bonus points for our host Guillaume, who performed the birthday song in French. Where the Upper Red Fruits with Panna Cotta, Crumble and Strawberry Ice Cream lacked in presentation, it made up in taste. Very refreshing.

The restaurant offers a vast cheese selection too, which made me compare it to Caprice Bar. I recommend both highly! Overall, another lovely dining experience at Upper Modern Bistro.

I've been a pescatarian since I was a child and it wasn't until two years ago that I decided to give meat another try. It only took a bite of a dry-aged US prime porterhouse steak (fillet) to convert me. I still don't like eating poultry or pork, but gone are the days that I order fish at a quality steakhouse.

A lunch at Porterhouse by Laris will set you back $198 for two courses and $228 for three. An additional $98 is charged for the striploin and $108 for the ribeye. Side dishes are $68 each. They have nice dinner sets as well.

Great space, friendly service and good steak.

Highly recommended. Great space, knowledgeable service staff, tasty menu with pretty plating and fine produce.

Catalunya offers a 2 or 3 tapas set ($188/$268) during lunch along with sharing items for an additional price.

Our 2-tapas set:
Jamón Ibérico Croquette
Cod "Esqueixada"
Hokkaido Scallops with Ginger Jelly
Eggs with Caviar and Truffle

Additional order:
Mediterranean Red Prawns - Grilled $530
Catalan Gin $150 + Bottle of Sparkling Water

I'd suggest skipping the prawns and go for a heavier dish instead, unless you want a (pricey) light lunch.

After my table neighbour looked at my main dish and asked out loud why hers looked so different, I realised how we accept below par service in Hong Kong, even at The Ritz-Carlton. After so many years in Hong Kong, I no longer mind that my wine glasses are warmed by the server's fingers or that my head is used as a side table for trays. Good staff is hard to find, let alone enough bodies to serve 400 people at a banquet.

I liked our menu at the Italian Chamber of Commerce Charity Gala Dinner. Very well thought out. I was really looking forward to this dinner. The tuna, unfortunately, was very dry and the (not crispy) prosciutto was rubbery. Despite of being really hungry after an hour wait, the risotto let me down too. I actually would have preferred waiting longer, because it needed more time. It was close to al dente, to put it nicely. Luckily, the beef and seabass dish was excellent.

Menu:
-Red Tuna Carpaccio with Crispy Prosciutto, Tomato Salsa, Pea Puree, Olive Oil Pearls and Citrus Powder
- Porcini Risotto with Buratta, Saffron and Sage by Two-star Michelin Chef Pino Lavarra (Tosca)
-Sous-vide Cooked Beef Tenderloin and Grilled Seabass with Black Olive Fondant Patato, Organic Root Vegetables and Truffle Jus
-GROM Gelato with Biscotti (Provided By Sponsor)

"It will take very long to prepare", said the girl. "It's too much for two people." It seemed as if the girl that took our order didn't want us to get the Marie Antoinette's Crave cake. Yada-yada-yada. "Off with her head", I said. "And get me my cake!"

That last part didn't happen, but it's a different world at Ms B's SEVVA. It reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. After some convincing, we had our cake and ate it too.

The whole thing might be a bit gimmicky, but the cake is actually very well made. Moist with the fresh raspberries cutting trough the cream and sweetness. I could, however, do without the sugar dragées. We ordered the award-winning rose petal tea to go with.

Making your own pistachio chiffon cake with cream and raspberries, decorated with rose petal, mango and mocha macaroons, sugar dragées and pink cotton candy will only set you back about $100. SEVVA charges $650 (dine-in only), but it's the experience you pay for and it's a very happy one. Worth it!

Yuen Long might be known for its many Chinese eateries, but when you crave Japanese food, you'll find mostly local-style restaurants.

Closer to the real deal is available at Sushi Man, Sushi Hajime and God of Sushi. A quick comparison of the three, sees a similar setting, ambience, service and menu, with the omakase set lunch at Sushi Man priced at $250/10 pcs (+1 temaki), Sushi Hajime at $200/8 pcs or $280/12 pcs and God of Sushi at $220/10 pcs or $250/13 pcs. You can go up, but I'd suggest to save that for dinner. All include a steamed egg, miso soup and dessert. God of Sushi adds an appetiser (patato truffle salad) and has no service charge (tip accordingly).

I enjoyed our visit to God of Sushi: The service staff was adequate (translated menu, asked preferences, table was tidied and tea poured continously and a birthday candle was provided) and though the omakase selection was standard, it was of quality.

Midway my 13-piece set, another chef took over the prep, which made me realise how well I had it. Though all young, the first chef was concentrating on his job (my food), while the second one was chatting loudly with my table neighbours about nothings, which messed up my sushi (zen): preparing fishes I specifically said I didn't want or with too much wasabi, dumping down the pieces, instead of taking another step to place it properly on my board, even when the other piece was still on it...

Now, fresh quality produce and a chef's knowledge and craftsmanship are key to a fine Japanese meal, but a true omakase experience needs a chef with refinement, creativity and interpersonal skills. Why else go "carte blanche" instead of "à la carte"?

That said, God of Sushi gets a thumbs up. Can't really complain when you get 13 pieces of good sushi plus add-ons for $250. The minced fatty tuna rice bowl was very nice too (better with quail egg ; )

Great hangout spot at the corner of Star Street. I like the concept, menu and space. Very laid-back. Service staff is a little inexperienced.

I've been to the Causeway Bay and Sheung Wan outlets as well and the food presentation is a bit different per outlet.

Things we ordered from the brunch menu:
Salmon Eggs Benedict $105
Corn Beef Hash $105
B.E.L.T. $95
Buttermilk Pancakes $95
Mocha Latte $55

Treats the chef sent out:
Salmon Advocado Poke $95
Bistro Fries $55