Eat Drink Hong Kong

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9 Star Street,
Wanchai,
Hong Kong
Tel 2529 2300

Shop 134 Sun Hung Kai Centre
Harbour Road
Wanchai
Tel 2802 9348

30-32 O’ Brien Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2577 8611

31/F Times Tower
393 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2891 1131

G/F Beverley House
93-107 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2866 3228
Fax 2866 3229

Tequila is to mescal what Champagne is to sparkling wine. What distinguishes Tequila is that it is made from the blue agave plant which is found only in the Tequila region of western Mexico. We were sitting in a restaurant/bar called Agave in Lockhart Road, half a world away from western Mexico, staring at a drinks list that offered a bewildering selection of Tequila based drinks.

“Tequila Macho”, said my companion, “seventy-five bucks, a tequila blanco with white rum, dark rum and then some stuff like wimpy orange, pineapple and lime.”
“Are you having one?”, I asked.
“No, no , no,” she replied. “I’m going to have a Heart of Fire ($70), Tequila blanco, peach schnapps, sparkling wine and a slice of orange. What are you having?”

I returned my attention to the menu while my companion ordered a plate of nachos gringos ($83), tortilla chips with cheddar cheese salsa and a huge dollop of sour cream. “Margarita I think, El Toro Loco ($70),” which translates as ‘crazy bull’. It is made with Tequila blanco, absinthe, Red Bull and a dash of lime.

I was planning on ordering another starter but the waitress talked me out of it, insisting that the nachos were large enough for two. I took her word for it - I do have a tendency to over order sometimes.

The music was quite loud but not so loud that we couldn’t talk and whilst I would hesitate to say it was latin music, it did have a distinct party feel. The decor had a very tropical latin feel, yellow painted walls with painted red beams across the ceiling.

Combine with intricate light fittings and other ornamentations along with a ceramic tiled bar, and the plate of nachos gringos, and the effect is complete. It was a big plate but I wasn’t convinced that I couldn’t have managed another starter. Nevertheless, I let it slide and we dove into the nachos.

For the main event my companion had ordered the grilled fillet steak ($180) topped with chipotle sauce, oaxaca cheese and cilantro (coriander). For those of you that don’t already know, a chipotle is a smoked jalapeno chili pepper. It is believed the practice of smoking them goes back to even before the Aztec civilisation and that it came about because the thick fleshy peppers were hard to dry properly and tended to go mouldy. Smoked, they can be kept for quite a long time.

I did sneak a taste of the sauce and it was still quite tangy, not too spicy and altogether rather delicious. I would have been envious but I had a bowl of Camarones al Diabla ($160), or sauteed prawns in devil sauce. It had three little chilis next to it on the menu suggesting that it was going to be very spicy indeed.

It was quite spicy but not so much that it would challenge a seasoned chili aficionado. But I was impressed with how the flavour of the habaneros had been brought out without threatening to take the roof of my head off. Both dishes were served with Mexican rice and refried beans.

The waitress enquired if we still wanted the other starter or if we would prefer a dessert. We plumped for dessert. I could have eaten the starter but my companion was beat. Well almost. Any hopes I may have harboured for keeping the crepes with caramel sauce all to myself were very quickly dashed, “That’s so yummy” she said.

The waitress wondered if I’d like another Toro Loco. I was tempted but I knew that if I did I would soon be looking for a sombrero to wear and a sturdy table to dance on.

G/F 153 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2122 9795

I found a branch of Al Dente I didn’t know about the other day. This one is on Jaffe Road in Wanchai. I must admit, it’s not really the kind of place where I would have gone looking for a nice little ‘hole in the wall’ type Italian restaurant. It’s on the unfashionable part of the road beyond the bridge that leads to Central Plaza and the immigration department.

As I was walking by I caught what sounded suspiciously like the ivory tickling of Art Tatum. Before I knew what had happened I was sitting there with a glass of red wine in one hand, a menu in the other and some truly nifty piano playing wafting through the air.

It really is quite a small place, long and narrow with seating for no more than about 30 people. It was not too full when I arrived but several of the tables had been pushed together in preparation for what looked like a group of 12-14. The table by the door also had a large reserved sign on it. This was the middle of the week and I was beginning to feel decidedly lucky to have got a table without making a reservation first.

For starters I ordered the Fungi Ala Griglia ($79). This consisted of two plump portobello mushrooms, char grilled and topped with goats cheese, and served on a bed of lettuce and arugula with tomatoes. I love these mushrooms and the char grilling really brought out the rich earthy flavour. I was most impressed.

So impressed that I hadn’t noticed the Art Tatum CD had finished and been replaced with what sounded suspiciously like Kenny G.

It wasn’t long before the main course arrived. I had originally ordered a veal dish but veal had been unavailable on this particular evening. The waiter, instead, offered me a variation made with fillet of chicken ($149).

The chicken was layered with spinach, sage, cheese and proscuitto, served on a bed of creamed potato with a truffle and mushroom sauce. This, I decided, was a very happy alternative to the veal.

By now the restaurant had filled up and there were still people arriving, hoping to get a table. I ordered a mixed berry crumble with ice cream ($48) for dessert.

I was feeling quite full - all the servings had been generous, and would be perfect for sharing. Which is just what the diners on the adjacent table table were doing and I couldn’t help but smile knowingly as they admired their newly arrived portobello mushrooms.

I paid my bill and, much to the relief of the hungry faces outside, went off in search of Delaneys and a pint of Kilkenny for the road.

Shop 17, 1/F Causeway Centre
28 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 3114 8828

20 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2527 7277

Friends who’ve been away from Chinese food for almost a year called and almost begged me to eat Peking Duck with them while they were visiting Hong Kong.

Without even mentioning a name, we all pretty much immediately knew where we would be going… The American Restaurant (of course!). Despite its rather suspicious name, all of us had eaten there before, and it is famous for its Peking Duck.

So, early Tuesday evening, a table of 6 adults and one lively 2 year old descended upon the little old men that serve in the place. They cleverly put us in a corner so the 2 year old would be nicely trapped. Its a medium sized restaurant - maybe 10 large tables, and kind of old fashioned, with light wood panelling surrounding large mirrors on all the walls.

When we arrived we were the second table filled, but the place soon filled up and the noise rose to dim-sum levels.

Once at the table, I took a quick, rather alarming glance at the menu - the first item was Sharks fin soup at $1380 for a medium serving and $2160 for a large. Beggars’ chicken, which I would have loved, needed to be ordered in advance, so that was out.

Then I remembered that as I’d come through the entrance I’d noticed a faded sign on the wall for set dinners, and it had seemed like a good deal, including pretty much everything we’d be likely to order. I asked for the set and our waiter looked very confused for a moment and then said ‘Oh, but thats only for the small tables upstairs’.

‘But it’s a menu for 6 and we ARE 6 (and a half)’ I replied. He didn’t seem eager, but eventually he wandered back with a faxed copy of the set dinner menu for us, which we promptly ordered.

First up came quite a strong-tasting soup, with chicken, noodles and elephant ear fungus. A huge pile of minced pigeon came next, with fresh lettuce leaves and oyster sauce to wrap around.

The green onion cakes were a little oily, and not too popular at our table. However, following them was Ôkun pao’ prawns which were delicious - soft, plump, and both sweet and slightly spicy.

At last the duck appeared - we didn’t get a whole duck with the set, but it was large, and there was plenty to go around. There’s not a great deal to say about it. Peking duck is yummy, popular, and American Restaurant is famous for doing it right - thin pancakes, sweet sauce, crispy skin - perfect. (Oh, okay I’ll give a niggle! I wished there was more in the way of scallion, and that the cucumber had been cut a little thinner than finger-width.)

Having forgotten what was on the menu, we were surprised when more food started arriving. Sizzling beef with ginger and green onions looks impressive, with a huge cloud of steam rising from the platter (actually we were also impressed by the way the waiter handled what must have been an incredibly hot metal lid), but the beef was a little too gristly for our table. Cashew nuts with chicken came last - I believe it said chicken and cashew nuts on the menu, but was hard pressed to find much meat. The sweet, sticky nuts were pretty much good enough on their own though, and by now, everyone was pretty full.

Just as we were about to ask for the bill, the waiter suddenly reappeared with a bowl of iced water. Oh! dessert! Out came a plate with a selection of cooked apple, pear and banana pieces, covered in hot, runny toffee with sesame seeds. These were then dipped in the ice water and passed around. Absolutely delicious.

All this came to only $1261, with a couple of soft drinks, and many tea refills. For a place with such a good reputation, thats’s been around just about forever, and that is popular with the tourists, I think that’s a brilliant deal.

1/F 83 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Wanchai
Tel 2866 1918

38 Wanchai Road,
Wanchai,
Hong Kong
Tel 2147 0881

The phone rang, it was my lunch date: “We’re going to Another One but I’m stuck in traffic and will be a bit late, you’ll have to go and grab a table - it’ll get crowded.”
“OK”, I replied, “where are we going?”
“We’re going to Another One,” insisted my date.
“Yes, yes” I said, “but which other one?”
“No, NO”, she shrieked , “the restaurant is CALLED Another One, it’s at 38 Wanchai Road, ground floor.”

In my defence, I should like to point out that I was on Hennessy Road, it was noisy, crowded and hot - and Another One was not the kind of name I was expecting for what had been promised as an exceptionally good Shanghainese restaurant.

It’s an easy one to miss too. Look for the photos of local celebrities in the window. I got there at about 12.45, there were not so many people then, but by 12.55 the place was definitely crowded.

I still had a few minutes to wait so I perused the menu which, conveniently, has English translations. The translations for the most part are perfectly understandable if sometimes a little bit literal. There are one or two however that seem to be on a higher astral plain altogether, such that I almost began to wonder if I hadn’t picked up a volume of beat poetry by mistake. After all what self-respecting Allen Ginsberg fan could turn their nose up at “The dish meat cloud swallows the hand pulled noodles” or “The pig of Zencheng stews pancakes”, so when my companion finally arrived she found me with a big grin on my face and wondering if “Fry the ferry crossing clearly white” contained any interesting mushrooms.

My companion frowned, she clearly had the upper hand linguistically and was soon in consultation with the waiter. The first result of which was a plate of rather wonderful spicy wontons. This was followed by a plate of steamed crab meat dumplings that quite simply took the breath away. The dumplings are sealed containers with the crab meat suspended in a light broth inside the dumpling. When you pop it into your mouth and bite, a little tsunami of taste floods the palette.

The steamed pork buns were also notable. Six of them are somehow steamed together in a shallow pool of rice water which solidifies and joins them together with a thin membrane of rice paper. The buns are exceptionally light and fluffy and the pork hidden within is succulent and juicy.

The “hand pulled” noodles are actually fresh noodles rolled on the premises. They are quite a revelation if you have never had fresh noodles before, being quite firm but also springy. Ours were served in a pork flavoured broth with tender chops that had been deep fried in a light batter. To go with them we also had sliced cucumber with garlic.

They also have a range of desserts but we were already so full we decided to save them for another day.

By 2pm the lunchtime rush had subsided and we were almost alone in the restaurant. The prices range from around $20 to $50 per dish, though there are more expensive ones, including sharks fin. For a quick lunch, Another One is excellent value for money. It also stays open all afternoon, so If you want to avoid the busy hour go after 2pm. If you’re really hungry and can’t wait, get there early.

11-12 Tonochy Tower
254-272 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2877 7030

1/F Walden Hotel
353 Hennessy Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 3678 3978

30 Tai Wong Street East
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2338 3498

109 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2861 3336

G/F Henan Building
15-19 Luard Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 3105 8990

9a Ship Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2866 7605

116-118 Harbour Center
25 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2827 6108
Fax 2827 2887

Shop A 33 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2520 5303

We needed comfort food. My son had recently got himself sandwiched between a rapidly moving mountain bike and and a very stationary stone wall and was feeling sorry for himself. I met up with him in Wanchai and figured a trip to Big Ernie’s might do the trick.

Big Ernie’s is an American style diner decorated in 1950’s retro and playing period music at a volume that it is rarely played at outside my ipod. It is a young peoples’ place. At least it seems to appeal to both young people and people who just want to feel a bit younger. Well it worked for me anyway.

The boy wasn’t interested in Eddie Cochran - he had his nose buried in the menu trying to decide if he wanted Spuds and Cheese or Onion Rings. Spuds and cheese ($55) won the day.

I ordered a Pregnant Craving ($58). The waiter chuckled, my son looked mortified “Are you pregnant then, dad?” he asked. I assured him I wasn’t but I really liked the sound of deep fried mozzarella cheese and pickles served with a tangy salsa sauce. He enjoyed them too.

The potato skins came stuffed with bacon and cheese, a swirl of sour cream and their own tub of salsa. Elvis was at his peak, cars slid by outside and crazy neon burned across the road.

It was still quite early but the place was busy, some customers having stopped in for a beer after work. Others, like ourselves, there for a quick, no fuss dinner.

My son was already busying himself with a plate of fish and chips ($108). Trying to extract ketchup with three fingers of one hand and most of the other arm covered in bandages looked to be something of a challenge, but he was determined to do it alone. I’m not sure I would have liked quite so much ketchup but it didn’t faze him. He wolfed the lot down in no time. I went for the “Blue Suede Memphis” ($88). This is a burger with blue cheese topped with onion rings and served with chips and coleslaw.

For dessert we ordered the apple pie with ice cream and the cheesecake with oreo cookies ($50 each). These were both well received, and after the plates had been suitably polished he leaned back in his chair, smiled, and said “I’m full.” It’s not something he’ll admit to all that often. I smiled too. His knuckles and arm may take a little longer but his battered pride was well on the mend. Just what the doctor ordered!

2/F Fenwick Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2122 9363

33 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2520 5303

2/F 60 Johnson Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong

Tel 2850 8371

3 Luard Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2527 7138

1/F 60 Johnston Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2528 1286

Although the address is Johnston Road the entrance, or at least the one I found, is round the corner on Ship Street up a short flight of steps. What is nice about this is the terrace where, on a balmy evening, one can sit outside with a few trees to break up the hard line of the buildings but without so much of the roar of Wanchai.

Being an early diner I had the terrace to myself for the most part of my meal and I was a pleasant evening indeed.

There is a full menu with individual prices but there are also set dinner prices, $238 for three courses or $258 for four. These include whatever choices you want from the menu anyway. I decided to forego the soup and opt for the three courses.

I also opted for a red wine there are several you can order by the glass I chose an Australian Merlot.

The menu is typically French and made up mostly of tried and trusted dishes. For starter I had the smoked salmon stuffed with Alaskan king crab and topped off with avocado. The two rolls of salmon and crab looked quite small but the are deceptive. They were in fact tightly rolled and quite substantial.

This was followed by a generous serving roast lamb rolled with spinach and ham. This came with carrots and green beans on a bed of potato.

For dessert I was intrigued by the idea of frozen cheesecake. I remember as a student buying frozen cheesecake at the supermarket. Not knowing they were supposed to be defrosted first I happily ate them frozen.

This was a more delicate portion than I used to give myself back then. To be honest it had the taste and texture of good old vanilla ice cream but it didn’t melt so readily. I enjoyed it all the same.

QRE Plaza, 202 Queen’s Road East
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2575 0939

A-B Beverly House, 93-107 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2865 5586
Fax 2865 5587

52-58 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2804 1515
Fax 2804 1616

Shop 11, (Sanlitum) Causeway Centre
28 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2802 8993

One Capital Place
18 Luard Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 3543 0224

G/F Asian House
1 Hennessy Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2520 1870

G/F 8 Queen’s Road East
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2527 8999

Basement, The Wharney Hotel
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2861 1935
Fax 2861 1936

1/F Luk Kwok Hotel
72 Gloucster Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2866 3806

G/F 53-55 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2866 6289
Fax 2866 6506

1/F Novotel Century Hotel
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2598 8888

I have to be honest, you need deep pockets to dine at Cepage. It’s the first Hong Kong outlet for Singapore’s Les Amis Group and is located on Wing Fung Street right next to Pacific Place 3.

I don’t have deep pockets I’m afraid but I was keen to give it a try, so I decided to stop by and see how far my budget would go. They are still waiting for their alcohol licence to be approved so that helped me a little. If you are planning a visit you can bring your own wine, you won’t be charged corkage. But I do suggest you call in advance to check.

The dining area is actually on the first floor. The ground is an elegant but discreet lobby where a lift takes you to the restaurant proper. There aren’t many tables and most of them were already booked. That said, there is no such thing as a bad table. Mine was one of a group of three away from the main dining room though there couldn’t have been more than seven or eight even there. Each table has it’s own chandelier, crisp white linen, and allows generous elbow room for a party of four.

Ol’ blue eyes croons away in the background, napkins are positioned and the first of several surprise treats are delivered. This was a delicious canapé of truffle ice cream in a tiny cone decorated with poppy seeds. A little explosion of flavour to get proceedings underway.

Shortly after this the menu and bread basket arrived. Service was friendly and efficient but at no time hurried. I like this, it allows me to enjoy the atmosphere. The only change I would have made would be to tweak Frank Sinatra’s volume up a bit.

I placed my order and was rewarded with a slice of smoked salmon with rosti and julienne cucumber.

The first dish I’d actually ordered was was smoked pigeon with caramelised endive and truffle vinaigrette ($230). It was an inspired choice and I almost wished I had ordered two. The bird was smoked with hickory and was as tender and succulent as I could have hoped for.

The next dish was angel-hair pasta with chilli du Monteporro and lobster oil ($340). According to the menu this is usually made with crab but crab dishes were not available on this particular day. The chef was able to offer the same dish made with shrimp so I agreed to that.

Although it is a chilli dish it is not spicy - the full flavour of the chilli comes through without the heat. The waiter informed me that this dish comes from one very small region in Italy.

Dessert was Grand Marnier parfait in a chocolate cone with orange tuile and citrus fruit salad ($150).

I’d been looking forward to an early night and coffee would have put the kibosh on that idea. However the petit fours and chocolates that would have accompanied the coffee were still delivered.

Cepage has three private dining rooms which can accommodate groups from four up to fifteen persons.

Lobby, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
1 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2588 1234 x7321

1-2/F Way On Commercial Building
500-504 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2836 3877

4/F The Broadway
54-62 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2528 1123
Fax 2528 1110

G/F, 8-9 Sun Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2527 1408

G/F 4-6 St Francis Yard
Star Yard
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2528 1060

1/F 88 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2527 2872

G/F, 78-82 Jaffe Rd
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2861 3588
Fax 2527 3488

Shop 3, B3, Three Pacific Place
Admiralty
Hong Kong
Tel 2918 9892

G-M/F Dannies House
Luard Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2527 9288

G/F Starcrest Building
9 Star Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2529 0199

Shop 4, Malaysia Building
69 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2529 6622/2529 4183
Fax 2527 3200

31 Wing Fung Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2528 3454

G/F 7 Hard Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2882 3268

HK Convention & Exhibition Centre
1 Expo Drive
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2582 8888
Fax 2582 7267

114-120 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2861 2221
Fax 2861 2223

The Fleming Hotel
41 Fleming Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 3607 2288
Fax 3607 2299

This quiet little tapas bar is part of the Fleming Hotel. The waitress assured me that it is much busier at lunchtimes and breakfast. On the evening that I went, I was the only customer I saw. The location doesn’t help. The entrance is tucked away on Jaffe Road to the side of the hotel entrance. And there is nothing at all on the outside to betray its existence.

I took a table by the window, sinking deep into the sofa and the cushions. The walls are almost bare but the ceiling is an arrangement of cube shapes, some of which are light fittings. It made me think of the early nineteen seventies but the background music was modern jazzy based wallpaper music.

I decided I would start with a tapas or two … or three. The menu offers a tapas combo for $208. This is a choice of any three tapas on the menu. I knew it was going to be too much because I had already made my mind up that I was going to try the Tagliatelli ala Carbonara ($158)..

One of the tapas I ordered was Lime Bait; This is deep fried white anchovies served with wedges of lime. Arriving with that were meatballs in saffron and almond sauce. Both were enjoyable.

Arriving a short while later was deep fried camembert with cranberry sauce. All of these dished were fairly generous servings and could easily be used as starters in their own right. As tapas they are perhaps a little too big for one person but perfect for sharing. Since I knew I had over ordered anyway, I tried to restrain myself.

Carbonara is rather a routine dish but I’d had a hankering for one. This one lived up to my expectations well enough. The sumptuous sofa did become a bit of a problem. It’s fine when you are leisurely stabbing at tapas items but it puts you at a distinct disadvantage when dealing with something as recalcitrant as tagliatelli.

To finish off I ordered a small portion of banana cake and a coffee.

The menu at cubix isn’t large and it doesn’t contain any surprises. But the food is agreeable enough. I think the restaurants main advantage is that you can probably always get a table. If you must have pasta, remember to avoid the sofa seats.

1/F 68-70 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2865 6099
Fax 2527 4931

I always enjoy it when old mates pass through town. Eager to meet up for a couple of beers, see how a few old haunts have changed and then go on for something to eat.

And it always gives me a good opportunity to to go back to a restaurant that I haven’t been to in years. If possible I try to think of one that we may have wound an evening up in previously.

I had in mind a restaurant on Lockhart Road but it turned out that one had long since gone. But the disappointment was brief - a few paces further along his eyes lit up and he said “Yeah, The Curry Pot. I’ve not been there for years”

I’d quite forgotten how much he enjoyed a good curry but having thus been reminded I wasn’t about to stand in his way. So up we went.

The restaurant wasn’t busy and pretty soon he was chatting happily with the staff. I don’t really think he knew them from way back when, he was just feeling amiable and at home. “I used to come here all the time ten years ago”, he confided. I honestly couldn’t remember if I’d been there before or not. If I had been, it was a similar number of years ago.

We ordered beers and studied the menu. As with many Indian menus there are a lot of tried and trusted dishes that have proved their popularity over the years. The tikkas, tandooris and kormas are all present.

We ordered a chicken cucumber salad ($42) which was strips of tandoori chicken tossed with a salad, fish hara bhara ($88), aloo gobi ($58), and chicken makhani ($72).

The Makhani is a rich, buttery curry which can be made quite mild for those that prefer. Ours was medium spicy and was very agreeable indeed. The aloo gobi is, of course, the classic cauliflower and potato dish.

The dish that stood out for me was the fish hara bhara. Hara bhara is more commonly a vegetarian kebab made with potato steeped in a spinach sauce. In this case the potato was replaced with a firm flaky fish and served on a sizzling plate.

Normally I would insist on dessert at this stage, but sweet gulab jamun doesn’t mix too well with beer and I could see my old pal was keen to have one for the road before repairing back to his hotel for the night. So we paid our bill and stepped out into Lockhart Road. It was just like old times.

3/F W Square
318 Hennessy Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2832 6636

23/F, 202 Queen’s Road East
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2572 3228

Basement, China Hong Kong Tower
8-12 Hennessy Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2529 9032

G/F-1/F One Capital Place
18 Luard Road
Wanchai
Hong kong
Tel 2804 2880
Fax 2866 7504

Shop 8, 1/F Senses
60 Johnston Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2861 2899

I hadn’t been planning to come here. In fact I didn’t have any plans at all except that I was going to have dinner somewhere. I’d just swung off Johnston Road and was pointing vaguely in the direction of Star Street when a charming young lady waved a menu under my nose.

Another time I might have passed on by but she had such a charming smile I didn’t have the heart to say no. She ushered me into the lift and, alas, that was the last I saw of her.

Deluxe Wine is a young and trendy kind of place with that hypnotic music that never seems to have any beginning or end pumping away behind the clink of cocktail glasses against expensive phones.

But it is not that expensive really and they do offer what looks like an interesting set dinner for $348 which mixes Japanese and western dishes. I made my way onto the balcony which gives a commanding view of Johnston Road. The waiter followed me out, arranged the table and took my order.

The first course to arrive was the Deluxe Wine salad. This consisted of a tuft of lettuce with cubes of crab roe. The roe was surprisingly hard, indeed at first glance I thought it was carrot.

The next course was sashimi. This included salmon wrapped around a prawn, yellowtail wrapped around scallops and tuna roll.

Next came a delicious and chunky vegetable soup served in a rather odd shaped bowl with a huge brim that made me think of an upturned straw boater. Couldn’t argue with the soup though, I wolfed it down.

The main course was pork with orange sauce. I enjoyed the pork with the slices of orange that garnished it, but I felt the sauce was a little bland. A little more orange tanginess would have improved it greatly. It was served on a bed of creamed potato with baby corn and green peas.

I didn’t make a note of what the dessert was called on the menu but it was actually creme caramel.

It wasn’t a stunning meal but it was pleasant enough. I did enjoy sitting on the balcony and watching the early evening clatter of Johnston Road.

48-50 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2865 7271
Fax 2866 7583

12 St Francis Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2861 2722

This is a funky little eatery on St Francis Street in Wanchai. I rarely go to Chinese restaurants alone because they are most often geared towards serving several people sharing. Dining Wok looked more like an old fashioned noodle shop so I went inside.

It’s a small place but quite big on atmosphere. It’s long and narrow like many shops in the area. The kitchen is towards the front. Along one side and the back the lower half of the wall is dark stained wood panelling to about shoulder height. Above that it is painted dark green and decorated with modern Chinese paintings.

Towards the back are some old wooden doors with coloured glass panels which hide what I suspect is an office. Chinese lattice decorates the ceiling and wooden lamps provide light. It was all very well done and in perfect harmony with this special international corner of Hong Kong.

The menu features dished that are primarily northern Chinese though there are other options including General Tso’s Chicken which I have a sneaking suspicion is North American in origin. They also offer a range of noodle and fried rice dishes.

The first item I ordered was Deep Fried Spicy Crispy Beef ($60). To go with it I ordered Moo Shu Chicken ($80) and finally, because I had decided to forgo rice, I just had to try the Shrimp Ball Stuffed with Goose Liver ($88).

The beef was first to arrive. Elegantly presented on a long narrow plate it was crispy without being hard but I think if this was served in Sichuan the chilli content would have been a little more generous. It is still a good dish and I suspect its more conservative approach to chilli allows it to appeal to a larger number of diners.

The Moo Shu was up next. This is a stir fry dish that, along with the chicken, includes bean sprouts, carrot, mushrooms and seasoning. It is served with a little dish of hoisin sauce and four flour pancakes. Sauce is spread onto the pancake and then a spoonful of the stir fry is added before wrapping it all up and eating. It was quite delicious.

The prawn balls had arrived but at first they were too hot to eat. The richness of the liver overpowers the delicate flavour of the prawns but the prawns do provide body and texture to the liver. It was an interesting and pleasant contrast but due to its richness I would definitely suggest this dish be shared.

I finished off with Chilled Sago and Mango in Pomelo Cream ($25).

Dining Wok has a daily lunch set for $58 and will also deliver.

72 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2528 0868

Shop 1, QRE Plaza
202 Queen’s Road East
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2295 4848

There are two branches of Dressed Salads. I hadn’t paid either of them much attention but then I found a crumpled take-away menu on a colleagues desk and decided I ought to go and take a look.

I went along to the Queens Road East branch which is opposite the Hopewell Centre. It’s a bright cheerful place with colourful 1960’s retro seating. The first thing you see is an enormous array of ingredients and these, according to the menu, can be mixed in any way you so choose.

The basic salad starts at $58. This includes a choice of greens, four toppings and one dressing. There is plenty to choose from that would enable you to build a jolly nice salad without going over the base price. For the greens alone there is mesclun, baby spinach, arugula iceberg and romaine to choose from.

But it’s the premium toppings that make these salads so special. The premium toppings cost extra but none of them are too expensive. Crumbled blue cheese, for example, costs an extra $4. Italian Salami costs an extra $8, seared tuna $16, up to lobster which adds a princely $26 to the total.

And there are plenty of other choices in between. So many possibilities that both myself and my companion wimped out.

There are also over a dozen salad combinations that have been designed by the companies own chefs. I went for the Shrimp Scampi ($78). This consisted of grilled shrimp, roasted garlic, white beans tomatoes, fried capes and baby spinach in a lemon caper vinaigrette. It appeared in a heavy ceramic bowl, a forest of spinach concealed most of the ingredients but they were plentiful and delicious.

The salad came with two slices of grilled flat-bread but if you prefer this flat-bread can be used to wrap your salad in. This is what my companion has opted to do with her Seared Tuna ($88). Wrapped in there with the tuna was carrot capers, grilled asparagus, mushrooms, tomato and mesclun with chipotle aioli vinaigrette.

Wraps are prone to fall apart halfway through but this one held together very well. How much of this was down to the architecture of the wrap and how much was down to the skill of my companion I couldn’t tell but she did say it was very good.

We both washed our meals down with home made lemonade ($20). This is lemonade as it should be, made with real lemons. Not some fizzy stuff out of a can made with sugar and citric acid.

I suppose Dressed Salads could technically be called fast food but it’s a refreshing alternative to burgers and fried chicken. I hope to see more of them around town before long.

Shop 2016
Level 2,IFC Mall
Central
Tel. 2295 4848

Shop 1
G/F QRE Plaza
202 Queen’s Road East
Wanchai
Tel 2893 4848

2/F Sun Hung Kai Center
30 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2598 7222

I’ve been mulling this one over for a while. There were, in fact, two restaurants here in the past, an Italian and an Indian. It seems they have merged and become one and the menu now offers choices from both. I was curious to see if I could mix them. I had my doubts but I was willing to give it a try.

It’s a spacious restaurant with modern but simple decor. It was early evening when I was there so it was not too busy. I took a table in the corner away from the few people that were there. For some this might have seemed a little lonely but I was quite happy with it.

After mulling the menu for quite some time I decided that an equal balance would be out of the question but what might work would be to go for something that was essentially Italian but then to spice it up with an Indian dish.

That also settled the question of beer or wine and a glass of Pinot Grigiot was ordered. For me beer is the perfect accompaniment for Indian food but even the bread basket, which came with a delicious dip made with sun-dried tomato and olive oil demanded wine.

The first dish to arrive was an Italian starter, Vitello Rosa Su Salsa a la Tonno ($138). This is very thinly sliced veal on a creamed tuna and topped with capers and anchovy. It was delicious and would be a perfect start to any Italian meal.

Following it this time, however, was Fettucine a la Bolognese ($133) and Peri Peri Prawns ($78). I’d gone for the bolognese partly because it is the evergreen Italian choice and wasn’t going to give me any surprises. But also because my son had been back from his first term at university and was looking for ideas for things he could cook on a student budget. I’d shown him my student version of bolognese and I was keen to reacquaint myself with the genuine article.

The prawns are grilled and served on skewers with a mild curry sauce. I’d always believed peri peri to be African in origin but the spices used here were definitely Indian and there was Indian bread to go with it but after the pasta I really didn’t need much more.

Both the fettucine and the prawns were excellent and I enjoyed the meal greatly. That said I’m not sure I would choose to mix them up this way again. Where this idea does score is when you are organising dinner with a large group of friends. Having two different cuisines available helps to accommodate more tastes. There are plenty of vegetarian choices as well.

I finished off with Pistachio Cake and dark Cocoa Sauce ($58). The Indian options included the ever popular Gulab Jamun which I love but I decided they would be just a bit too rich this time.

Duetto
2/F, Sun Hung Kai Centre
30 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Tel. 2598 1222

G/F 76-84 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2528 4689
Fax 2377 0626

2/F Sun Hung Kai Center
30 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2598 1212

G04 Wanchai Central Building
89 Lockhart road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2529 3738
Fax 2529 3708

8/F Convention Plaza
1 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2827 8802

9-13 Heard Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2838 2836

12-14 Wing Fung Street
Star Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 3525 1570

The public holiday got in the way of my dining plans this week but I did manage to find time for a sandwich.

I’d stopped by Epoch on Wing Fung Street earlier in the week. It was pretty quiet while I was there but I would Imagine it does a roaring trade at lunchtimes with all the offices in Pacific Place Three right next door.

It’s a trendy, chill-out kind of coffee bar. Quite spacious with magazines and even CD machines with headphones and a choice of music. The background music featured young singers singing jazz standards over a backing track of what I prefer to call wallpaper music. But what do I know?

I found myself a corner amidst the CD players and the waiter promptly produced a menu. I didn’t actually need a menu, I’d seen what I wanted on the blackboard outside. I wanted the baby lobster with mango on soft multigrain bread ($50). To go with it I ordered a lime and green apple smoothie.

The menu does have quite an interesting range of sandwiches, salads and paninis and, since it is a coffee bar, there is also a range of coffee and coffee cocktails.

I browsed the CDs in the CD corner but the sandwich arrived before I’d found anything I recognised. The bread was indeed soft and the filling generous. Enjoyable too, the ingredients were good and the mayo had been kept to a minimum. The smoothie was sharp but not sour, I was most pleased.

I figured that since I’d skipped the coffee, I really should have a dessert when in a desserterie. There is a different menu for dessert and it took me a while to decide. In the end I plumped for the Luscious Lemon ($68). A slice of warm lemon pound cake drenched in lemon syrup and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. On the side a topping of fresh pineapple.

It was sweet to say the least, I’d recommend sharing.

1/F Allied Kajima Building
138 Gloucester Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2511 1228
Fax 2511 2628

During the 4th-6th centuries the Hakka people, who originated in northern China were forced south by a combination of wars and natural disasters. They eventually settled throughout Southern China, living in houses that could hold up to a hundred families. The houses were made from rammed earth on a bamboo frame and many are still being used today. Eryi Tulou (or tower) is one of a group of these buildings in western Fujian province.

The restaurant of the same name is in a rather soulless building on Gloucester Road, and a bit out of the way if you are coming by MTR. We arrived just after 9pm on a Tuesday, and the large restaurant was about half full. The interior is dark, but modern and simple. There are pictures of the rounded Hakka homes along one wall, and a row of the traditional black-shaded hats used as lightshades.

The main menu consists of a lot of more traditional Hakka dishes, such as fried pigs belly with salt, traditional stuffed beancurd, or stewed meat with preserved sour vegetables. There are several varieties of sharks fin, and a selection of standard dishes like scallops with brocolli and deep fried spare-ribs. There are daily specials hung on the large pillars (unfortunately for us monolinguists, only in Chinese)

We were pleased to discover that we could buy Tsingtao beer for $14 for two bottles, so decided to ignore the Hakka sticky rice wine and lychee wine, which at only $40 a bottle were both tempting. We asked for sweet potato congee, but they had sold out - a bit disappointing, but at least it lets you know the food is fresh. We tried a bowl of the sticky rice with sweet potato instead.

There is a page of chef’s recommendations for river fish which you can request cooked in 10 different ways. We wanted the eel cooked with chinese olives - but this was also sold out. However, there was another eel dish, Dongjiang stewed eel in pot - a soup with large pieces of tender eel, salty vegetables and tofu, which we all agreed was wonderful.

We also requested the Xingning whole duck (only $128) - guess what? sold out! Our waiter recommended we try the chicken in yellow sticky rice wine, which was on the daily special menu, and we were very glad we did. A huge steaming bowl of buttery, alcoholic sauce with chicken and jujubes (Chinese dates) and ginger arrived. It was exceptionally good.

The total bill was only $240 for three people. After the initial irritations of ordering, this restaurant really came up trumps with the alternative dishes that were recommended to us. So our advice to you is, don’t arrive knowing what you want to eat, but listen to your waiter. Also, if the rest of the menu is as good as the few dishes we had, then you’ll want to bring more people in order to try more of it!

One last point about the Hakka houses. In the 1980s, US spy satellites spotted them and US ‘intelligence’ believed the Chinese had built hundreds of nuclear missile silos! Now UNESCO is considering placing several on the World Heritage cultural properties list.

L G/F East Town Building
64 Jaffe Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong

1 St Francis Yard
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2861 3318

Shop 3, G/F Wu Chung House
213 Queen’s Road East
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2126 7020

QRE Plaza
202 Queen’s Road East
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Telm2891 8855

3/F 81-85 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2528 9997

I reviewed this restaurant before but the gremlins that cyberspace unleashed in my computer ate half of it. I couldn’t bring myself to rewrite the whole thing so I decided to wait until I had another opportunity to go there.

I’d thought I really should go at breakfast time but normally I eat quite a light breakfast and at Flying Pan, breakfasts are not light. Then I reasoned that the whole point is that breakfasts are available 24 hours a day so it really wouldn’t be in the true spirit of the restaurant to actually go at breakfast time. So I went at dinner time.

The last time I’d had a 4X4X4 combo which, to me, had sounded more like some kind of wheel arrangement on a truck drivers rig but actually meant 4 each of eggs, bacon and sausage, 4 slices of toast and 4 sides. The sides included baked beans, potatoes, grilled tomato, spiced apple.

It had needed a plate the size of a truckers hubcap and was as much as I could do to eat it all but eat it I did, and washed it down with a piping hot pot of Earl Grey Tea.

Much as I’d enjoyed that meal I didn’t feel capable of eating such a large one this time. I also felt I had a duty to try something else.

There is plenty to choose from. The omelets from around the world include the Monterey - with spinach, shrimp and onion, and the Moscow - with smoked salmon and cream cheese. I was tempted by one called the Kitchen Sink which, according to the menu, had “loads of meat and veggies”.

Poached eggs are also well represented. There is Eggs Benedict, Eggs Puerto Rico - with ham and asparagus and Eggs Norwegian which is made with smoked salmon. I opted for Eggs Houssard. This is poached egg with grilled steak and tomato on an English muffin. It comes with a choice of two sides, I had baked beans and potato and a juice.

This was a good choice and was just the right size. But if you are like me, and like to mop up all the egg yolk and baked bean sauce with the last of your bread or toast you may want to order a little extra. The muffins, though nice, just don’t do the job adequately.

The meal was washed down with another pot of Earl Grey and then, in a fit of extravagance I ordered a banana split for dessert.

It’s often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Now you don’t have to wait till morning to enjoy one.

G-1/F 150 Johnston Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2834 8282

G/F-3/F, 35-45 Johnston Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2866 0633

Shop 13A, (Sanlitum) Causeway Centre
28 Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2529 7810
Fax 2529 7810

393 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2828 2260

Basement, 48 Hennessy Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2866 1031

The Charterhouse Hotel
209-219 Wanchai Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2833 5566

1/F Wharney Hotel
Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong

HK Convention and Exhibition Centre
Harbour Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2582 7728

Room 1006 Tai Yau Building
181 Johnston Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2891 8121
Fax 2891 8608

51/F China Online Centre
333 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2887 7671