Eat Drink Hong Kong

1/F, 9 Hau Fook Street
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2366 0234

Shop 1203, 12/F Times Square
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2506 0611

G/F Shop F, 27-39 D’Aguilar Street
Lan Kwai Fong
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2521 8714
Fax 2537 8290

LG/ F 132, Festival Walk
Kowloon Tong
Kowloon
Tel 2265 8828 or 2845 4600

LG/ F 132, Festival Walk
Kowloon Tong
Kowloon
Tel 2265 8828 or 2845 4600

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

4/F California Entertainment Building
34-36 D’Aguilar Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2877 9779
Fax 2523 0479

4/F Carnarvon Plaza
20 Carnarvon Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2368 1263 till they get their own number in Jan ‘10 CHECK

713-715 Grand Century Place
Mongkok
Kowloon
Tel 2628 3711

2/F Plaza 2000, 2-4 Russell Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2368 1263

G/F 5-7 Hanoi Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2368 1263

LG/F 7 Staunton Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2522 1262
Fax 2522 0757

7 Lan Kwai Fong
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2868 3666

Shop U12, 560 King’s Road
North Point
Hong Kong
Tel 2155 1066

17-19 Lan Kwai Fong
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2523 6281

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!

G/F 49 Elgin Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2147 0100

Langham Hotel (Great Eagle)
8 Peking Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2375 1133 Ext. 2070

21 Elgin Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2540 6630

G/F 25 Mercer Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 3188 0676

Guest review

My hike up the Peak every weekend is made more pleasant with something to look forward to - gulping down a four-glass shaker of magarita that costs only $70.

Besides that, I get to eat shrimps cooked in every possible way - shrimps in tasty buttery/Cajun broth, Cajun shrimps, fried shrimps, grilled shrimps, cold salad shrimps, and the list goes on. The servings are generous, unlike those usual shrimp dishes where you only get five small shrimps that can hardly satisfy your shrimp craving.

It’s not just all shrimps, however. There’s also juicy burgers, pan fried fish and other mainstream dishes. However, the highlight and chef’s recommendation is of course, the Cajun shrimp.

Main dishes cost about HK$100-170, while appetisers cost less than HK$100. Because of the generous servings, just one main dish and another appetiser is enough to fill up two adults. If you order a shrimp platter, you even get to read the Forrest Gump newspaper which wraps up the platter of shrimps.

Another great thing is the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co Restaurant is one of the best spots to see the fireworks and admire the Hong Kong skyline while devouring your meal.

Some might say there’s a Forrest Gump overload, but I admit that I am a Gump fanatic and the souvenir store piled with Gump-themed T-shirts, water bottles, tank tops, towels, etc is just fab. I got one that says: I love Bubba. Forrest Gump fans get to watch the movie replayed over and over again, while sports fans can also watch seasonal games in the bar area.

Don’t forget to look out for all the famous quotes from the movie on the walls, tables and on the T-shirts of course: ‘Run Forrest Run’ and ‘Mama says life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are getting’. In Bubba Gump, though, you can be sure that at the least, you’ll be getting some great food.

Shop 5 Level 3, The Peak Tower
128 Peak Road
The Peak
Hong Kong
Tel 2849 2867
Fax 2849 2670

39 Gough Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 2581 1887

Brrr it’s been so cold this week I didn’t want to go out anywhere preferring to find a slightly warm corner somewhere and huddle down with a good book. But one can’t eat books so I did take myself out briefly to find some comfort food.

The food in question turned out to be burger and chips and these were found in Burger republic on Gough Street. This is one of the many little burger joints that have sprung up over the past couple of years. A lot of them vanish again without trace but Burger Republic has been there for quite a while now so they must be doing something right.

It’s a small place, twenty customers would be a full house, or very nearly. But It was not busy on the day I went. Decor is simple and bright and the tables are set with knives and forks for those who prefer not to eat with their hands.

The menu boasts about 16 burger options; half a dozen with chicken, one with fish and a veggie burger. It was tempting to go for the Colossus ($76) which includes beef and chicken along with cheese and all the usual fillings. But this time I managed to exercise a little self-restraint.

Instead I went for the chicken with cranberry and brie ($59), and to go with it some mozzarella gravy chips ($37). I don’t normally like chicken in burgers, I think it was the brie and cranberry sauce that won me over. But it’s promise was better than the reality.

It’s probably unfair to say it was bad, I did eat it after all. It was just a bit ordinary. I’m blaming the chicken mostly though the brie was less substantial that it first appeared. The whole thing fell apart at first bite so the cutlery came in handy after all. I suspect that, had I gone for beef, I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

The chips did live up to expectation and I was glad I had ordered those rather than settle for the $23 regular chips and soft drink upgrade.

Dessert was three large scoops of ice cream with banana and crumbled digestive biscuits which, at $30, seemed pretty good value for money. I’d suggest you share with a friend though.

39 Gough Street
Central
Hong Kong

7 Caroline Hill Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2890 9130

13/F Food Forum
Times Square
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 3102 9132
Fax 3102 9133

Shop OT 309R, Level 3
Ocean Terminal, Harbour City
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 3102 0357

This is a family restaurant that has a slightly more interesting take on the concept of a pizza. I went along to the branch on the 13th floor of Times Square in Causeway Bay to try one.

Living up to its role as a family restaurant there were two young super-heroes zapping threatening looking chairs and tables with imaginary kill-o-beam zap guns or whatever the weapon of choice is these days. Suffice to say that had I been a malevolent piece of furniture it would have been splinters for me. I picked my table with care..

The restaurant is bright and spacious, the decor simple but functional. The waiter was at the table in no time brandishing the menu.

Pizza, of course, dominates the menu but it is by no means the only choice. There is also an interesting range of pastas and Focaccia sandwiches. It also offers a mouthwatering array of appetizers, soups and salads.

I ordered California shrimp rolls ($48). These are similar to the cold spring rolls found in Laos, Vietnam and parts of Thailand. The white noodle, carrots and bean sprouts remain the same but these were stuffed with flame-grilled shrimps which added a deliciously smokey twist to them. They were served chilled, with a dipping sauce of sesame and ginger.

There are no less than 25 different pizzas on the menu. All the familiar favourites are there; the Hawaiian, the pepperoni and mushroom and the basic cheese and tomato sauce. These cater for the more traditional tastes but it was the intriguing selection on non-conventional toppings and sauces that had caught my eye.

The Peking duck; roasted duck breast, shiitake mushrooms and crispy wontons with a ginger sauce. Then there was The Jamaican Jerk chicken with a spicy sweet Caribbean sauce and roasted red and yellow peppers. Roast potato and grilled chicken comes with a white wine and lemon garlic butter sauce.

I wanted to try them all but in the end I settled on a Carne Asada ($78). This is grilled steak with fire roasted chillies, Monterey jack and mozzarella cheeses and a cilantro (coriander) pesto. It was served with a delicious tomatillo salsa. There is only one size of pizza but it is easily big enough for two people to share, especially if you order a starter as well..

The service is prompt and friendly. I noted with satisfaction that the furniture had been vanquished and the two gentlemen that had saved the day had been rewarded with hot fudge brownies and were about to be taken home to bed.

Takeaway service is available and they will deliver to addresses within a kilometre of Times Square.

2/F Dundas Square
43H Dundas Street
Mongkok
Kowloon
Tel 2388 8202

G/F 25 Hoi Wan Street
Quarry Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2562 5681
Fax 2562 5694

G/F 29 Elgin Street
Soho
Hong Kong
Tel 2526 0999

There are times when all you really want is comfort food. Something warm, tasty and substantial to make you feel better after a good soaking from the rain. And preferably not too expensive.

Invariably the role is filled by burgers or sometimes pizza but it’s nice to know there are options. Daddyo’s, on Staunton Street, has pasta, pizza and ribs.

The range of pizzas is really quite impressive - at least twenty variations from the classic margherita with pepperoni to the exotic clam chowder (clams, potatoes, mushrooms, ham and bacon. Each offers a choice of crispy New York or whole-wheat crusts. The prices range from $98 to $138 for for a 14 inch crust.

I ordered an Italian Vegetable Soup ($38) to get me going. It hit the spot quite nicely too. Fresh and tangy tomato with crisp chunks of carrot, celery and kidney beans. The soup came with garlic toast. Now, I prefer my garlic bread thick and crusty but this was rather thin and brittle.

But it didn’t matter because my other two dishes arrived shortly after.

Poutine ($48) is chips smothered in gravy, bacon bits and melted cheese. It’s probably the kind of thing your cardiologist would have nightmares about but they were very yummy.

The Baby Back Ribs can be ordered as a half slab ($58) or a whole slab ($98). Functional rather than elegant. By the time I had dispatched a half slab as well as the poutine I was fit to burst, but feeling a little more forgiving towards the world in general. Even the rain had let up for a while.

There are no desserts on the menu. I didn’t enquire because, to be quite honest, I wouldn’t have been able to eat one anyway. Instead I rounded off with an iced coffee.

Daddyo’s will also deliver. There are minimum orders depending on your area.

G/F 29 Staunton Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2526 8668

7/F LKF Tower
33 Wyndham Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2526 2366

315 Ocean Terminal
Harbour City
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2735 6111

LG 228 Festival Walk
Kowloon Tong
Kowloon
Tel 2265 8811

114 Pacific Place
88 Queensway
Admiralty
Hong Kong
Tel 2845 4600

12 St Francis Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2861 2722

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

I’ve always been partial to a good burger, and with so many bad ones around I do like to keep tabs on where the good ones are. So I was quite intrigued when I was told about Duke’s Burger on Stuanton Street. “Gourmet burgers”, I was informed with a nod and a wink.

The gauntlet had been thrown so off I went to Staunton Street. Dukes is right next to the escalator and is a lot smaller than I was expecting with seating for only about 30 people.

It doesn’t look much like a burger joint either. A giant chandelier hangs from a wooden beamed ceiling. Indeed there is much dark stained wood in evidence but the back wall is entirely taken up with a neo-gothic decoration incorporating the letter ‘D’. In front of this is a huge, blood red sofa, that looks like it may have been smuggled out of a castle in Transylvania while it’s owner was sleeping.

So, full marks for style but what of the burgers? I perused the menu.

There were half a dozen options. The braised wagyu oxtail ($220) was very tempting but not quite as tempting as the seasoned lamb shank with mushrooms and yogurt ($180). I also ordered the thick cut fries ($40).

There is a range of wines and Belgian beers. For me a good beer would be the only choice and, whilst Belgian beers tend to be very good, I would like to have seen some fine English ales represented. I ordered a Tripel Karmeliet ($68).

The fries arrived first. They were definitely chunky, piping hot, and seasoned with salt and pepper. They were very nice but if I’d been given the choice I might have waited and had them served at the same time as the burger.

The fries had long since gone by the time the burger arrived. Again it looked great. The burger was resting on a slice of bun topped with mushrooms and then the salad, all delightfully arranged. The lamb had not been ground in the normal way. It still retained its original texture and broke apart quite easily.

Dessert was yummy, home-made, chrysanthemum ice cream and a coffee.

Duke’s Burger is still very new, it’s an interesting concept and I wish them well. The food was very enjoyable but somehow I don’t think it will replace the traditional burger in my affections. That will always come between both sides of the bun with an American flag stuck in the top.

135 Des Voeux Road
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 2544 7587

5 Staunton Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2526 7062

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

Shop 102, 1/F Elizabeth House
Gloucester Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2574 6263

Shops U/G 11-12 Metro City Plaza II
Tseung Kwan O
New Territories
Tel 3194 4880

G/F 49 Elgin Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2973 6808

35 Ashley Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2730 4788

B/F Shop B, The Pinnacle
8 Minden Avenue
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2730 4788

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

1/F Cheung Fai Building
45-47 Cochrane Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2581 0321

Burger joints come and go but Gourmet Burger Union on Cochrane Street has been there a while. I’ve been keeping an eye on it. I knew the day would eventually arrive when desire for a burger would coincide with my being in the vicinity.

As it happened it was a desire for some Stilton cheese as much as for a burger that carried me there. I happened to know in advance that Stilton cheese is one of the toppings you can have.

The interesting thing about Gourmet Burger Union is that you can create your own burger exactly how you want it. To do that you are offered a range of toppings to choose from, of which Stilton is only one. Indeed there are fifteen options in the cheese category alone. They range from Greek feta, Monterey jack, Brie and of course Cheddar.

The choice of cheese can change the whole character of your burger but before we get ahead of ourselves we should look at the patties themselves. New Zealand Angus beef goes into the quarter pounder and the half pounder ($65 and $98 respectively). Alternatively they offer Australian free range chicken, New Zealand lamb and soy protein veggie burgers.

I opted for a half pounder on a bun with a bed of mixed lettuce. One type of cheese is included in the price but if you wish you can have extra cheese at $15 each. Onto that you can have up to two standard toppings. Yes, you can have as many as you wish. Extra toppings cost $5 each.

They also offer premium toppings. These come in at $10 each. I had portobello mushrooms and smoked bacon.

After that you can add a sauce. There are fifteen to choose from but I wanted the stilton to come through loud and clear so I gave them a miss.

I did consider having a Greek salad for starter but wisely decided against it. I did order a serving of French fries ($20) and a beer ($35) to wash it all down with.

Sadly, the only beer available was a version of Samuel Adams that comes out of the local San Miguel brewery. Sad because with so many excellent imported bottled beers around town, it would have been nice to enjoy a premium beer with a premium burger.

The burger was, of course pretty well as I expected - huge, rich and tasty. For those that can’t make up their minds about what to put in it, the menu also offers a dozen or so signature burgers.

Dessert would have been apple and blackberry crumble ($35) but I decided I would just have to save that for another time. I thought I might have trouble squeezing through the door as it was.

G/F & 1/F Silvercord
30 Canton Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2375 1323

102, Cityplaza
Taikoo Shing
Hong Kong
Tel 2915 3183

Kimberley Plaza
Knutsford Terrace
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2316 2381

Regal Kowloon Hotel
71 Mody Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2313 8779

48 Hang Hau Cuen
Tseung Kwan O
Kowloon
Tel 2719 8168

G/F Hutchison House
10 Harcourt Road
Admiralty
Hong Kong
Tel 2523 4772

G/F 17 Po Yan Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 2530 3880

G/F 90 Stanley Main Street
Stanley
Hong Kong
Tel 2813 6599
Fax 2813 0997

Langham Hotel (Great Eagle)
8 Peking Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2375 1133 Ext. 7883

I was strolling along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront the other evening. It was a pleasant evening, still early. Even after having lived here for many years I’m still impressed by the view of the Island from here. Of course, Hong Kong being the rapidly evolving place that it is, there is usually something new in the skyline that I haven’t seen before.

I never discovered what it was this time. Somewhere deep in my subconscious another visual connection had already been made. I didn’t cotton on to it immediately, all I knew was that I was getting hungry. What’s more I rather fancied a burger, a big juicy one, medium to well done with fresh salad and pickles.

Star Ferry would have to wait a while, I reset my coordinates and plotted a course to the Langham Hotel and Main St. Deli. This claims to be Hong Kong’s first and only genuine New York Deli.

It certainly looks authentic, art deco fixtures and fittings and old black and white photographs dominated by four chandeliers. I was given a warm, friendly welcome and quickly shown to a table in the corner from where I had a great view of the main part of the restaurant. Indeed I couldn’t help but wonder how many Delis there are in New York that look this good.

The menu appeared along with two large bowls of pickles and yet another charming smile. I ordered a Brooklyn Beer and studied the menu whilst nibbling on dill and green tomato pickles.

Although I’d gone with the specific intent of satisfying a burger craving the Reuben sandwich - which is corned beef, pastrami, turkey, sauerkraut and melted swiss cheese on grilled rye bread - was also tempting. Here they also offer a Naked Reuben which appears to be the same but without the bread. There is also a range of pizzas and pastas but I decided to hold firm to the plan of having a burger.

“Would you like to try our new lobster burger?” Enquired the waitress who had materialised at my table. I was indeed very tempted but sadly $388 was more than my budget would allow. Instead I ordered the Crispy Jumbo Crab Cake ($85) for starters. When dining in American style restaurants one needs to treat words like ‘jumbo’ with respect. As a rule of thumb it is safe to assume that all portions of everything will be larger than you expect - the addition of such words just means it will be even bigger!

Sure enough the crab cake was huge, a triangle about 4 inches along each side and three quarters of an inch thick served with pickles, salsa, salad and mayonnaise. It was delicious. I told myself to only eat half or I’d have no space left for the burger.

I failed and wolfed the lot, except the mayonnaise, but that is not the mayo’s fault, I just don’t care for it much.

The burgers come in two sizes, regular (8 oz. @ $128) and silly (12 oz. @ $168). I’d ordered a sensible 8oz., flame grilled, Barbecue Bacon Burger. It arrived on it’s bun with sauteed mushrooms melted swiss cheese, lettuce tomato and bacon. This was what I’d come for and it didn’t disappoint. It was however, simply too big to put the lid on and to pick up and eat so I attacked with the knife and fork.

Although I was already pretty full I take my responsibilities seriously and to leave without having had dessert, I always feel, is a dereliction of duty. “Is the lemon meringue pie good” I asked the waitress. “It’s very good” she replied and skipped off to fetch me some. When she returned my jaw dropped. “We serve New York sized portions” she beamed.

Indeed I thought, this was obviously based on 175 Fifth Avenue, the Flatiron Building. Though you’d never get that many eggs into the Flatiron Building. This was quite simply the most enormous wedge of lemon meringue pie I’ve ever seen and jolly nice it was too. I managed to eat around two thirds before surrendering.

I had a leisurely coffee before waddling out into the night and towards the ferry.

1/F Hutchison House
Admiralty
Hong Kong
Tel 2537 7470

4/F Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel
20 Nathan Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2732 2343

Shop 2602 Gateway
Harbour City
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 3106 4686

17-19 Lan Kwai Fong
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2523 5505

G/F Sunning Plaza
Sunning Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2808 1148

Shop B, G/F 34 Staunton Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2822 0000

28 Elgin St
Soho
Hong Kong
Tel 2577 7160

2/F Kinwick Centre
32 Hollywood Road
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 8199 8189

Shop Unit 26
Telford Plaza
Kowloon Bay
Kowloon
Tel 2376 3122

155-159 Level 1
New Town Plaza Phase 1
Shatin
New Territories
Tel 2699 2838

Shop 505 Cityplaza Phase 1
Taikoo Shing
Hong Kong
Tel 2907 1133

G/F Lippo Centre
89 Queensway
Admiralty
Hong Kong
Tel 2522 9090
Fax 2522 9081

G/F Empire Centre
68 Mody Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon

Yes, it is a curious name and I couldn’t help but ask how the restaurant came by it. The staff were more than happy to explain. The entrepreneurial spirit of Ruth Fertel was looking for a new challenge. She found it in Chris Steak House which had been advertised for sale in a local newspaper. One of the conditions of the sale was that it had to retain the name Chris Steak House. Obviously the clause didn’t say she couldn’t add her own name to the front.

Today there are Ruth’s Chris Steak Houses all over the US plus two in Hong Kong and three more in Taiwan. We were at the Lippo Centre branch in Admiralty. It is an elegant restaurant with much wood panelling that whispers of business deals that have been negotiated or celebrated. Not what I would call a romantic restaurant, though that’s just a personal view. There was at least one cosy little candle lit alcove.

There were also private rooms for groups of about 12, a main dining area with tables of various sizes and the area where we were, where the tables were all for two or four people. My guest agreed, this would be the perfect spot for sealing the deal.

“I know what I want already” said my guest. I’d been too busy talking and hadn’t even looked at the menu. She’d plumped for the Filet ($390). I can’t get through a menu that fast, I have to read the whole thing from cover to cover before I can even begin the decision making process. Needless to say by the time I’d read through it my guest had discovered something else and was torn between the two.

The something else she had discovered was, in fact, the Ahi Tuna Steak ($280). Seared rare tuna topped with a dollop of crab meat and red pepper. I did think, momentarily, about suggesting that we share the enormous Porterhouse ($1050) but then I thought again about that tuna. I love tuna and, I have to confess, sometimes it is a struggle to avoid the tuna dishes on a menu and try other things. This time I failed.

“How about you have the steak, I’ll order the tuna and then we can share” I suggested. Another deal was done and for good measure we also ordered a shrimp cocktail ($110) to share.

The shrimps were firm, fresh and tasty and came with a spicy tomato based sauce. The sauce was OK and worked well with just a dab on the shrimps but it rather overwhelmed the rest of the salad. It was however, a small point in what otherwise turned out to be an excellent meal.

Before long the steak was delivered. The waiter had told us how the meat is first broiled at 1800 degrees fahrenheit, to seal in all the flavour, before being transferred to the hot plate and finally garnished with butter and parsley. It was spectacular. It was also huge, we’d ordered the full 12oz although the restaurant does offer an 8oz option. And it was delicious, a perfect medium rare, a little crispy on the outside but it almost melted in the mouth.

The tuna held it’s own very well, fresh and tender and with a very generous helping of crab meat on top. Everything on the menu is a la carte, you order vegetables and potatoes according to how much you think you want to eat. My guest declined veggies because she knew it was going to be a big steak, I declined veggies because I knew I wanted dessert.

Dessert was a truly difficult choice. When a dessert is called Chocolate Sin ($60) it is almost impossible not to order it. But we also wanted the Banana Cream Pie ($70). It was way more than we could possibly eat but what the hell, we’d taken indulgence this far it would be a shame not to finish the job properly. We ordered both.

The chocolate sin was a wedge of almost solid chocolate whilst the banana cream was topped with slices of caramelised banana and was only slightly less sinful than the chocolate.

We finished off with coffee and I thought to myself that Chris must be very pleased with what Ruth did to the steak house.

Unit 801, 8/F One Peking Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2735 7576

3/F 8 Observatory Court
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2316 2818

UG/F 76 Wellington Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2810 5533

5 Hoi Ping Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2572 6220

They have had a little place in Wanchai for a while but Shake ‘em Buns has recently opened a larger place at 5 Hoi Ping Road in Causeway Bay. Just opposite the Inside Out beer garden at Sunning Plaza.

Indeed it seems to be benefiting from the popularity of the pub. It certainly was in my case. I’d stopped by for a beer and decided to grab a burger as well.

The menu definitely seems to be targeting people of a pub-going age. I can’t imagine a ‘Frying Nemo’, succulent cod fillet burger with home made tarter sauce, going down all that well with the younger generation. Nor can I imagine their parents struggling to explain a ‘Sissy Boy’ (vegetarian) Burger. “Um, it’s for people who don’t like meat, dear”.

I must admit I was very tempted by the ‘Gang Bang’. It’s the most expensive item on the menu but still jolly reasonable at $98 for a double beef patty with bacon and a fried egg. But I also had my heart set on some chilli cheese fries ($39) and I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish.

I was intrigued by the tofu burger but it had “coming soon” printed next to it on the menu - the young lady on the till didn’t know exactly when. Other options included a Philly Willy cheese steak ($65) and a Doggie Style, which can be either a smoked bratwurst, bredder cheddar or hot link ($32). For an extra $7 you can have Mama’s home-made chilli poured over it.

In the end I settled for a South of the Border ($60) This is a classic burger slathered with sour cream, guacamole and salsa. It was good. A substantial amount of dressing oozed out of the far side at first bite but the burger wasn’t diminished for the loss. After that I managed to get fully half way through before it finally collapsed, as all good burgers eventually do.

The chilli cheese fries were excellent, at least the chilli part was. The fries on their own would be just ordinary but the chilli livened them up considerably and they will make a very agreeable snack when they get their alcohol licence sorted out.

There are no desserts on the menu. I had fooled myself into thinking that I might try the Pepper Stuffers ($39), breaded Jalapenos with cheese, if I wasn’t too full, but in the end it was as much as I could do to finish the remains of my raspberry blizzard smoothie ($35).

Shake ‘em Buns is already doing a roaring trade and apparently they have more outlets in the pipeline so watch this space.

2/F 11 Stanley Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2525 3030

1 Wing Fung Street
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2528 1661

You need to be slim to fit into Slims, the bar is long and thin. It’s owned by the same people as the Hong Kong Brewhouse so you get that familiar crunch of peanut shells as you walk in.

Less familiar, but even more welcome was the sound of a laid back urban blues easing itself into the room. This is the kind of music I can sit and drink beer to all night.

Adorning the wall that wasn’t taken up by the bar and kitchen were black and white portraits of old bluesmen whose names happened to include Slim; there was Memphis Slim, Sunnyland Slim, Slim Harpo and many others. My companion patiently read the menu while I admired them all.

Slim’s is on the little side road next to Pacific Place 3 so it is an excellent location for recuperating after the rigors of shopping. We’d actually been buying cool gadgets which isn’t really shopping in my book. Nevertheless we welcomed the idea of a refreshing ale and a bite to eat.

The pub has an interesting selection of bottled beers from England including several from the Fullers brewery. I opted for a bottle of Fullers Organic Honeydew Ale. Largely because I have some very fond, if somewhat hazy memories, of Fullers ales from when I lived in London long ago. And the idea of organic beer appealed to me.

My companion, who is not a big alcohol drinker, settled for a ginger beer.

The menu is pretty much what you’d expect to find in a pub, but it’s done reasonably well. There are burgers, fish and chips etc. We decided to share a plate of nachos ($75) for starters.

The Honeydew Ale was really rather pleasant. A little on the sweet side so I don’t think I’d make a night of it but quite refreshing, good for a swift one on the way home.

For mains we ordered we ordered the Lamb and Leek sausage ($88) which is served with sauerkraut, potato salad and an interesting minty/mustardy sauce. The sausages were really nice, imported from Wales, according to the menu.

We also ordered the Chili and Pepper Chicken Pizza ($98) The pizza is actually quite good but next time I would ask them to hold off the Thai style spicy-sweet sauce. I have nothing against the sauce in itself, it just didn’t belong on that pizza. I felt that, if required, it could have been included in a small dish on the side so each individual could decide how much or little to add.

For dessert I decided to forego the Slim’s Cheesecake and instead turned to the beer menu again. The waitress intervened to inform me of a new beer that had just arrived from Oxfordshire Ales, and wasn’t on the menu. And I’m glad she did. The beer was called Pride of Oxford and was really quite wonderful. I don’t know if this beer is available in the companies other outlets, if not it is worth a trip to Wanchai on it’s own merit.

That and the excellent music that was playing while we were there make this a hole in the wall well worth knowing about.

‘Private address’ in Star Street - call for details
Tel 2521 8121

The Burger Room is tiny and hugely popular. Every time I’ve passed it has been crowded but this last time I decided to belly up to the counter and and find out what it was all about.

There are a few tables in the middle, some leather looking easy chairs and some high seats down one side. Only the high seats were available when we arrived and we were lucky to get those. Had we arrived 5 minutes later we would have been turned away.

My companion went to inspect the fridge while I studied the menu. They do have a small range of bottled beers including Stella and Hoegaarden but he came back with a couple of Snapples claiming it was too early for beers.

The menu is small but intriguing. Alongside the eight or so burgers made with beef there are chicken and duck options as well as fish, crab and lobster. The lobster is the most expensive thing on the menu but is still a quite accessible $188.

My friend ordered a Bacon Chicken burger ($65), I went for The Club ($108) and to keep us company while we waited we ordered some melted cheese fries ($35) and breaded mozzarella sticks ($38). These were a mistake.

There was nothing at all wrong with them, they were really very tasty and we wolfed them down eagerly but then the burgers arrived and my jaw dropped. The Chicken was a generous fillet of breast topped with enough bacon to make a sandwich in its own right. In with it were lettuce, tomato and onion.

But if that looked big the Club was a masterpiece of engineering. On the lower part of the was a bed of lettuce. This was topped with tomato and onion. Next came the first beef patty topped with bacon, mushrooms and melted cheese. The cheese actually seemed to be serving as an adhesive to hold the second patty in place which itself was topped with melted cheese and a fried egg.

The top half of the bun was propped on the side and the whole lot was pinned together with an extra long flag. The beef was finely ground and with very little added fat.

There was no way to eat it in the accustomed manner of eating burgers. Knife an fork was the only way. I did my best. It’s not often I’m beaten but this time I had to admit defeat. My companion did better but even he left the bun to one side.

There are no desserts on the menu. There is a selection of tea and coffee options but I felt that even they were beyond me.

Shop 1207 Times Square
1 Matheson Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 3421 2135

Earlier in the day I’d been thinking about heading up the escalator a bit to see what was new and interesting, but by the time I’d made it to Central it was threatening to rain. I was also feeling pretty weary after a hectic day.

Anyway I was having a snoop in the bookshop in IFC Mall. Not because I really wanted to buy a book, I was trying to decide whether to go on or give up and go home, when I heard someone talking into their phone “…Ok I’ll meet you in half an hour in Union Bar.” What a splendid idea I thought, a steak and a beer would be just what the doctor ordered, so I made a beeline for the floor below.

Union Bar and Grill is on level one and, as you may have already gathered, is an American style restaurant. It is a cosy place despite being quite large. Decor harks back to a time long past with red brick walls, dark wooden details and a warm light.

The music was period too; ol’ blue eyes and Ella Fitzgerald amongst others. I ordered a glass of Kilkenny ($60) and took my time over the menu.

To be honest I already knew what I wanted but I always feel duty bound to read the whole menu. The very first thing on it was baked potato skins ($65) and they were a must. Seared tuna and lamb lollipops both had their merits and they were duly noted and will be remembered for another time.

A plate of warm crusty bread arrived while I was waiting for the potato skins. I ordered another glass of Kilkenny.

The skins arrived piping hot, just as they should be, with two types of cheese melted over them and a tub of sour cream to dip them into … once they had cooled enough to pick them up. The portion was generous, as is traditional in American restaurants, but not so large that it was in danger of spoiling my appetite for the main course.

I did cast an eye over the pizzas (roasted tomato and applewood bacon mmm) and pastas but I know from experience that I will get too full, though I did think about the French onion soup.

For the main course I’d ordered petite filet mignon wrapped with applewood smoked bacon ($240). There was nothing petite about it, this was a whopping 10oz serving, lean, juicy and tender. Served with potatoes, baby corn and pak choi.

They do offer 16oz steaks but I knew they would be just too big. To eat steaks that size I would probably have to do without starters and I definitely wouldn’t be able to squeeze a dessert in afterwards. Which would be a great shame.

The desserts all take a while to prepare and the menu recommends that you order your dessert at the same time as your entree. I’m more inclined to think that the waiting time is a good idea. It gives an important breathing space between courses.

For my dessert I ordered New Orleans beignets ($48). In New Orleans they are simply called donuts but they’re actually pastries that are hand rolled and deep fried. Mine were conical shaped with strawberry, chocolate and honey dips and are best served with a large mug of hot coffee …. oh and Louis Armstrong and the hot fives in the background.

Shop 1009, Level 1
IFC Mall
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2295 1808

1/F California Tower
Lan Kwai Fong
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2537 2368

“Mmm, clammy,” said my companion. She was referring to the Clam Chowder ($98) so I assumed it was a good thing. She certainly seemed to be enjoying herself. My attention had been captured by the Roast Pumpkin with Feta Cheese ($118) which was quite delicious.

Union J is a Modern American restaurant located on the first floor of California Tower in Lan Kwai Fong. It has quite a large dining area with window seats overlooking the street itself.

There is a bar area at one end for those that just want to have drinks and perhaps a light snack. We had gone straight for a window table and ordered a bottle of South African Pinotage ($388) which we sipped as a group of tourists were marched up the ‘Fong’.

My friend happily mopped up the last of the clam chowder with some bread. I asked if it lived up to her expectations. “It did indeed,” she smiled.

For my main course I had ordered Black Cod with mushrooms ($188). This was every bit as enjoyable as the starter had been. The fish was firm and fresh and served on a bed of wild rice.

My friend, who had been slightly apologetic about ordering something as ordinary as roast chicken, was happy to report that there was nothing ordinary about this roast chicken, reporting the the chicken was delicious and very tender and that the potato was super creamy and buttery.

By the time she had finished (and I must admit I helped with the last piece of chicken) she wasn’t too sure if she had room for dessert. She did eventually allow herself to be talked into the Lime Sorbet with Banana which she was able to polish off without too much of a struggle. I took on the Apple Pie with Cinnamon Ice Cream.

Union J
1/F California Tower
Lan Kwai Fong

LG/F 13 Lyndhurst Terrace
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2815 0868