Eat Drink Hong Kong

Level 3, Royal Park Hotel
8 Pak Hok Ting Street
Shatin
New Territories
Tel 2694 3886

Shop 3, 1-5 Elgin Street
Soho,
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2559 2777

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

An odd name, even by the odd naming conventions of pubs. There are two branches, one in Tsim Sha Tsui and another in Times Square, Causeway Bay. I went along to the latter the other evening.

The ‘gastropub’, as 798 Unit & Co describe themselves is mostly reminiscent of a medieval beer hall. Nothing particularly odd about that, indeed the larger tables in the middle that are common in such beer halls are perfectly suited to Hong Kong peoples love of dining together in large groups.

What was a bit strange were the hacienda-like arches along one side and the distinctly Mediterranean menu. I’d already ordered a Murphy’s Stout and was searching the menu for something that might go with it. In the end I gave up thinking I could gulp the beer down while I was waiting for the food to arrive and then order a glass of wine.

I was wrong. I ordered two tapas, both of which arrived with a promptness and efficiency that was that was really quite impressive. I looked towards the kitchen with admiration. The kitchen is actually visible through the back wall. The bright reassuring cleanliness of the modern facility contrasts with both the beer hall and the hacienda.

The tapas were wasabi beef ($80) and grilled octopus with chorizo, roast tomato and onions ($68). Both were very good. The only criticism I would level would be at the octopus and chorizo and that was because there was substantially more octopus and whilst I do like it, I like chorizo equally.

The menu boasts all the regulation pizzas and pastas and delicious though they probably are, I figured that would be a mistake after two largish tapas. I’d already consulted with the waitress. We’d concluded that the Murphy’s would go well with a steak and we could probably get away with a pizza. But, if we left beer out of the equation than we both agreed that the salmon filet with parsley crust in a fish broth with tomato and olives ($108) would be ideal.

She assured me it was one of the lighter entrees on the menu and would leave me with ample room for dessert. It was delicious too. The soup had a pleasant sharpness to it that complemented the fish. I imagined it would probably do alright with a hint of jalapeño added to it.

I mopped up the last of the soup with the remains of the crusty bread that had been served when I arrived. And turned my attention to the stout. It had lost it’s ‘just out of the fridge’ chill which is actually beneficial for a stout. I spent a leisurely ten or fifteen minutes enjoying that and watching people arrive.

It was mostly an after office crowd while I was there and whilst it wasn’t full I doubt there would be too many complaints from the management. I guessed that by 8.30pm you would be lucky to get a table without a prior reservation.

All the dishes on the dessert menu are tried and trusted favourites. I ordered the brownies with banana fudge gelato ($42) and a coffee.

Nobody seemed all that fazed by the contrasting styles of the restaurant. I suspect I’m one of the few people around that actually notices these things. But it doesn’t really worry me, how can it when I am going to step out and straight back in to a bustling shopping mall?

1/F 68 Wing L, ok Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 3528 7553

Adagio is a neat little cafe on Wing Lok Street offering western style food in simple but functional surroundings. It’s on the first floor above a flower shop, I got a table by the window where I was able to sit and look down at other people hurrying about.

I don’t know what it is, but there is something therapeutic about watching others hurry about while you are sitting waiting for a nice plate of food. I figured I’d better consult the menu and order something to wait for.

There is a set dinner menu offering four choices ranging in price from $158 to $198. But it was the smaller snack-sized dishes that caught my eye. I asked the waitress about how big these dishes were, she made a rectangular shape with her thumbs and index fingers. “Not too big then?” I asked. “Not too big.” She confirmed.

Thinking they would probably be about the size of an average tapas I ordered four. Mixed mushrooms with butter and cream ($26), baked broccoli with bacon and cheese ($26), Deep fried salmon nuggets ($32) and roast tiger prawn with beef tenderloin skewers ($42).

The mushrooms were the first to arrive and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. By adding a small serving of pasta there would have been enough for a hearty meal on it’s own. And it was very tasty indeed, with at least four types of mushroom.

Hot on it’s heels was the broccoli, again another generous serving. It began to dawn on me what a great place this would be to come for lunch with office mates. The food is simple but tasty and great value.

I hadn’t got far into the broccoli when the salmon nuggets turned up. Four golf ball-sized cakes of minced salmon deep-fried in bread crumbs and served with French fries. These were the crinkle cut variety and for once I didn’t mind. I had way more food than I could possibly eat so it was easy just to leave the fries.

The tiger prawns and beef were interspersed with peppers and tomatoes. This was the last dish to arrive and were my favourite of the lot and I managed to polish off both skewers. To the other dishes I made a commendable effort but I was determined to save just a little space for apple crumble with Ice cream ($30).

It was blisteringly hot when it came and I had to let it cool for a few moments. It will never replace mum’s apple crumble in my affections but it did round the evenings meal off adequately.

The food was good and excellent value, the staff were cheerful and attentive. What more could you ask for?

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

G/F 55 Peel Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2975 9788 or 2180 8855

15 Yuen Yuen Street
Happy Valley
Hong Kong
Tel 2575 1322

Landmark Mandarin Oriental
The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road Central
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2132 0066

38 Wanchai Road,
Wanchai,
Hong Kong
Tel 2147 0881

1A 14 Wo On Lane
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 3105 2936

G/F 1826B Po Tung Road
Sai Kung
New Territories

Tel 2792 8474 or 2792 8444

Shop A, G/F Kowloon centre
Ashley Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2148 3188
Fax 2259 9090

713-715 Grand Century Place
Mongkok
Kowloon
Tel 2628 3711

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

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

9/F World Trade Centre
280 Gloucester Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2576 6777

Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel
Castle Peak Road
Castle Peak Bay
New Territories
Tel 2452 8338

Holiday Inn Golden Mile
50 Nathan Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2315 1118

G/F 2-5 Hysan Avenue
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2882 0450

29/F Hotel LKF
Lan Kwai Fong
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 3518 9330

22 Main Street
Yung Shue Wan
Lamma Island
New Territories
Tel 2982 4388
Fax 2982 4220

At first I thought a restaurant called Babylon would probably serve middle eastern cuisine but when I got there I discovered that it was really a European/international menu.

It’s a small restaurant right at the very end of Gough Street. A cosy little nook, as evidenced by several young couples making sheeps eyes at each other over the candle light. I felt a bit of a gooseberry but I never let things like that spoil my appetite.

The decor is fairly straightforward, simple but functional with seating for about eighteen. The menu does have an a la carte section but the set dinner menu offers a wide variety of choices.

I started with crab meat cream soup. It was a delicious soup with large chunks of crab sculling around, but it was crying out for some nice crusty bread to go with it. Sadly all that was offered were some rather uninspiring soft rolls. Still the soup itself was good and I wolfed it down while Whitney sang something about the greatest love and a dozen watery eyes gazed devotedly at their opposite numbers.

For entree I had ordered braised lamb shank in herb and red wine sauce. This arrived on a bed of creamed potato and, rather surprisingly, with a side of arugula leaves. I have nothing against aragula but I would have thought carrots or string beans might have been more appropriate.

Or maybe I was just being an old fuddy duddy. The lamb itself was excellent. Lean and tender, it slipped away from the bone with ease.

Dessert was a fairly standard creme brulee. Perfectly edible but nothing to make it stand out above any other creme brulee. Tea or coffee is also included

The set was $268. I added a glass of wine to that which took the bill to a litle over $300. I thought that was pretty decent value for money. A little more thought on the details and it would be a terrific place to sneak off to. Especially if you are young and in love.

G/F 2 Shelley Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2521 83252
Fax 2521 8323

4/F Langham Place Hotel
555 Shanghai Street
Mongkok
Kowloon
Tel 3552 3200

Royal Garden Hotel
69 Mody Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2733 2033

Main Street
Yung Shue Wan
Lamma Island
New Territories

Shop 18 Gilman’s Bazaar
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2815 3985

B/F 28 Gough Street
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2854 0010

G/F 25 Stanley Market Road
Stanley
Hong Kong
Tel 2899 0818
Fax 2813 7218

Bayview
22/F, United Success Centre
508 Jaffe Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel: 3427 3726

22/F, United Success Centre
508 Jaffe Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 3427 3726

Yacht!
Tel 3758 9000

Intercontinental Grand Stanford
70 Mody Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2721 5161
Fax 2732 2233

Intercontinental Grand Stanford
70 Mody Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2721 5161
Fax 2732 2233

G/F 9 Elgin Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 3857 7388

16 Arbuthnot Road
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2868 0625

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

GA26-27, G/F Site A, 55 Tai Hong Street
Lei King Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 3105 1761
Fax 3105 1762

1 Knutsford Terrace
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2721 0202

I don’t often eat steaks at restaurants, its the kind of thing I cook at home along with home made English style chips and a glass of fine beer. But when the pangs hit not even a hike across Tsim Sha Tsui at six-thirty in the evening is enough to deter.

Now when I was a young lad BLT stood for bacon, lettuce and tomato. The three would usually be found between two slices of crusty bread and would be enjoyed with a piping hot mug of tea.

In Ocean Terminal BLT stands for Bistro Laurent Tourondel which is the latest establishment to be opened by celebrity chef Laurent Tourondel. It’s also the first one to be opened outside the US. And it was here that my feet were taking me.

It is a modern cosmopolitan place with stunning views across the harbour if you’re lucky enough to be there when there isn’t a cruise ship in. The staff are friendly and efficient and soon led me to a table with an impressive view of the Silver Whisper cruise ship. Can’t have everything I thought and buried my nose in the menu.

Naturally there’s a full range of steak options with Australian and Wagyu beef. There are also some intriguing seafood possibilities and the Alaskan cod was very tempting. But it was steak that had brought me here and I was steak that I was going to have.

The top end of the menu was a bit beyond my budget but the 10oz Australian filet ($268) looked good but before that I ordered Spicy Rock Prawns with Blue Cheese Dressing ($138)to get things started.

While I was waiting for these the waiter delivered what he called “bread” but according to a little label on the side of the plate it is called a popover. Most British people however would know it as Yorkshire pudding. And a very good one and huge too, with cheese added during the baking.

Before long the prawns arrived. They were succulent and tasty. I wouldn’t have been unhappy had been a little spicier but not everyone would agree with that.

To go with the steak I’d ordered Potato Gratin ($58). “It’s very rich,” confided the waiter, “this one is for cheese lovers”.

The steak was all I could have hoped for. Cooked medium rare, it was lean and juicy. It wasn’t long before I found myself mopping the plate with the last of my popover.

Admittedly I couldn’t cook a steak that well at home and I was really glad that I had stopped by. My only complaint is about the range of beers that that they serve. And it’s not only BLT that are guilty. Given the range of excellent Belgian and British beers that are now available in Hong Kong it’s disappointing that so few restaurants offer them. A quality beer can complement a steak as well as a fine wine.

For dessert I opted for Lemon Meringue Pie with Lemon Sorbet ($80). The lemon meringue itself was fairly ordinary but the sorbet was wonderfully sharp and tangy. I rounded off with a coffee and took the ferry back across the harbour. It is indeed a spectacular view.

Big Wave Bay Road
Shek O
Hong Kong
Tel 2809 2583

Shop L012B, G/F New World Centre
18-24 Salisbury Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2739 3366

I’m afraid Tsim Sha Tsui’s Avenue of Stars isn’t what I would have chosen for a promanade but, judging by the number of people out enjoying themselves, I’m rather a small minority.

Since it is facing Hong Kong’s impressive skyline I can forgive it once in a while and still enjoy a stroll, especially around twilight, that marvelous time between light and dark, on a balmy summer evening.

There were a lot of people out, though surprisingly few of them tourists. A couple of brave joggers were weaving their way between the children comparing their paw prints to those of Jackie Chan, and everyone else who seemed to be having their photograph taken against something or other.

For me the skyline, the lights and the boats chugging by were entertainment enough … well almost. Towards the end of the promenade, down by the New World Centre, I could see some tables. Suddenly I had a mission.

Perhaps a little bit too far round to be perfect but the al fresco tables do still afford quite spectacular views, especially if you sit looking back towards Wanchai. The bay that the restaurant names itself after is presumably Causway Bay which is just about opposite. And the blues, in fact jazz standards being sung by Rod Stewart which, in my opinion, have all been done better by other people. But I’d probably be in a minority on that as well.

The menu has quite a wide range of choices, though it does have a slight Thai bias - red curries and beef salads rub shoulders with items such as escargot and lobster thermidor. I ordered a Pomelo Seafood Salad ($88) and a glass of Chardonnay to get proceedings under way.

It was a generous serving of pomelo, in a spicy peanut dressing. It tasted good but there were only a few scallops and prawns representing the seafood, which was a little disappointing.

For the main course I ordered Pan-fried Cod with asparagas ($138). Although the cod was not as generous a portion as one could have hoped for, the Thai style sweet and spicy sauce that went over it certainly was - there was too much and it overwhelmed the delicate flavour of the fish which, once the sauce had been removed, was really quite nice. The asparagus was fresh and crisp.

For dessert I ordered Fried bananas with three scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream ($58) and rounded off with a coffee.

The dessert was good but I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed with the rest of the meal. I sat for quite a while watching families walking by, watching customers come and go. It’s quite a popular restaurant and it’s a really nice location. I’ll certainly come again but next time maybe just for drinks.

2/F 60 Johnson Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong

Tel 2850 8371

88 Stanley Main Street
Stanley
Hong Kong
Tel 2813 4467

132 Austin Road
Tai Chi Court
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2314 3008

G/F 79 Main Street
Yung Shue Wan
Lamma Island
New Territories
Tel 2982 4838
Fax 2982 0627

3 Luard Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel 2527 7138

G/F, 26 Leighton Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2915 6788

ShopA-C Upper G/F, Ming Hing House
52-56 Staunton Street
Soho
Hong Kong
Tel 2915 6788

G/F, 123 Leighton Road
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2576 4785

18A Sing Woo Road
Happy Valley
Hong Kong
Tel 2891 8558

G/F 70 Peel Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2526 8861

This is a pleasant little place in one of the less frenetic pockets of Causeway Bay. It’s an all day place with menus for breakfast, lunch, afternoon teas and dinner.

The dinners are in the form of a set meal; for three courses $168; four courses, $188. The extra course being soup. Each item is also individually priced so you could just order a main course if you wanted to.

There are half a dozen options each for starter and main. These change frequently according to what is available at market. There were two choices for soup but I’d already decided against the four course option.

For my starter I ordered the pan fried-frogs legs. I also ordered a glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc while I waited.

The restaurant is divided into two sections. The front has more an afternoon cafe feel to it while the back is lined with linen covered seats and cushions on subtle beige and pale brown. Black and white photos of happy faces adorn the walls while a female singer delivers torch songs old and new in the background.

I’ve never been sure why some people say Frogs legs taste like chicken. I don’t think it does. It looks a little like tiny chicken drumsticks, but the meat is denser and has a slightly stronger, almost nutty flavour. These were basking in a sea of delicious, buttery, parsley sauce and topped with a small forest of salad.

Naturally I wanted more and could have easily dispatched another leg or two but I decided to wait patiently for my main course. For this I’d ordered white cod on polenta and French beans. The fish was firm and flakey as cod is supposed to be. The polenta, which is made from ground corn, was mixed with some whole kernels to add a little more texture.

Dessert was a choice of chocolate mousse and orange cappuccino. I went for the orange and rounded off with a fair trade coffee.

100 Cyberport Road
Pokfulam
Hong Kong
Tel 2989 6011

I decided to stop into Byte for Sunday brunch. They offer a set menu for $150 which includes a cold buffet, a choice of main dishes, then back to the buffet for desert and cheese and biscuits.

The restaurant is laid out on two levels and has a modern but comfortable interior. A selection of magazines is available and there is a plasma TV for sports fans.

There are also tables outside but although the restaurant wasn’t crowded I did notice that these had been reserved. So if you like to lunch in the open it is best to make reservations. Inside Frank Sinatra was in fine voice as I made my way to the buffet.

The available dishes vary from week to week depending on what produce was available but there is certainly no shortage of choice. Prawns, smoked salmon, lamb chops, assorted cold cuts, roast pumpkin, pasta and salads to name a few. One item that particularly caught my attention were tin law, Chinese edible snails. This was a welcome treat as they are quite unusual to find these days.

The breadth of choice extends to the main courses as well. You can choose between the familiar American style sausage, eggs ham and hash browns or any one of the alternatives which included both Indian and Thai style curries, fusilli with feta cheese and smoked salmon, fish and chips and several other dishes.

For those that prefer, the full a la carte menu is also available, offering a range of international and Asian options including burgers and hot dogs, pizzas, spaghetti, noodles and curries.

By the time I got to dessert I was already full, but I made a little bit of space to try the cranberry pudding. Sadly I was forced to give the cheese and biscuits a miss even though the brie did look very tempting indeed.

Afterwards I decided to walk back up Sha Wan Drive and along Victoria road to Kennedy Town. It’s not a classic country walk by any means but it is a pleasant stroll on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Especially after a good lunch.

Brunch at Byte is served on Sundays from 12 -3 pm.

Shop 105B, 1/F Discovery Bay Plaza
Lantau
New Territories
Tel 2987 4141
Fax 2987 1401

G02, Maritime Square
Tsing Yi
New Territories
Tel 3150 8118

The Hyatt Regency Hotel
67 Nathan Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2196 1234

Regal Airport Hotel
Chek Lap Kok Airport
Lantau Island
New Territories
Tel 2286 6238

Regal Kowloon Hotel
71 Mody Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2313 8718

Lobby, Novotel Citygate
51 Man Tung Road
Tung Chung
Lantau
New Territories
Tel 3602 8828

G/F, 26A Russell Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 6096 5013

Lane Crawford
Podium 3 IFC Mall
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2118 7600

Mandarin Oriental
5 Connaught Road
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2825 4005

The Galleria, 118 Peak Road
The Peak
Hong Kong
Tel 2849 5111

Half the fun of the Peak is just getting there. Usually, after a look at the queues for the Peak Tram, we hop straight into a taxi, but this time opted for the white-knuckle ride at the front of the number 15 bus from Exchange Square. We arrived at Cafe Deco feeling a little shaky, but the efficient staff soon put us at ease and escorted us to our window table. (Remember to request one when you book, as they always fill up first).

Cafe Deco is a glamorous place. Sheer glass walls on both floors make the most of the spectacular views. But while modern Hong Kong provides the backdrop, inside is definitely Deco from the feature spiral staircase and chequered floor right down to the details on the chairs, crisp white linen napkins and an impressive collection of original art deco artifacts. Strange ambient music was playing when we arrived but this was rectified when a jazz quartet took to the stage upstairs a little later.

Considering the size of the restaurant, it has a surprisingly quiet and peaceful atmosphere. If it’s possible to get bored gazing over Victoria harbour, you can always watch the chefs going about their business in the front kitchen along one side of the restaurant.

The wine list is impressive, offering selections that could challenge some very deep pockets. There is even a choice of house wines; three white and three red. We plumped for the Belmonte Sauvignon Blanc 2002 at $270, or $54 per glass. There is a choice of champagnes from $95/glass, and champagne cocktails from $118. Draught beer (San Miguel or Fosters) is available at $55/pint.

The menu offers a wide variety of international dishes including pizza, pasta, risotto, tandoori (including ostrich, which we found hard to resist), a grill section and a large selection of ‘Asian specialties’. While cruising the starter menu, we decided to skip all 14 of the oyster options (from $29 each) and save energy by ordering the Cafe Deco starter platter: cajun spiced crab cake, thai spring rolls, pork and papaya salad, smoked salmon pizetta, and grilled beef fahita quesadilla ($128 - good to share). We also ordered a California roll ($48) from an extensive Japanese menu that includes foie gras hand roll ($148), a 26 piece sashimi ‘blue plate’ ($598), and 10 choices of sake.

For our main courses we headed straight for the grill section of the menu, and after being warned that the Cornish game hen would require a wait of 45 minutes, we chose the the Victorian lamb chops with roast potatoes (you could also choose between mashed, baked or fries) and daily vegetables (or salad) $165, and the succulent one-inch thick Angus beef fillet $238.

We were so full we could hardly find room for dessert, so we bravely ignored the Tiramisu and German cheesecake and ordered the ‘hot fudge gay 90s’ - a scoop of vanilla ice cream with hot fudge sauce and whipped cream - yum!

If you enjoy cigars to finish off a luxurious meal, Cafe Deco has a large selection from $55 for a Bolivar Coronus Junior.

GB12, 45 Tai Hong Street
Lei King Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 2535 9979
Fax 2535 9921

G/F 20 Pak Sha Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2890 4133
Fax 2887 6394

G/F 51d Graham Street
Soho
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2905 1768
Fax 2905 1968

G/F 202 Queens Road Central
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 2545 1111
Fax 2545 1171

M/F Kowloon Shangri-la
64 Mody Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2733 8753

Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel
Castle Peak Road
Castle Peak Bay
New Territories
Tel 2452 8448

1/F The Landmark
Central
Hong Kong
Tel 2526 4200
Fax 2524 7572

Royal View Hotel
353 Castle Peak Road
Tsuen Wan
Kowloon
Tel 3716 2898

G/F 105-107 Wing Lok Street
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong
Tel 9139 7762

1/F Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel
3 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2113 3912

LG2 Festival Walk
80 Tat Chee Avenue
Kowloon Tong
Kowloon
Tel 2265 8308

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

G/F Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2366 9956
Fax 2369 2765

62 Bonham Road
Mid Levels
Hong Kong
Tel 2116 8883

The new branch of Cafe O is at 285 Queens Road Central. That’s just at the bottom of Ladder Street so if you’ve had a gruelling afternoon shopping for antiques in Cat Street and environs it’s a perfect place to take the weight off your feet and enjoy a long cool smoothie.

I hadn’t been antique shopping, I was in that neck of the woods for other reasons but I decided to make a detour and have a late lunch.

Approaching from the Sheung Wan side it seems at first to be rather an unusual location but looking at it from the other side then it could be seen as leading the charge in Noho’s relentless expansion towards Sheung Wan.

The restaurant takes up the ground and first floor with simple but sleek decor There are numerous computer terminals and the premises are wi-fi enabled, so you need never be a moment away from your e-mail or your favourite websites. Upstairs there is a balcony where you can sit outside and overlook Queens Road.

Cafe O opens at seven in the morning but late risers will be pleased to note that breakfast is served all day. The idea of having breakfast for lunch did cross my mind. The Triple O, which includes three eggs, hash browns, mushrooms bacon and sausage for $78, and the Othello; Australian beef hamburger with crispy bacon and mozzarella on a home made bun for $98 were both tempting.

The breakfast menu also included pancakes and organic muesli. But I was there for a late lunch and the longer I remained undecided the later it was getting.

Looking at the items in the display counter I noticed something that, whilst it didn’t really look like a Cornish pasty, it certainly made me think of them. This was called a Calzone ($42), a pizza that has been folded so that the crust is on the outside and the topping has become a filling. I ordered one.

There was a vegetarian option but I went for the herbed chicken with vegetables. I also ordered some cheezy potatoes ($32), potato wedges with melted mozzarella and sprinkled with chilli and paprika. To wash it all down I ordered a Blue Energy. This is a blend of banana, orange and blueberry juice.

While I waited I looked at the other pizza options on the menu. Cafe O makes pizza by the metre. A full metre will cost $178, half metre cost $98 and are great for sharing but it is also possible to buy an individual portion for $42. The basic topping are all quite simple; home made pesto, tomato and basil and fresh mushroom are just a few. Onto these you can add as many or as few topping as you heart desires.

The calzone was quite tasty, it didn’t fill me up as much as a conventional pizza would, which was helpful because it turned out to be larger than it had appeared in the counter. The cheesy potatoes were a tad dry and might have benefitted from a little butter, though it’s a small complaint and one that I’m sure could have been easily addressed had I got up to ask.

The Blue Energy was delicious. Made entirely from fresh ingredients and nothing else. The banana blended wonderfully with the orange and blueberry to give a taste that was still tangy but neither too sharp nor too sweet.

So impressed was I with the juice I decided I couldn’t leave without trying a smoothie as well. I plumped for the Brain Wave. This is a combination of pineapple, kiwi, mint and ginger mixed with a pineapple sorbet and was every bit as good as the juice. The juices and smoothies come in two sizes $29 and $36.

There is also a range of teas, herbal teas and coffee available as well as a selection of wines and beers

I spotted Cafe Ola a few months ago, but as it’s hidden down a side lane in Central, promptly forgot about it until a friend suggested an early dinner after work. Wing Wo Street runs down the side of the Cosco buildings, between Queen’s Road and Des Voeux Road - Cafe Ola is near the Des Voeux end.

Inside, everything is very relaxed and homey - some of the owner’s old album covers line the walls, and we passed a couple of happy minutes trying to remember whether we’d owned the same ones. There was a small TV going in the corner, but no worries - the sound was switched off! I thought this looked a promising venue for watching football, but didn’t check out the cable situation.

There’s usually a couple of tables out in the lane (comfortingly clean), with businessmen having a couple of beers after work, and at these prices (all bottled lagers $20, Boddingtons $28), why not? House wine starts at $25 per glass for Agua Negra from Argentina, which of course I had to try - it was even drinkable. Bottles are available at prices up to $380 for top-of-the-range.

Every day they have a choice of 4 dishes with the set dinner menu at a bargain price. On the evening we went, the set included a starter of grilled duck breast with salad leaves, a soup (ours was pumpkin, a little thin, but obviously home-made and creamy), dessert, and coffee/tea.

I ordered the rack of lamb (medium rare) for my main ($118 for the set), which came with little roasted tomatoes, broccoli and potatoes. The meat itself was a little gristly, but it was cooked to perfection with ‘rosemary scent & demi-glace’ sauce. My friend had the chicken breast, which arrived with chestnut mash (yummy) and similar vegetables.

We decided to share desserts. Choices included chocolate mousse, but we selected tiramisu, and lime sorbet, as we were feeling a little full by this time. The sorbet came with a little stick of chocolate, and was inexplicably creamy - tasty though. The tiramisu, however, was disappointingly solid, and lacking in flavour.

Unfortunately, on the night we were there, the coffee machine was out of order, so we scuttled out after a relaxing hour. We had spent only $298 between two of us, and when the ever-cheery owner said come back soon, it actually sounded like he meant it!

This place produces very reasonable food at bargain prices, and I certainly intend to make myself a regular.

1/F The Excelsior
281 Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2837 6781

4 King Street
Tai Hang
Hong Kong
Tel 2882 7135

2/F, Hotel Wing
The Royal Pacific Hotel &Towers
33 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon
Tel 2738 2322

Park Lane Hotel
310 Gloucester Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2839 3311

Intercontinental Grand Stanford
Tsimshatsui East
Kowloon
Tel 2731 2860

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

1/F Regal Hong Kong Hotel
88 Yee Wo Street
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
Tel 2837 1772

Island Shangri-la
Pacific Place
Supreme Court Road
Admiralty
Hong Kong
Tel 2877 3838
Fax 2521 8742

There is an art to doing buffet but I’ve never been able to master it properly. Some people seem to be able to keep eating and eating but I always wind up getting full … or is it just my imagination? Maybe it is because good buffets always have more things than I can possibly try in one sitting. But I do have tricks that I try to employ to help me get the most out of what is on offer so the other day I sauntered along to Cafe TOO at the Island Shangri-La to hone my skills.

Buffets are very popular and, at $388 Cafe TOO may be one of the more expensive in town, but it was still packed even before seven. I was lucky, the waiter led me to a table right at the very back near the Indian kitchen. He was a little apologetic about it but it suited me down to the ground as I was able to watch the chefs. The mantra I always begin with is “Never put too much on the your plate”. This is particularly difficult when confronted with such fresh looking sushi and sashimi. They do offer oysters but I’ve always wondered what the fuss was about.

They did have some delicious chilled crab that worked well with the sashimi. I just love sushi and sashimi, but in these situations I try to stick to sashimi because the rice can fill you up too much. I had the tuna, clam and yellowtail. I could see myself going back for seconds, so I augmented this with a little smoked salmon which I thought may provide an interesting segue into the cold cuts and salad.

The next tactic is to eat slowly. This is all well and good when you go with a group of friends but if, like me, you also enjoy dining alone then it helps to have a good book or a newspaper. I’d already read the papers and I’d forgotten my book so that segue into the cold cuts came rather sooner than I’d anticipated.

The choice of cold cuts was not as varied as the sashimi but I was still able to find some pepper beef and parma ham. To that plate I added a little goats cheese in olive oil and some of the spicy Thai papaya salad called som tam.

This was an inspired move because the spiciness of the salad demanded that I rest a while before moving on to the next.

There were a couple of chinese options, some soup noodles and what looked like a Chiu Chow kitchen but I must confess I didn’t investigate. I got sidetracked by the rack of lamb with vegetables and roast potatoes. I was a little disappointed to notice that there wasn’t any English mustard available but it was a fairly minor transgression.

After another short pause I was ready for the Indian kitchen. I’d heard good things about this and I’d been enjoying watching the chef baking the nan. I timed my attack perfectly. Because of my privileged location I knew when the tandoori chicken was to be replenished and I was there waiting. To go with it I also selected some tandoori fish, onion bhaji and nan bread.

There was a quite bewildering range of desserts, all of them looked yummy but I decided to settle for a small slice of tiramisu and rounded off with some brie and biscuits and coffee.

Holiday Inn golden Mile
50 Nathan Road
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon
Tel 2369 3111

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.

Shop M20-28, Mezzanine Floor
Princes Building
Central
Hong Kong

P1, IFC mall
Central
Hong Kong

G/F 402-403 Yen Kung Mansion
Tai Mou Avenue
Tai Koo Shing
Hong Kong
Tel 3568 9808
Fax 2915 3752