Hong Kong Restaurant Recommendations

[cabrales]

I'd appreciate input from members who have recently visited any of the following Hong Kong restaurants: (1) Petrus Restaurant at the Shangri-La Hotel, Pacific Place, (2) Amigo in Happy Valley, and (3) Alibi.

[cabrales]

I received some input from a friend who lives in Hong Kong. He indicated Alibi is a "pick up" place, and does not appear to offer good food.  He recommended TECA, which apparently imports chicken from France (unclear whether of Bresse origin). I have no knowledge about that restaurant.  

[anil]

I'd appreciate input from members who have recently visited any of the following Hong Kong restaurants: (1) Petrus Restaurant at the Shangri-La Hotel, Pacific Place, (2) Amigo in Happy Valley, and (3) Alibi.

You ask me this a few months back about Petrus, I hesitated and still am ambivalent -

I thought it was good - not great, but some French ex-pats panned-it -- SO what else is new  

Alibi, will have to wait till my next trip. No idea about Amigo -- Could you elaborate what is it's claim to fame ? I hear that HKG is beginning to have a love-fest with Latin & South Am. food of late......

[cabrales]

No idea about Amigo -- Could you elaborate what is it's claim to fame ?

Amigo is a restaurant opposite one part of the Happy Valley race track. I visited a long time ago, and thought it was decent. That was many years ago.

If you have visited Hugo's, at the Hyatt (?) on the Kowloon side, I'd appreciate an update on that too. For weekday lunches there, a set menu would offer prime rib if one arrived early enough. The appetizer choices include an hors-d'oeuvre (sic) trolley that had probably 20+ items -- egg salad, smoked salmon, parma ham with melon, crunchy small octupi (well-marinated), medium prawns with mango, etc. Not cutting edge food obviously, but well-prepared. It has been years since I visited Hugo's. For Sunday lunch, Hugo's has a brunch that includes all-you-can eat lobsters (boiled) and smoked salmon. The "cold" dishes were better than the warm ones. One could request that one 1/2 lobster be made Thermidor style.  Also, all-you-can-drink fresh fruit juice. I'm uncertain this brunch remains available.  

[anil]

No idea about Amigo -- Could you elaborate what is it's claim to fame ?

..........

If you have visited Hugo's, at the Hyatt (?) on the Kowloon side, I'd appreciate an update on that too. For .......

Hugo is a very good place for business  lunch. I have not had dinner there, even during bad weather

when I had to be indoors at the hotel  -- "The Chinese Restaurant" @Hyatt/Kowloon is a better choice

for dinner  

[anil]

Another interesting resturant, a little uppity-up, is Verandah in Repulsebay. Being off the main touristy,business district, it has managed to attain a select following amongst the well to do, oldtimers.

I have not been there in the past two trips.

Cabrales, If you are there (HKG), maybe you could bring us uptodate on it.

[cabrales]

Another interesting resturant, a little uppity-up, is Verandah in Repulsebay. Being off the main touristy,business district, it has managed to attain a select following amongst the well to do, oldtimers.

anil -- I ate at the Repulse Bay Hotel's restaurant several years ago, and don't recollect what the food was like (not a negative). I don't know when I can go to Hong Kong again, but will try and visit that restaurant when I do.   (Other members: The terrace looks onto a large bay, and does have a colonial feel to it.  Repulse Bay is an upscale residential area in HK.)

HK has some member-only clubs that have decent (not necessarily good) restaurants/dining rooms. Some locals like to spend time at these clubs because the city is so crowded, and the lines for many other restaurants long on weekends. The Deep Water Bay Golf Club has poor food. However, the Hong Kong Jockey Club in Happy Valley has a formal-service dining room called the Darby Room (used to be better than it is) that used to offer items like lobster bisque, Lobster Thermidor, Angus beef, and oysters flown in from different places.  This restaurant has declined in recent years. There is also a decent place for dim sum at the Jockey Club. The Aberdeen Marina Club, the American Club and the Hong Kong Country Club (for each of which membership is difficult to gain) all offer certain decent food (in the case of the last two, including large buffet lunches on Sunday).

[Jaymes]

I ate at the Repulse Bay Hotel's restaurant several years ago, and don't recollect what the food was like (not a negative). : The terrace looks onto a large bay, and does have a colonial feel to it.  Repulse Bay is an upscale residential area in HK.)

Speaking of venerable old Hong Kong institutions, for years Gaddi's, in the Pennisula Hotel, was considered one of the finest (if not THE finest) restaurants in the Far East.  I know the maitre d' (Rolf Heninger) retired a while back, and haven't heard much about Gaddi's since he left.

Anyone know if Gaddi's is still as good as ever?

[anil]

.......................

Speaking of venerable old Hong Kong institutions, for years Gaddi's, in the Pennisula Hotel, was considered one of the finest (if not THE finest) restaurants in the Far East.  I know the maitre d' (Rolf Heninger) retired a while back, and haven't heard much about Gaddi's since he left.

Anyone know if Gaddi's is still as good as ever?

Gaddi is still around, thoug Felix bar on the top floor has the buzz in the city    I think Gaddi is among the better non-chinese restaurants in the city. To sugest that it is the finest in FarEast is a tad bit much  

[Jaymes]

I think Gaddi's is among the better non-Chinese restaurants in the city. To sugest that it is the finest in FarEast is a tad bit much.  

Well, it wasn't my suggestion, but for decades it was pretty-much accepted that it was.  

As I said, that was before Rolf retired.  Possibly it has either gone downhill, or the competition has improved; most likely, a bit of both.

[dargin]

I have been to Amigo (engraved matchbook with your parties names is a nice touch) and Gaddi/Felix are both good. I still love Indochine in Lan Kwai Fong. Simply the best - best Cha Ca this side of Hanoi.

[cabrales]

dargin -- When you have a chance, could you consider describing what the Amigo menu is generally like?

[dargin]

dargin -- When you have a chance, could you consider describing what the Amigo menu is generally like? 

I can do one better - here is the actual menu from my last time there (few weeks ago) I will say it was not as amazing as my first time I went there as a lad (1989) more restaurants have caught up, but still very good. I will be back in Hong Kong in a few weeks and might go there to give an update (considering I am new here - must earn my keep...)

Dargin

FOIE GRAS CHAUD AUX NAVETS

SAUMON FUMÉ D’ÉCOSSE

SALADE DE CREVETTES AVEC CRABE EN GELÉE

** ** **

POTAGE VELOUTÉ AUX PALOURDES

CONSOMMÉ DE VOLAILLE AUX LIS

** ** **

LES CREVETTES FORESTIERE AU PIMENT ROUGE

LOUP DE MER À LA CIBOULETTE, SAUCE AU SAFRAN

SUPRÊMES DE CANETON AVEC CHAMPIGNONS, SAUCE AU MARSALA

FILET DE BOEUF RÔTI ET COQUILLES SAINT-JACQUES AU VIN ROUGE

** ** **

SOUFFLÉ AU CRÈME DE CACAO

CRÈME BRÛLEE À L’ORANGE

PROFITERALES AVEC LA GLACE MANGUE, SAUCE FRAMBOISES

LE MOCCA

[cabrales]

dargin -- Thanks It's not easy to find good French food in Hong Kong. What are your thoughts on Petrus? I have not been there in a while.

[dargin]

dargin -- Thanks It's not easy to find good French food in Hong Kong. What are your thoughts on Petrus? I have not been there in a while.

Ahh - the last time I was there there was something to do about black truffles (1000 kilos or something absurd) I have not been there in ages. Makes the Kowloon Shangri-La French (Margaux) look like Le Bon Pain. Very good wine list if I remember.

I will be forced to admit I have nipped into the Belvedere at the grand stanford (kowloon) when my Foie Gras blood levels have dipped - a good lunch I will admit. A lot cheaper than Gaddi as well.

As a person that still goes to Le Pouligen yearly - I would love to know if there is a creperie in HK that I do not know about. Any suggestions Cabrales?

Best regards,

Dargin

[cabrales]

As a person that still goes to Le Pouligen yearly - I would love to know if there is a creperie in HK that I do not know about.  Any suggestions Cabrales?

dargin -- I don't know of one, but will ask (may take a week or two).

[anil]

As a person that still goes to Le Pouligen yearly - I would love to know if there is a creperie in HK that I do not know about.  Any suggestions Cabrales?

Best regards,

Dargin

Without comments - Cafe Gypsy @ Shelly St. in SoHo (as in South of Hollywood Road for NYCers and Londoners) Hope to be back in November again :)

[SMMiller]

We're planning a week in Hong Kong and will probably try Dim Sum 3-4 times while we are there. We're looking for recommendations for the best of the best.

[cabrales]

There are probably better dim sum specialists than generalist Fook Lam Moon, but I have had excellent dim sum there: Fook Lam Moon, Hong Kong side (even the sharks' fin soup can be sampled on a per-diner/per-bowl basis during lunch; the fried rice wrapped in lotus leaves is excellent)

Luk Yu Teahouse, Central, Hong Kong side (quality is generally very good and there is authenticity; however, quality can vary with items sampled). Somewhat of a dim sum specialist, although dinner can also be good there. Certain noodle dishes and rice-based dishes are interesting with respect to lunch. One can order a plate of special sliced Chinese ham (unclear of name) that is delicious and difficult to secure to such quality outside of Asia.

Edited January 6, 2003 by cabrales (log)

[eatingwitheddie]

We're planning a week in Hong Kong and will probably try Dim Sum 3-4 times while we are there.  We're looking for recommendations for the best of the best.

Been a few years but Victoria Harbor Seafood was great -- there are at least two -- I tried the one that's on the 2nd or 3rd floor of an office building on the HK side facing the harbor

[SteveW]

Ed, are you actually refering to Victoria City Seafood? It's world famous for their dim sum in Hong Kong. My friend in Hong Kong highly recommends this restaurant, for their dim sum.

---------------

Steve

[Jon Tseng]

Went to Victoria whatchamacallit too. Try the deep-fried pigs intestines.

I think Patricia Wells gave them a favourable write-up years ago

When we went with foodie relatives we had two choices: Victoria Harbour for less jazzy dim sum but a wide selection or the restaurant Peninsula for top-notch dumplings, but more traditional and smaller selection.

cheerio

J

[eatingwitheddie]

Ed, are you actually refering to Victoria City Seafood? It's world famous for their dim sum in Hong Kong. My friend in Hong Kong highly recommends this restaurant, for their dim sum.

---------------

Steve

yes

[anil]

It always helps if one states when the trip is planned for (this way we can get a sense of timing)

FLM is not known for its dim-sum, still what they have for dim-sum is good. It also depends on where you'll be staying - Lin Quai Fong, Queens Rd., Kowloon, all have small dim sum joints along with congee places. Nothing lie a congee in the morning with tea indian-style.

[cabrales]

I like having dim sum at FLM, preceded by a bowl of sharks' fin soup (the version without crabmeat is better for an initial tasting, and overall in my assessment) and followed by the fried rice wrapped in lotus leaves. That would be a relatively expensive meal, but well worth it. Check whether FLM is BYO, no corkage for first-time visitors, if you are interested in wine. A nice Chablis or Puligny-Montrachet, perhaps, unless you are pursuing the sharks' fin soup, in which case the intensity of the underling thick broth would suggest a 1/2 bottle of red as well.

I wanted to emphasize the traditional Chinese antique furniture decor at Luk Yu teahouse. The place has been around for ages, and its decor reflects that. It has the benefit of being close to Central, including the Central MTR subway stop (within 5 minutes' walk). Luk Yu is also close to an area called Lan-kwei-fong (not formal English name), where many non-Asian persons congregate in the evening for certain small restaurants (be careful -- most are mediocre, although there are some whose names I do not have that are acceptable) and bars.