Dinner @ The Parlour

1881 Heritage是尖沙咀的熱門旅遊景點之一，而它的The Hullett House充滿純正（Bona Fide）古典高雅色采，不禁令任何人都會馬上愛上這座古色古香，富有歷史價值的英倫建築。前身是建於1880年代的香港水警總部，The Parlour環境豐富多彩，為它的食物及環境增添了華麗包裝， 還包含了與眾不同的歷史（Historic)和奇幻(Fantastic)氣氛。前菜如Lobster Bouillabaisse ($128)和Steak Tartare（＄170）都可觀可口，而最令我們讚賞是Beef Cheek（$320)，非常優異出色。雖然它的服務和水準並不是一流，但是它的氣氛環境真是出人意表的優美怡人，在香港十分難得。晚餐也只是＄500到$600一位。

The Hullett House's bona fide classiness and elegance are so enchanting not only to tourist, but every fellow locals who walk by will surely fall in love with the beauty of this antique architecture.  Nestled on top of the glamorous 1881 Heritage (which was formerly the headquarters of the Hong Kong Marine Police in the 1880s) at Tsim Sha Tsui, the Parlour is a magnificent restaurant as it merges the historic with the fantastic in both its dishes and environment.  We were more than enthusiastic when we had a chance to dine here for D's birthday last week. 

When we reached the ground floor of the Hullett House, we were instantly greeted by a friendly and smiling waitress at the Parlour who showed us to our seats.  The Parlour was spacious with most of their seats outdoor. The indoor dining room, however, was worth visiting as it was beautifully furnished with a curious colonial and artful charm.  The outdoor seats boasted an impressive view of the main square of 1881 Heritage. The service was polite and attentive, but the restaurant was appallingly understaffed and we had to wait for long periods of time before we could get a waiter.  The table and chair were also a bit old and out of shape.  Having said that, dinner is reasonably priced at around $500 - $600 per head, and we think it was worth it.  

(1) We started with the Lobster Bouillabaisse ($128) which was cooked with Prawn, Fish and Mussel and it set the bar high for our meal.  The Lobster Bisque was delightfully decent and creamy, and the lovely and delicate prawn meat and a few mussel made for a heavenly and wondrous dish! 

(2) The Steak Tartare "Au Couteau" ($170) was another accomplished starter. The sophistic presentation of this dish made its taste more dynamic than we expected.  The beef was rich and decadent and the crispy fried potato added a nice kick to it.  This dish was also served with Pomme paille and green salad, which balanced the taste of raw beef perfectly!

(3) For mains, the Birthday Boy ordered the Baked Hallibut Mushroom Provencal, with Fennel and Black Olive Ragout ($230). While the fish was nicely cooked and seasoned, it was almost overwhelmed by the taste of the accompanying sauce. The dish suffered from being too ambitious and unfortunately, the different elements of the dish somehow did not manage to come together to be a more polished dish. 

(4) The Beef Cheek Slow cooked (12 hours) Australian Angus beef cheek with mash potato Bourguignon Garnish ($320) was an alluring dish and it was definitely our favourite that evening! The texture of the beef was ultra tender and impressively juicy.  We just wish the sauce could be a bit on the sweeter side to help accentuate the enticing flavour of the beef!

(5) While the Lime and Banana Bar Crispy feulletine & praline with banana & lime mousse serve with vanilla ice cream ($88) was a cute and adorable dessert, the mousse wasn't creamy or rich enough to form a contrast with its crispy outer layer, and now it tasted more like a bar of chocolate. 

Overall remarks:  Our dinner at the Parlour has been filled with hits and misses -- the innovative dishes were punctuated by the not-so-well executed ones, and the hearty service marred by the absence of waiters--, but the Parlour's classy and historic ambiance remained to be the real draw to be admired.   The restaurant's air of elegance made it close to impossible for us not to overlook its shortcomings and appreciate its soul-soothing environment and enjoy its ever-gripping glamour, and the Parlour has successfully left us both speechless and impressed. 

Food: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Ambience: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Service: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

INFO

The Parlour  (website)
G/F, main building, 1881 Heritage, Hullett House, 2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui 尖沙咀廣東道2A Hullett House主樓地下
Telephone: 3988 0101

Dinner @ 蘇浙滙 Jardin De Jade

蘇浙滙是一間很有水準的上海菜館，把正宗 (Authentic) 和現代 (Contemporary) 風格的上海菜揉合在一起。在香港想吃到有質素的上海菜，不妨試試蘇浙滙的香港分店。蘇浙滙本身是一間於上海頗有名氣的餐廳，我們每次到上海都會光顧的，想不到它居然在灣仔開了一家分店。雖然菜式有點不同，價錢也挺貴，但大部份都保持水準，最突出是酒醉膏蟹($488)，確實可觀 (Visual) 和可口 (Taste)，尤其不能錯過，其他招牌黑叉燒($88)和糟滑魚片($148)也各有傳統上海蘇浙風味，在香港很少見到，都值得一試。晚餐大概＄300到＄400一位。

It is a nice surprise to find the famous Shanghai-based Jardin de Jade (蘇浙滙) in Hong Kong as it is a restaurant that made a "wow" in the Shanghai dining scene, opening several branches in other cities in China.   It is not hard to understand why because Jardin de Jade combines authentic and contemporary Shanghainese cuisine in one setting and it is the restaurant we went to every time we visited Shanghai! 

Located in Wan Chai, the Hong Kong Jardin de Jade picks up where its other branches have left off--in traditional Chinese fine dining.  The decoration comprises of Chinese elegance and classiness without being overly extravagant.  Although the restaurant was quite small, it felt spacious enough with its limited number of tables, and the dining room was quiet for its diners to indulge in a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.  Brace yourself, however, for the prices here as they are not exactly budget-friendly, a typical dinner costs around $300 - $400 per head. 

(1) The 招牌黑叉燒 Black Barbecue Pork in Suzhou Style ($88) is one of the dishes that we liked that evening.  The BBQ pork itself was succulent and the taste was deliciously thick and amazingly rich.  

(2) The 酒醉膏蟹 House Special Creamy Crab with Wine ($488) the Magician's Girlfriend ordered impressed us in both its beautiful visual presentation and amazing taste perception. The crab roe, which is often eaten as a delicacy in Chinese cuisine, was plentiful and the meat itself was heartily tender and juicy.  The taste of Chinese wine was well balanced and brought the flavour of the crab to an even fresher level that kept lingering in our mouths.  Even though crabs were not C's favourite, he also felt that it was a stunning dish. 

(3) As a starter, the 黑魚籽煙燻蛋 Smoked Eggs with Black Caviar ($38/2 pieces) was delicate.  It had an attractive running yolk topped with the tasty cavier which proved to be a very good pair with the taste of the smoked eggs. 

(4) We all liked the 蝦籽紅燒獅子頭 Braised Meat Ball with Shrimp Seed in Brown Sauce ($108).  Served hot, the dish itself was very homey and comfortable.  The texture of the meat itself was soft and smooth. 

(5) This 糟滑魚片 Stewed Fish Fillets in Rice Wine Sauce ($148) was another one of our favourites.  The rice wine delightfully elevated the moistness and the lusciousness of the fish and we liked the accompanying beans and black fungus in the dish as well. 

(6) Finally, the must-eat item of the Shanghainese cuisine: the 蘇浙湯包 House Specialty Steamed Juicy Pork Dumplings ($68/6 pieces).  This dish was done perfectly and was very delicious.  But compared to other dishes, this one came to us as no surprise. 

Overall remarks:  Albeit the menu was different from the shops in Shanghai, it did not hinder the presentation or the delivery of its dishes.  Overall we enjoyed our dinner at the Hong Kong Jardin de Jade.  The staff was all very friendly and attentive to our needs.  However, we personally think that it was overpriced given the portion of the dishes (and the prices in Shanghai was a lot cheaper with a lot more food).  But it is definitely worth trying as the quality of these Shanghainese-dishes was close enough to what the stores in Shanghai offer and you can satisfy your Shanghainese cravings just by setting foot in Wan Chai! 

Food: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Ambience: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Service: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

INFO

Jardin De Jade 蘇浙滙 (website)
Shop G3-4, G/F, Sun Hung Kai Centre, 30 Harbour Road, Wan Chai 灣仔港灣道30號新鴻基中心地下G3–4舖
Telephone: 3528 0228

Dinner @ Watermark

D除了愛吃，也愛欣賞香港的獨有的維港怡人美麗夜景。於是這次跟C的生日晚餐，選了位於中環7號碼頭的Watermark，真是令人喜出望外，能把幾種喜好，一併細味。D覺得在香港很難找到有水準，地方寬敞而有美景的餐廳，而Watermark正是這類罕有的好地方。Watermark供應不同的海鮮和肉類，它的Mixed Seafood Grill用料新鮮，值得一試。最吸引的當然是它的地方出奇地大，天花樓底高得很，入口處有一條很特色的"瀑布"走廊。其清雅幽靜的環境加上窗外對岸的夜景，讓我們以為自己到了一間很有格調的外國餐廳。雖然晚餐價值不菲，要每人大概$500-$600，但能夠邊欣賞醉人景致，邊享受充裕的空間，真是一頓令人一吃難忘的生日飯！

D often finds that restaurants serving quality food, and having spacious room along with the gorgeous view of the Victoria Harbour have always been a rare commodity in Hong Kong, but Watermark, is  poised to change this perception in a heartbeat.   D picked Watermark for dinner to celebrate C's birthday last month.  

Located at Pier 7 of the Star Ferry Terminal in Central, Watermark is packed with a lively jumbles of exclamation marks and impressive selling points.  The restaurant is housed in the ferry terminal building overlooking the fantastic view of the harbor.  The entrance of the restaurant was elegant and contemporary, furnished with a dark hallway surrounded by waterfalls that led to the reception area. 

The interior of the restaurant was serenely and luxuriously spacious and peaceful.  As you know a lot of restaurants in Hong Kong tended to cramp their seats together to utilize all the space.  But not at Watermark.  Privacy was almost guaranteed for us as we were separated with somewhat distance from the other diners.  The gentle lighting and the high ceiling achieved a charismatic, comfortable and romantic ambiance, which was just perfect!  We even got a window seat so that we could enjoy the superb night view.  You will be gummed up with how stunning it looks at night. 

You can't find this much "space"with a nice view in many restaurants in Hong Kong, and we felt Watermark is a restaurant of an entirely different calibre (at one point, we felt as if we were inside an upscale restaurant in Shanghai).  Meals here are on the more expensive side, a typical dinner costs around $500 to $600 per head. 

(1) As we weren't that hungry, so we only ordered a Watermark Mixed Grill ($758) to share.  The dish included Halibut, sea bass, 1/2 lobster, scallop, caramelized lemon, new potatoes.  Although it was smaller than we expected, every single piece of food presented on the plate, including the potatoes, was completely delicious!  The scallops had an adorable, chewy texture. The sauce just elevated its flavour further.  The lobster was something to dash about as it was pleasantly moist and had a very fresh taste.  The two fish were both finely cooked and gorgeously seasoned to our liking.  We felt pretty full and satisfied afterwards. 

(2) For desserts, D ordered a Dark Chocolate Liquid Tart ($75) served with Basil ice cream, star anise tuile, which definitely did not disappoint! The taste of the dark chocolate with the crunchy layer of the tart, mixed with the ice cream tasted delightful in the mouth. 

(3) The birthday boy decided to try The Exotic ($75) which was the Chef's creation using seasonal fruits, including berries and lychee.  The cake was layered with coconut, lychee and mango.  It tasted surprisingly harmonious and equally as sweet and soothing. 

VERDICT

Overall remarks:  It was a pleasant birthday dinner for C with a winsome atmosphere and equally winsome food.  The service was polite and attentive, and the staff were really helpful with presenting the birthday dessert and singing the happy birthday song to C.  We adored the lovable and impressive view.  Even the food may be quite pricey, Watermark came across as a supremely understated restaurant that has a lot to offer and to discover and we were definitely blown away by the most comfortable and unique dining experience by the water!

Food: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Ambience: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Service: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

INFO

Watermark (website)
Shop L, Central Pier 7, Top Level, Star Ferry, Central 中環7號碼頭L號舖
Telephone: 2167 7251

Brunch @ The Pawn

位於灣仔的The Pawn絕對值得棒場，它的Weekend Brunch又一次表現出如何讓西方簡單的菜餚成為一個有品味（Tasteful)又休閒（Casual) 的享受。The Pawn 前身是一間建於1880時期的當鋪，很有歷史價值的建築。老實說，我們一直也覺得這間美麗的餐廳是給旅客觀光，所以這次在這裡吃C的生日Brunch，心裡還是挺興奮的。Weekend Brunch以傳統英國食物作主打，包括Eggs Benedict和Fish & Chips。 雖然菜式都很簡單，份量也不大，價錢也偏貴，但是室內環境卻真正融合了英式風韻和殖民地的色采，而且二樓設有露台，可以一邊看著街景，一邊進食，非常寫意。食物也很有水準，特別是那個Fish & Chips。Weekend Brunch 大概$100 到 $200一位。

We have never dined in this iconic building which was originally a Chinese pawnshop, so we could not contain our excitement when we had brunch at The Pawn last month.  The Pawn made a name for itself to plop us down in a "colonial" venue that's so obviously in quotes, we know that it must be as heartily tasteful and cultural as its antique exterior suggests.  The place has  long been lingering on our "to-go" list, but we often brush it off as another "touristic" restaurant.  Finally, we had an excuse to go there for C's birthday brunch. 

As a heritage building from the 1800's, The Pawn's weekend brunch menu offers some of the most traditional British dishes, including a variety of eggs dishes and its famous fish and chips.   Make sure you find the elevator at the side entrance (which was more modern looking than the storefront) that leads to the 2/F so that you do not have to hike up the flight of narrow steps.  We were seated indoor and the setting's tastefulness and minimalism resembled the casual atmosphere you can easily find in many British pubs.  It also has a cheerful outdoor terrace on the 2/F rendering an incredible view of Wan Chai and warm sunlight.  The weekend brunch menu is priced at around $100 to $200 per head. 

(1) C ordered a Poached eggs on toasted muffin ($85).  Popularly known as the eggs benedict, this is served with Hollandaise & gammon ham or baby spinach.  The birthday boy went for the gammon ham, which was deliciously tender.  The poached eggs were heavenly and once cut open,  the running yolk just melted instantly on the thin layer of ham.   The muffin just brought this dish further and it was a very satisfying dish. 

(2) The Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon ($95) is served on various kinds of bread: white, brown, granary or brioche.  The eggs were adoringly moist and the perfectly seasoned smoked salmon just gave a nice twist to our tastebuds, and we certainly wouldn't mind the simplicity of the dish. 

(3) British Accent decided to go for the traditional British signature fish and chips: Beer battered lemon sole with peas & chips ($180).   And it did not disappoint!  The finely fried fish had a fantastic aroma and texture.  Although it did take a while for it to arrive, it was worth it as the fish tasted very fresh and soft. 

(4) The Kedgeree Risotto ($185) was served with Smoked haddock, radishes, soft boiled egg.  It was a gentle-looking and enjoyable dish, but this dish could have trended a little more fully and now it was nothing to rave about. 

VERDICT

Overall remarks:  The Pawn's antique/modern style is one schematic tasteful showcase of the most traditional British dishes after another, rendered in an incredibly simple and minimalistic prestige dining experience.  We all felt that the service could have been better as the waitress sometimes forgot our orders, which made the experience slightly disappointing.   The simplicity and portion of the dishes may not justify its price, but the casual and historical atmosphere and the delicious British brunch dishes will surely bring us back! 

Food: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Ambience: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 
Service: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

INFO

The Pawn  (website)
2/F, 62 Johnston Road, Wan Chai 灣仔莊士敦道62號2樓
Telephone: 2866 3444

Dinner @ Oolaa Petite

星街近年奇峰異起，不同種類的新餐廳逐一登場，而Oolaa Petite就是其中之一。是日為慶祝C的生日，和一眾友人於這裡吃晚飯。Oolaa Petite 的環境簡單寧靜，輕便而又優雅, 不會太吵鬧，坐在外面猶如身在外國街頭般寫意。但室內稍嫌燈光黑了點，看來比較適合情侶光顧。餐廳菜單以意大利菜為主，選擇蠻多，有薄餅(pizza)，意粉(pasta)，意大利飯(risotto)，還有其他肉類等等。可惜份量真的不大，真是明乎其實的Petite，男仕們可能不飽。菜式水準不俗，但以它的價格來說不夠驚喜, 未見出色, 價錢晚飯每位大概＄200至＄300。值得一讚是它不設有切餅費。

If you pass by Star Street and you haven't noticed the new dining scene there, you're not looking close enough.  It has been a delightful transformation at Star Street recently, turning old garages into hip and modern restaurants one by one.  One of these restaurants is Oolaa Petite run by Castelo Concepts.  

We went there for C's birthday dinner with Homa, Tee, Lesibian, and her boyfriend Martin.  Oolaa Petite is a sister restaurant of Oolaa which is located in Sheung Wan.  The restaurant comprises of a little outdoor area with high tables and an indoor area with large couches.  Though the atmosphere was perfectly quiet and peaceful,  whether it was intentional or not, we found that the uncomfortably dim and dark lighting to be more appropriate for couples to come here on dates.  

Unfortunately, the lack of lighting is just one of the cogs that evening.  We might have been inquisitive with the sporadic menu which featured Italian cuisine, including pizza, pasta, risotto and various kinds of meats.  Be aware of the portion, as the dishes were quite "petite" and they might not be as satisfying as they seemed.  Dinner is priced at around $200 to $300 per head. One bonus point is that Oolaa Petite does not impose a surcharge for outside cakes. 

(1) Martin ordered the Toasted Pita Dips ($90) with beetroot feta, tzatziki, hummus and chili tomato & capsicum as starter.   While the pita was expectantly soft and warm, the dips were quite nice providing a delicate and fresh flavour to the dish.  This was a nice starter to share. 

(2) We didn't adore the look of the Margarita Pizza ($110) at first but we were surprised by the fluffy and airy texture which proved to be both chewy and delicious at the same time. But we were hoping for a more fabulous taste of meatball and tomato sauce and it felt ultimately short of that.

(3) The Chicken & Asparagus Risotto ($125) was heartening and alluringly light but it could have been a tad bigger in size.  

(4) The US Certified Black Angus Sirloin ($390) 10 oz was one dish that C specifically looked forward to the most.  While the steak was gorgeously grilled and tasted fantastic, the serving was so smaller than we were hoping it to be and we had trouble to have more than two "bites" each. 

(5) The Penne Arrabiata ($120) with spicy italian tomato chilli pepper sauce was rather bland and the sauce was too mild to lift the flavours of the penne for us.

(6) Lastly, we ordered the Glazed Soy Salmon ($190). It was an outstanding dish, the salmon was superbly smooth and tender. The soy sauce was light and juicy, adding a sensuous twist to this wonderful dish! 

A special thanks to Homa who kindly bought the most beautiful and lovely birthday cake from Thomas Trillion! It was definitely the highlight of the evening! Thanks to everyone who came to dinner that evening! 

VERDICT

Overall remarks:  We are mixed about Oolaa Petite as its dishes could certainly be fine-tuned and we wondered whether the portions really justify the price.  But to its credit, Oolaa Petite is both unflappably casual and elegant and is definitely a welcomed addition to Star Street.  It's a pity that their dishes can't, or ironically do, live up to its name. 

Food: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Ambience: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 
Service: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

INFO

Oolaa Petite  (website)
Ground Floor Shop 12 to 14 Regal Court, Star Street, Wan Chai