Dinner @ Little Bao

Little Bao is anything but little when it comes to its popularity and buzz around the city right now.  I can't say I went into the restaurant with high hopes since I was never a big fan of "Baos" (Chinese steamed buns), so not to mention the little ones.  But after hearing many positive reviews raving about it, we decided to go with our friend, Tee, last weekend.  Unfortunately I was spot on: I hoped to at least get an enjoyable dinner at a cool and hip restaurant with my friends, but ended up feeling quite uncomfortable and unsatisfied after our "little" meal. 

Little Bao is the most-obsessed new restaurant in SoHo devoting itself to feature tiny Chinese steamed buns with creative ingredients fillings. When we arrived at Little Bao a little before 7:30 p.m. on Friday, we were greeted by a cheerful waitress at the entrance who informed us the wait would be for at least an hour (!) and asked us politely whether we wanted to put our names on the wait-list so that she would call us once our seats were ready.

After wandering in the Sheung Wan neighbourhood for nearly 45 minutes, we finally received a call from the restaurant and by that time we were just happy to be able to sit down and eat.   The restaurant was also little, intimate and cramped with an open-bar area on one side, and the other side facing the wall.  The music was incredibly loud that made dinner conversation extremely difficult and you would feel like you were in a bar instead of a diner.  The menu was simple and the choices of Baos were less than we expected (only 4 in total).  They also offered a few daily specials on the board.  The price was expensive for its portion and dinner was priced at around $250 to $300 per person. 

(1) We started with Short-Rib Pan-Fried Dumpling ($128) which was served with slow-braised organic OBE beef short rib, celeriac coleslaw.  There were only 4 pieces when the dish was served and we wouldn't complain if it was able to blow our minds with the expensive price tags.  But, it didn't.  The dumplings were outright disappointing, with the beef tasting bland and dry.  The dish was in need of some brilliant seasoning to redeem its poor execution. 

(2) For the Baos, we ordered the Bao with Pork Belly ($78) which was a combination of slow-braised pork belly, leek & shiso red onion salad, sesame dressing, hoisin ketchup.  We were stunned when we saw the actual size of the bao (see below) and it was wrong for customers to feel happy just because there were 2 (instead of 1) pieces of pork belly!  The flavours weren't bad but the Bao wasn't as spectacular and Tee thought that this dish definitely did not worth its price. 

(3) The Bao with Fish Tempura ($78), made of fresh market fish, tamarind palm sugar glaze, pickled lemongrass dennel salad, was a symphony of crunchy, was quite good with its alluring textures and tastes.  The gorgeously deep fried fish tempura, sandwiched between the steamed buns completely made for a rich and sweet taste! We just wish the portion could be larger as there was only 1 piece of fish tempura for this dish. 

(4) The LB Ice Cream Sandwich ($48) and the Ice Cream Bao ($48) both looked extremely adorable and colourful with green tea ice cream and caramel ice cream respectively. These beautiful and petit desserts, however, did not taste as delightful as they appeared as the ice cream proved to be too cold and tasteless while the deep-fried bun was too hot and too salty.  And after a few bites, we realized that the desserts were only daring in conception but lacking in execution as when the ice cream started melting, and quickly becoming messy and you would just want to finish it as quickly as possible.  

Overall remarks: With such expensive price tags, we expected the signature Baos to be little yet delicate and refined, but the dishes were still stuck at the beginner's stage: the clever, inventive and ridiculous variations Little Bao promises seemed to be impossible for its own chefs to realise.  Little Bao is certainly an example of exceptional marketing and how to run an business with ordinary food solely fueled on hype! Filled with gimmicks, words-of-mouths and promises,  I would like to say that you might enjoy it if you just try and go for what it is, but it's hard because the food was too unbalanced, too unmemorable and too expensive.  If those buns could have at least made us more than a little "Bao" ("full" in Chinese), Little Bao might be getting somewhere by now. 

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

INFO

Little Bao
G/F, 66 Staunton Street, Central 中環士丹頓街66號地下

Telephone: 2194 0202

Lunch @ Westwood Carvery

When I first started working in Central last year, lunch time was actually one of the most intimidating hours because finding affordable and comfortable places in the area was actually a challenge and I never thought I would be able to make it through.  Now, having exceeded the maximum number of months in one place, it's hard to believe it's been over a year working here, and it's even harder to believe there are so many reasonably-priced and delicious restaurants in our pedigree! Little did we know that there's a real hidden gem serving prime rib sandwiches in a Central alley.  When T told us that he hasn't been there before, we were like "STFU!", and we decided to go there for our happy-almost-end-of-the-week-lunch/Chinese New Year lunch gathering last month.  

Located inside Wo On Lane, Westwood Carvery is a small and casual place with only 4 to 5 tables, so early booking is a must.  The place is an easy one to miss and you may casually disregard its existence at first glance.  Service was friendly and polite.  Having reserved a table at 1:15 p.m., Yves, being her charming and punctual self, successfully got us seats at 1 p.m. and wonderfully prepared some cute red envelopes for us!    

Westwood Carvery offers several lunch sets ranging from $128 to $200 which are served with either a salad or a soup, and a drink.  The famous Prime Rib "Dip" Sandwich set was what we came here for.  For that, they offer two sizes: the regular size ($128) and the large size ($168).  Since it's not officially the end of the week yet, and you know, we wanted to stay fit and healthy, we opted for the regular size one. 

(1) Believe it or not, T chose the Green Salad to start with which was surprising considering he's the athlete among us.  However, it was certainly a decent and light salad to set your stomach for how much meat you are about to gulp down your throat.  The salad dressing tasted fine and distinctive. 

(2) Yves and C ordered the Cream of Spinach Soup which was quite pleasantly presented.  The soup was naturally flavourful and creamy, and the tiny bits of bacon further elevated the taste of the soup.  It was just nice to have something warm (and green) during these cold, cold days. 

(3) The long-awaited Prime Rib "Dip" Sandwich finally arrived with freshly made creamy horseradish on a ciabatta bread and beautifully came with French fries and an Apple.  It was definitely worth the hype!  The taste of prime rib, the sauce and the bread interacted with one another magnificently, forming some of the most delightful and attractive tastes in our mouths.  The beef was tender, moist and after dipping into the flavourful gravy sauce, the meat instantly melt on our tongues, due to being gleefully and perfectly cooked!  The fries were sheer deliciousness and the apple was also a refreshing and healthy complement to such a heaty, meaty dish!  T certainly liked the sandwich very much as he finished the two of them very quickly! And no, he was not that hungry. 

Overall remarks:  Westwood Carvery is fantastic (except that they keep increasing their price).  Although I am slow to finding good and affordable places for lunch around my office in Central, it is definitely one of my favorite lunch spots.  We really did have a happy lunch with a satisfied feeling.  Westwood Carvery delivers top-notch prime rib sandwiches which kick some fine asses and the combination of fries and apple as an excellent trifecta-- we can't recommend this place enough, go make your bookings now!

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

INFO

Westwood Carvery
G/F, 2 Wo On Lane, Lan Kwai Fong,Central 中環蘭桂坊和安里2號地舖
Telephone: 2869 8111

Dinner @ 蛇王芬 Ser Wong Fun

蛇王芬是在香港著名數一數二的的蛇鋪, 它的名字相信不只在中環上班的打工一族熟悉，也有不少遊客專程到訪這間有過百年歷史的香港老字號。難怪它的地方不大，但是店外人龍也不少。蛇王芬顧名思義的招排菜是蛇羹，它的太史五蛇羹($95)的確用料豐富，湯羹跟五蛇肉絲的味道也份量十足。雖然味道比位於銅鑼灣的蛇王二淡了一點，但喝下去也有和暖滿足的感覺。它的飯類如特色臘味糯米飯($110)和大蝦蒜香荷葉籠仔飯($160)也能做到豐香而不油膩，挺美味的！晚餐要每人大概＄150到＄300。

We sat down at Ser Wong Fun ("Snake King Fan") in Central without knowing what to expect, just thinking this to be another one of those snake soup diners.   We were surprised when we found out that the restaurant had been serving snake soup for over 100 years.  Snake soup is one of Hong Kong's oldest and traditional winter Cantonese delicacies, usually served with shredded meat of two types of snakes boiled in a thick soup. 

Located next to the escalators in Central, you would not be able to miss its bright neon light sign. The restaurant, however, does not have a reservation policy and only allows walk-ins.  And even so, be prepared to share a table with other fellow diners.  We arrived at the restaurant a little after 6 p.m. on Sunday, and there were already a line-up outside. The decor was like most other traditional Chinese eateries--cramped, uncomfortable but laid-back.  Be aware that English translations weren't provided for all the items on the menu. Dinner costs around $150 to $300 per person. 








(1) We ordered the 太史五蛇羹Assorted snakes banquet ($95/bowl) which was served with slices of snake meat, abalone, chicken, shredded ginger, mushroom, agaric, and fish maw and it was a real gem! The thin shredded black snake was bathed in a finely cooked soup with other delicious ingredients which provided a decadent and magnificent taste.  Although D thought that the taste was not as strong as the snake soup from Se Wong Yee, we were very satisfied by this delightfully authentic and hearty rendition of snake soup. 

(2) The 特色臘味糯米飯Preserved sausages in sticky rice ($110/small) was another invigorating dish.  The preserved Chinese sausages were also a specialty of the restaurant.   The pork sausage ("Lap Chang") and the duck liver sausage ("Yun Chang") were tender and fatty. The aroma and texture of the sticky rice were enticing, and after it had absorbed the flavours from the meats within, it became a truly decadent dish. 





(3) The 大蝦蒜香荷葉籠仔飯 Steamed special fried rice with dry braised prawns ($160) was Al's special order.  This type of rice was steamed while wrapped within the lotus leaf.  The rice had a lovely, soft texture without being sticky.  The generous portion of the dry braised prawns were fantastically springy and fresh, and gave a lot of fragrance to the dish.

Overall remarks:  If the service and ambience of Ser Wong Fun are perfunctory, the splendid and warm traditional Cantonese dishes gave the restaurant unexpected weight, particularly the snake soup and the preserved sausages in sticky rice, which managed to goose this otherwise small and cramped run-down place and capture a palpable notch of authentic Chinese dishes. 

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

INFO

蛇王芬 Ser Wong Fun
G/F, 30 Cochrane Street, Central 中環閣麟街30號地下
Telephone: 2543 1032

Lunch @ 魚作 Gyotaku

魚作 Gyotaku 是在中環云云眾多日本餐廳中用心落力地製作價錢合理，但與眾不同的午市Set Lunch， 為中環的上班一族提供富有水準的選擇，難怪餐廳長期Lunch Hour也滿座。餐廳的名字（Gyo-taku) 原文解作日本人以前把魚的形象用墨汁拓印到紙上的技法。餐廳地方雖然不大，但是落地玻璃令人感覺舒服，不會太侷促。餐廳的Set Lunch Menu勝在款式夠多，而且菜式也有特別增添新意。它的香滑焗三文魚定食 Baked Marinated Salmon ($130) 非常出色，肉質嫩滑多汁，也真正帶出魚的鮮味，加上一點點辣味，真是一道值得推介的特別菜式。它的Set Lunch包了一客沙律，麵豉湯和一客芝麻布丁，也頗滿足，所以成為了C在中環其中最愛的餐廳。午餐也只是每人大概＄150 到＄200。

Retooling the Japanese cuisine for busy week-day lunch hour is hardly a new idea.  The word "Gyo-taku" originally means  a traditional method of Japanese fish printing and while Gyotaku may not display all the sparkle and creativity of this historical innovative way of recording different kinds of fish, the restaurant counters with a surprising willingness to explore the rich variety of Japanese dishes.  Ever since working in Central, Gyotaku has been C's favourite lunch spot. 

Located on the 12th Floor of the thin building on Stanley Street, the decor of Gyotaku is sleek, yet utterly cosy.  Comfortable lighting, simple colours and wooden furniture imbue the space with a casual and modern feeling.  The restaurant is usually very fully booked during lunch hour almost every day, so we had to book a table at least 2 days in advance. Service is polite and attentive.  Gyotaku serves a special daily set lunch menu that changes every day and also its more pricier lunch menu. What amazed us was its wide variety- from sashimi set to sukiyaki set, it really included almost every items you could imagine from a Japanese restaurant! A lunch set comes with a salad and a miso soup.  Lunch is reasonably priced at $150 to $200 per person. 

(1) The Baked Marinated Salmon ($130) is C's favourite and is the must-have dish every time he visits.  The salmon was extravagantly tender and succulent, and was baked in an alluring way to bring out the vibrant and intense flavours of the fish with a hint of spiciness.  The mayonnaise further lifted the enticing taste of the dish.  It was an outstanding dish that is highly recommended for everyone who is a fan of salmon. 

(2) San ordered the Grilled Miso Cod Fish Set ($150) and it was another accomplished dish.  The cod fish was wonderfully grilled.  Each piece of fish was adoringly soft and tender, and delicately moist to keep its surface shiny.  San found the dish to be very enjoyable. 

(3) Everyone seemed to like the Marinated Pork in Ginger Sauce ($108 Set Lunch Price) including Chow Chow. The pork had a gorgeously firm and bouncy texture.  The soy-sauce-based marinate was sweet and decadent, but it was hard to find the ginger taste in the dish. 

(4) The 3 Type Sashimi on Rice ($118 Set Lunch Price) was a bowl of joy. The 3 types of sashimi varied based on the availability of the day.  That day we had Salmon, Tuna and Scallop. The raw fish were all very fresh and tasty and the flavours were well balanced.  We just hoped that they could be more generous with the portion of each slice of the sashimi. 

(5) Lastly, the dessert, Sesame Pudding was a real showstopper! It only came with the normal lunch set menu. The medley of sesame mixed with the soft, chewy pudding texture formed a symphony of tastes in the mouth that was utterly the perfect and unforgettable end to our lunch. 

Overall remarks:  Gyotaku presents the Japanese cuisine with confident, fluid grace and these dishes, coupled with a brace of insightful cookery skills lend the restaurant a warmth and comfort ambience, offering a satisfying lunch that would lighten up the timeworn elements of your boring work days in Central. 

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

INFO

魚作 Gyotaku
12/F, 11 Stanley Street, Central 中環士丹利街11號12樓
Telephone: 3902 3813