Chez Patrick (Wan Chai)

Patrick Goubier has opened a new venue in Wan Chai, not far from the dining area near Star Street. A nice spot were you will find the same quality food and service as the one in Central . Again a stylish interior with black-white colored paper covering walls. My lunch included grilled sea bass with vegetables as the main and apple tart for dessert (HK$ 149) and was excellent. However, for those with a large appetite the three- or four-course lunch (HK$199 and HK$ 249) would be more suitable. Many business people were having lunch on that Wednesday afternoon there, and that is I believe the kind of guests they want to attract to their place.

3R

Despite its hidden away place in North Point most of the tables were occupied in restaurant 3R when I went there for lunch. The restaurant has a L-shaped interior with white walls, yellow curtains and a little bar giving access to the kitchen. The minimal style of the interior gave me the idea it was not finished yet.
I chose the two-course set lunch for HK$ 98: oxtail soup and tagliatelle with clams, mushrooms and pesto. As side dish some black colored buns were served. The waiter explained that the black color was created from black octopus ink. The looks of the bun were a bit odd, but the taste was good.
The oxtail soup was served in a nice shaped plate and tasted really subtle with fresh vegetables. The main course showed a large portion of pasta with many clams and a bit pesto. I ended the meal with a coffee which was included in the set lunch.
Actually the name of the restaurant was a true promotion for the nice lunch I had. Manager Edith of the restaurant told me that 3R stands for ‘good restaurant’. It is recommendable due to its good food and friendly service. I hope, however, the interior will get redesigned and radiate a warmer atmosphere. The food really deserves it.
3R can easily be reached in North Pont by tram, there is a stop in front of the beginning of Jupiter Street.
Make a reservation online.

Sergio Ristorante

We heard from friends about a good Italian restaurant in Causeway Bay named Sergio Ristorante. On a Tuesday evening we headed to this Italian restaurant. Simple but decent furniture, painting of flowers on the wall, some live music and very friendly waitresses. The menu showed pasta, pizza, fish and some meat dishes. The appetizer we shared was ‘Affettato Misto All’Italiana’, a plate with Parma ham, Tuscany neck ham, salami with fennel and salami with truffle. The slices of ham and salami tasted very good. We then ordered ‘Spagetti alla Buzara con crostacei’ spaghetti with shellfish of the day (scampi, king prawns, lobster .. ) as a main dish. We decided to take the king prawns which were personally shown by the manager at our table before preparation. They were fresh and made a great bite with the delicate sauce including fresh pieces of parsley. It was a long time ago we had such a good seafood pasta. The dessert, a truly home-made Tiramisu, was excellent (although a bit heavy) to end the dinner with. The total spending of HK$ 988 (including 2 glasses of wine and a few soft drinks) was more than reasonable for the food and friendly service at Sergio Ristorante . Sergio Ristorante, Catic Plaza, 8 Causeway Bay Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

Sabatini

Lately I had lunch at the Italian restaurant Sabatini in the Royal Garden Hotel on Tsim Sha Tsui. Being early for lunch just a few tables were occupied. But not for long. Within half an hour lots of guests showed up and seated almost all places available. The interior together with the music on the background made it a typical Italian place. Paintings on the sand colored walls, small colored glass windows and on every table a small vase with a some flowers. I ordered the home-made tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce and I didn’t regret the choice. What was it delicious, a tasteful meat sauce from juicy tomatoes and minced beef. The two-course set lunch I had, included a pasta, desert and a coffee or tea and cost HK$ 168. For HK$42 more you could also have chosen their appetizer buffet. The desserts (5 type of cakes and crème brulee) were shown on a trolley which was moved over to my table. All of them looked very attractive but I chose the only true Italian dessert Tiramisu. It was a bit creamy and there was no cake inside, but I couldn’t say that it was a real bad choice. If I need to recommend a restaurant in TST for good Italian food, excellent service and value for your money I would say ‘go to Sabatini’. Sabatini, 69 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong.

Chez Patrick

On a rainy mid-week evening we stepped into the French restaurant Chez Patrick, named after its owner and chef, in steep Peel Street. The interior carried a typical French style with a modern touch like the black colored lamps on walls and ceiling. The menu showed a three or four-course set dinner with a variety of tasteful dishes. Prices were set at HKD 499 (3 courses) or HKD 599 (4 courses); no drinks included. The wine list showed a large choice of wines and the wine by the glass was very OK. Chef Patrick surprised us at our table and suggested a few dishes outside the menu (foie gras specialities, a nice fish and meat main course). We ordered the lamb rack and sea bass. As starters we had cream of Mussels wrapped in salmon and ravioli filled with lobster and served with warm goat cheese. The plates were nicely decorated with lots of colored vegetables. The cream of Mussels was soft and tasteful. The ravioli with lobster was also nice, although the warm goat cheese tasted a bit strong. The lamb rack was prepared quite juicy and tender. The sea bass was grilled and tasted like you would expect it to be. The two courses already filled our stomach pretty much but we had room for desert. Cheese is something for my partner, so he ordered a plate of (French) cheese. I ordered the Profiteroles, a typical French dessert, with ice cream and hot chocolate sauce. Unfortunately the waiter served the cheese plate without any explanation, so one had to find himself how to taste the cheese. My home made dish was a great way to end this dinner. A very nice treat when you enter this restaurant, but not a place you go to for just a quick bite. After a friendly goodbye of Chef Patrick we stepped outside into the rain again.
Chez Patrick, 26 Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong

3 Michelin Star dinner in Hong Kong

For those of you who always wanted to enjoy a 3 Michelin Star dinner. This is your chance to do so in Hong Kong. On 23-24-25 August Richard Ekkebus will prepare a dinner together with 3 Michelin Star chef Jonnie Boer, chef and owner of the world-famous Netherlands restaurant De Librije (Zwolle). Also Jonnie’s wife, Therese Boer, will be at the scene to advice you on paring wines. Enjoy one of those nights, although I think you need to be prepared to spend big on your credit card. Large number of seats available may already be gone.

The Pressroom

I was in the neighborhood of Wyndham Street but didn’t want to eat there. I chose to go to the Press Room on Hollywood Road. A few tables were occupied and there was a relaxed atmosphere. The Pressroom is a brasserie style restaurant which gives you a feeling if you are in one of the old cities in Europe. After I got my freshly made orange juice I ordered steak and frites which was the only main course that suited my appetite for that evening. No appetizer or desert this time. No more than ten minutes after ordering the main dish arrived. The grilled steak tasted good and the frites were thin as they should be. To make it (look) a little more healthier the meat and frites were accompanied by some creamy spinach. One coffee and a few minutes later I was walking in Hollywood Road again. A quick dinner this time, although slightly expensive (about 350 HKD).
The Pressroom, 108 Hollywood Road, Hong Kong

Bonheur

Last Monday I had dinner at restaurant Bonheur (6/F Pemberton building in Sheung Wan). The restaurant looked closed. However, when pulling the door I saw waiters making their way to the kitchen. A friendly waiter took me to a table in the corner of the second part of the dining room. The menu showed approximately six appetizers, two types of soup, four main courses and about seven desserts; easy to decide on your set dinner. For a 3-course dinner you pay approx. 320 HKD, not a bad deal for what the menu seemed to offer. I ordered soup of the day, a slightly thick but creamy mushroom soup. As a main I had the pan seared Duck Breast which was juicy and tender and tasted very good combined with vegetables and mashed potatoes. Although it looked not a big portion on the plate, it satisfied me more than enough. Still another course was waiting for me, desert. I ordered the most light one, a soufflé with vanilla. It is one of my favorites. It tasted good, but I had to admit I had better ones here in Hong Kong. After a cup of tea I left Bonheur with a good feeling. I will come back.
Bonheur, 6/F, The Pemberton, 22-26 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong