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2015-11-19
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Having come to HK on business, I have had a pleasure to sample some amazing food in Wan Chai. My visit to The Pawn was the biggest disappointment experienced in HK. Upon arrival, I had to take a lift to the restaurant, part of the 'experience' was a poor choice of 'lift theater', I shall call it - fake CCTV screens mounted on the walls of the lift displaying various rooms at the establishment showing a bored staff member, a couple making out on the staircase and another couple having a domestic!
I get seated at the table in the outside dining terrace - so far so good. The terrace is lined in glass panel walls which are filthy - greasy hand marks all over which is easy to spot since no one approaches me for a while and I have time to look around.
Having taken my order, the waitress advises me the food will take 20mins to prepare which i am happy with. It arrives in ten, a promising start however, I immediately see an issue with it. I ordered a pot of chicken (broth, veg, barley) which arrived on its own, my sides of mash and salad are nowhere to be seen. I started plating the chicken myself with a tiny soup spoon I was given - the waitress later asked me why i did not eat the 'soup', the broth, as it is, was lovely, something your nana would make for you, nothing special, but i am not sure how I was meant to eat it with a spoon from a large casserole dish?! The chicken was appalling - tiny chicken thighs, skinny, sticky skin, something I myself, who never cooks, could make at home. I eat small portions but this was too small even for me. The mash arrived, followed by the salad, by which point I was half way through my meal.
I went for tiramisu for my pudding, the taste of which was another shock. It arrived in a super tall glass on a very very fragile leg. As soon as it was placed in front of me, the ice/ice-cream in the glass started melting. I am not sure what it was meant to taste like but it was nothing like a tiramisu. It contained lumps of frozen liquid, water I assume, which I am would love someone to explain to me - why does a pudding contain frozen water? it felt a bit like eating snow when i was a child - it was not pleasant. The glass was too full and inconvenient to eat from so the pudding was melting and dripping everywhere, soon enough my table contained a nice little puddle which was wiped clean only after I paid the bill. See photo.
I would definitely not return to the Pawn nor recommend it to my friends. I paid 550 HK dollars for something a child could prepare with little guidance as a mother's day treat.
A minute away from The Pawn you will find the Ship Street where Ham and Sherry, 22 Ships and Atelier Vivanda reside/are near by. DO GO, the service is impeccable and the food is sublime, you will not regret the experience. Avoid The Pawn at all cost.
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