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2012-08-14
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By way of background, I was born and raised in California, moved to Hong Kong a while ago on my own after graduating from college (the first one in my family graduate college)...I am Portuguese American (Grandparents are "straight off the boat", Grandfather moved with my Grandmother to California and our family owes Tuna Boats)...I grew up on the boats, been free diving, lobster diving, deep sea fishing, spear fishing my whole life. My family has sold a few of the boats in our fleet with busines
Ok I will start with the Positives:
1. Great selection of california wines
2. Quality Beef (tri-tip they serve is good and one of my favorite cuts of beef)
3. Atmosphere -- I like the small feel and tables close together (We have a big family so its fun to sit close to other tables, gives you a feel of big reunion/thanksgiving dinner), the restaurant is perfectly lite (not too bright but definitely not the dungeon feel you sometimes experience at "romantic" restaurants)
4. Great for date
5. Ability to choose if you want to sit inside or on one of the four/five tables outside which is fun for people watching
6. some may not like it but I found the bathrooms to be interesting and unique
7. Unique food menu selection and does its best to use ingredients from California (Gilroy garlic for example among many other menu choices-- the garlic fries are great)
8. Cool Ipads to order food and select your wine choice (also gives you background on the wine and information on the taste of the wine)
Ok now to the Negatives:
1. WAY OVER PRICED for what you get...over 100HKD for three bite size fish tacos for example. Fish tacos in california are at least 6 inch big fillets and the best fish taco spot in California serves them for $2.50 US (around 20 HKD); 2 will fill you up so you spend 5 US dollars, less than 50HKD...you better order 4 orders of California Vintage's fish tacos to fill up...
2. Although a great selection of wine, again WAY OVER PRICED for their version of "Full Glass" of wine (you maybe get 1/4 of your glass filled...pathetic. Don't even waste your time getting a "half glass"...by the time you get back to your table it will be gone, its about a good size sip. Their "full glass" selection is a "taste" given at vineyards in california when you go on wine tasting tours. I recommend walking over to Park n Shop and getting a bottle of wine from California for maybe 80 HKD more than two "full glasses" of wine at CV
3. Every item on the menu we ordered was tiny. One tiny slice of Tri-Tip for 150+ HKD (you can get a Tri-Tip 8 inch sandwich for 9 US dollars (70 or so HKD), three tiny fish tacos, a cup of gilroy garlic fries, tiny slice of chicken, three tiny little sliders.
Save up your money and go visit California to experience California for yourself...this is not California and am embarrassed that it claims to be...
This is a poor example of what California truly is. California is big BBQ, Great fresh fish, and lots of wine all at great prices. I get its Hong Kong, real estate is expensive so prices need to be high so you can make rent. I would never recommend this place to any of my friends and family. Like I said earlier, save your money up and go fly to Napa Valley, Central Coast, SF and SD to try the real thing (not to mention enjoying it in California's beauty, not a busy street in Hong Kong) and get your moneys worth!
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