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This restaurant has a long history, opening since 1928, taking the European continental cuisine to Shanghai and then to Hong Kong. It has been closed for a short period but has recently re-opened in Pedder Building, next to its original location in Central.Walking up the flight of steps, the staff greets us warmly and shows us to our table at the back of the sizable, rectangular-shaped restaurant. The setting has an upgraded premium ambience, but offering also a more modern twist in the design.
This restaurant has a long history, opening since 1928, taking the European continental cuisine to Shanghai and then to Hong Kong. It has been closed for a short period but has recently re-opened in Pedder Building, next to its original location in Central.
Walking up the flight of steps, the staff greets us warmly and shows us to our table at the back of the sizable, rectangular-shaped restaurant. The setting has an upgraded premium ambience, but offering also a more modern twist in the design.
I have Hong Kong Style Tea Punch ($140) to start, a clarified whisky cocktail infused with Sri Lanka Ceylon tea leaves, with also kumquat, ginger, vanilla, lemon and milk. It is inspired by Hong Kong style milk tea, quite refreshing and nice in taste.
The starters we order include Pickled Dutch Herring Fillets ($148). The herring is a small fish that tastes a bit like sardine, and this one has a nice sour note from pickling, but not too fishy, with the chef prepared some new potatoes and sour cream to complement.
The other starter we have is Baked Escargots ($208), with the snails stuffed back into the shell with a bit of garlic herb butter before baked in a casserole tray filled with creamy mashed potatoes, which are so delicious I end up finishing the whole serving.
For soup, I have the traditional Beetroot and Vegetable Borscht ($108). The recipe is from the Shanghai days where the local chef reformulated the Russian signature soup. With a bit of sour cream, the soup has a rich taste and would be even better overnight.
My wife has the French Onion Soup ($138), which originally comes with a melted gruyere cheese, but upon our request the cheese is skipped. With a large piece of garlic crouton on top, the soup is made from a rich beef broth, supplemented with the sweetness of onion.
We share Beef Wellington ($988) in the main course. Beautifully presented, the beef fillet has been cooked to perfect medium rare, wrapped in a mushroom puree and bacon, before encased inside the puff pastry. Together with some beef jus, everything is in great harmony. A slight improvement is to use some less salty bacon. Still my favourite on the night.
For dessert we both have a Scoop of Ice Cream ($48), with me picking chocolate while my wife has the vanilla flavour. It is a standard serving, decent in taste, but nothing special. I also order a cup of Double Espresso ($52) to wrap up my dinner.
Service is good, with the staff attentive despite very busy, and did her best to check in with the customers and making recommendations. The bill on the night is $2,152. A nice place to have some ‘traditional’ Western cuisine we are familiar back in the 80s.
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