Zone D

Room 16, 4/F, 16 Matheson St, Causeway Bay
Visited 9th July 2010

Zone D was the scene of what become a rather boozy dinner with a group of my work colleagues. The tiny restaurant - located up some dodgy stairs near Times Square - styles itself as a private kitchen (though I’m not really sure what makes this a ‘private kitchen’ rather than a small restaurant?). Inside it's a dark, intimate space, with room for our group of eleven plus a couple of other tables (and I did feel a bit feel sorry for the bloke who had the serenity of his date shattered by certain of my friends).

Zone D styles itself as an Italian restaurant, though I can't see how as the food on our visit was pretty generic western fare with only one pasta dish remotely resembling Italian cooking. Dinners are offered a five course set menu with a choice of main and dessert. The bread basket to start I thought was pretty average; some of my mates got excited about the ‘pizza’ in it, though I felt it was all way too dry. I enjoyed the first course of seared tuna; crusted with black pepper and served with finely chopped tomatoes; it was well executed and tasty. Next up was my favourite dish; a mushroom cappuccino soup. The soup was thick, balanced and flavoursome and had a hint of truffle. The spaghetti with pawns that followed was pretty boring. Served it a scallop shell there was no hint of scallops, but just two average prawns and a gluggy wine flavoured sauce. For a main I selected the beef short-rib at an $80 surcharge. I wasn't asked how I wanted the meat cooked, but it arrived medium, served atop a pile of mash. I'm not normally one to order a steak, but I had cravings and was really looking forward to a hunk of beef; unfortunately I was disappointed by tough, flavourless meat and boring mash. The final dessert was a great looking crème brûlée accompanied by a couple of delicious marinated strawberries. While the custard was tasty, it was kind of difficult to eat because the toffee top was so hard and thick that actually getting into it was near impossible. So was Zone D in the zone? I actually had a really enjoyable and fun night; the company was great, the wine flowed and the cosy atmosphere perfect for our group. However we were at a restaurant and the food is what really matters and the food at Zone D just did nothing to inspire me. Some of the dishes were good, some not so good, but most of it just simply OK. The couple of staff working the floor were pretty good, though a bit frustrating with the wine service, there were times when I was rather parched and one bloke didn't quite seem to get the point of decanting. $300 a head for five courses isn't a terrible price; especially as we were able to save a packet by bring our own wine corkage fee free. The $80 supplement for a bit of average beef took things to $380 which starts to look a bit pricey for a meal of questionable quality. While it's obvious I didn't love the food, I didn't dislike the restaurant and enjoyed my evening at Zone D. Visit restaurant website.

Fridge

48 Peal St, Soho
Visited 1st June 2010
It' a steep trudge up Peal Street, but when it’s for dinner at a private kitchen, along with a sparkling wine tasting it's definitely worth it. Our meal was at Fridge; a restaurant that's recently relocated from Causeway Bay. It's a small, thin space without four tables inside and a couple on their balcony. One wall is lined with a decent selection of fairly priced wine and the tiny kitchen occupies the back corner.

When I arrived there were a couple of big plates of cheese adorning the tables: comté, gruyere and some nice brie accompanied by a hot baguette; tasty stuff. Next up we were served 4 different types of fresh oysters. All were delicious and I was impressed with how noticeable the flavours were between the different varieties. We were given an advance choice of three mains: chicken, beef or scallops. I went for the sirloin steak and the tender meat was really well cooked. However it was squashed onto the smallest plate imaginable and only accompanied by a couple of tiny herbed potatoes; it really could have done with the company of another side or two. Desert was meant to be pavlova with fresh fruit instead I got a small white rock topped with a single strawberry and a couple of blueberries. As an Aussie I’m passionate about our national desert so took this hard, flavourless, toppingless ‘thing’ as a bit of a personal affront.
Along with a selection of American, Italian, German and French sparkling we also had an overly grassy Cullen Margret River Semillon and great value bottle of Cote du Rhone. My favourite wine of the evening was Delamotte Brut Blanc de Blanc Champagne 1999; a rich and textured wine with plenty of fruit and an interesting spicy edge.

My meal seemed to deteriorate as it went on. The cheese and oysters to start were awesome, the beef decent and the pavlova heart-breaking. To me the strength of Fridge was the excellent quality of their ingredients. I think they started life as a delicatessen and obviously have a good supply network for cheese, oysters and steak. I can't quite remember what I paid for my meal, though while it wasn't particularly cheap it was good value for such high quality ingredients. The cosy atmosphere was perfect for our group and the fact they waved corkage worked well for our tasting. I also have to give the staff a big nod for being ultra friendly and accommodating. Though not getting any points for its pavlova, Fridge offers up some tasty food and is worth visiting purely for the oysters.

Pacific Grill

4 Staunton St, Soho
Visited 26th February 2010

I met a couple of friends for dinner Friday night and decided to try the Pacific Grill. Having got distracted by the delights of happy hour, we arrived late without a booking, but the friendly manager found us a small table at the restaurant’s open front. The restaurant is small, almost crowded, but is rather pleasant tucked away on the high side of Staunton St. It’s owned by the same crowd who run Al Dente and Sahara.
Pacific Grill offers a couple of salads and pastas, but the focus is obviously on steaks and seafood. I'm guessing someone here is Australian with a 'Melbourne' Greek salad and egg, beetroot and pineapple topping the burger. We decided to start by sharing an octopus and squid salad. This dish consisted of mini squid and octopus smothered in a sticky red sauce and served atop a few lettuce leaves. While my mate enjoyed it I thought it was pretty average; the sticky sauce took any freshness away from the dish, while the simple lettuce leaves were boring. For mains it was all about big chunks of meat; my friends went with a 200g rib-eye and "mega" 300g sirloin, while I couldn't resist going a little retro with surf ‘n’ turf. My 200g fillet mignon was topped with a single prawn; though it was char-grilled and tasty, one prawn really isn't much and I felt a bit ripped off. Accompanying this lonely crustacean was a totally flavourless steak along with mash and a few chunks of vegetable (the identical, boring sides that concerned me at Al Dente long ago). For a restaurant that specialises in steaks, what was on my plate was a really disappointing, poor quality meat. My friend offered me a taste of her rib-eye and it was better, being tenderer and actually tasting like beef. To drink a bottle of red would have been good, but my friends are both white drinkers, so we ended up with a bottle of Peter Lehmann 'Stump Jump' White, an interesting Riesling based blend with Chardonnay and Marsanne added to the mix. It was a nice drop though the mark-up on the $265 they charged was ridicules.

I was uninspired by the Pacific Grill. The octopus salad and my steak were both average, though the mouthful of my friend’s rib-eye was better. The friendly guy who initially seated us was really switched on – he let me try the couple of wines they had by the glass to see which we wanted a bottle of - however the lady who was waitressing was unfriendly and created a bit of a negative vibe. Soho is never going to be cheap and the rib-eye was $165, while my mate’s sirloin and my ‘tough turf n a little surf’ were both $195. While probably what you expect to pay in this part of the world it wasn’t particularly good value as the quality just wasn’t there. The Pacific Grill did absolutely nothing to inspire me and I can’t imagine I’ll bother coming back.

Visit restaurant website.

Al Bistro

35 Cameron Rd, TST
Visited 7th November 2009
For me Friday night is TST night. After work drinks offer are a chance to catch-up with mates and explore a corner of Hong Kong I don’t visit to often. From our usual happy hour beer at Fatt’s Palce we wondered down Cameron Road to give Al Bistro a go. Fronted by an open bar area, the restaurant is comfortable, though a tad dark.

The food is styled as 'Mediterranean' with the emphasis on fresh seafood. As we sat down we were given some homemade looking bread with butter and pâté; a nice touch. I was tempted by the fishy theme and ordered sea bream, while my girlfriend went for roast duck breast. My crumbed fish fillet was pan-fried and pretty tasty; moist inside it was well cooked, however the dish was let down by the sauce. Served on top of grapefruit and orange slices the citrus flavours were overbearing and made the dish way too acidic. Joey's duck was again well cooked and served with a sweet cherry sauce and rocket salad. Again the sauce was a bit too much; this time over the top sweet. My friends enjoyed their scallops and walnut and mushroom salad, though they weren’t as impressed by the grilled chicken caesar. The others all ordered desserts and the little samples of chocolate soufflé, chocolate pudding and a trio of strawberry things were all surprisingly good. When we arrived we were told it was happy hour all night and we drink a mix of bevies including average house sparkling, wine and bellinis; not particularly high quality, but satisfactory at the price.

I had a fun night at Al Bistro and though the food was let down by ungainly sauces the quality of ingredients and craftsmanship definitely hints at excellent potential. I thought the service was good, particularly from the bartender who had a fine sense of humour. Value wise it was OK; my fish was $178, the duck breast $168, the desserts a very reasonable $52 and the drinks at happy hour prices ranged from $40 to $50. I’d like to visit Al Bistro again in six months or so to see how things are fairing.
Visit restaurant website.

Outback Steakhouse

2/F, JP Plaza, 26 Patterson St, Causeway Bay
Visited 25th June 2009
A couple of Aussie mates decided we couldn't fight it any longer and had to try this Australian styled chain. Part of a massive global company the Outback Steakhouse has seven outlets in Hong Kong and is spread all over the globe; with fifty branches in Texas alone. Despite the name the Outback Steakhouse isn't Australian, but an American chain, founded in Florida. The Causeway Bay branch is in JP Plaza, above the cinema. While its big restaurant there was a line when we arrived and we were stuck waiting for ages; they did however offer us a little tasting serve of chips to curb our appetite.

This place is clearly aimed at carnivores and all the slabs of meat have quaint sounding Australian names. I couldn't pass up an 'Outback Sirloin', while my friend had "Alice Springs Chicken" and sample of fries we tried were "Aussie chips". "Topped with melted Monterey Jack, bits of bacon and a spicy ranch dressing" the chips were really tasty, though I'm not the slightest bit sure how American cheese and 'ranch' dressing makes them "Aussie". My 8oz steak was OK and despite being overcooked was still tasty enough. The 'Alice Springs Chicken' came smothered in mushrooms, bacon and cheese and was pretty sickly; again the relationship to 'Alice Springs' was fragile, especially as the ingredients made it more 'Swiss' style chicken. The biggest let down with the food was the sides and sauces - average wedges, a tub of terrible, ultra processed coleslaw, a tacky ice-cream scoop of starchy mash and thin sweet 'pepper' sauce. To drink we had some happy hour priced wine by the glass and I liked the fact that it was served in a mini-carafe.
So what did I think? The food was uninspiringly ordinary with mass produced sides and sauces. I was impressed that we were offered snacks while waiting to be seated; however it was obvious that there were lots of spare tables and the only reason we were stuck in line was inefficiency and poor coordination. The drinks were reasonably priced during happy and the mains weren't too bad; $134 for the chicken and $148 for my sirloin. Our bill was $920 for four; not cheap, but not terrible for steak and wine. My big problem with the Outback Steakhouse was that I just don't understand how it calls itself an Australian restaurant? I actually find it all a bit insulting when it's so obviously a soulless American Chain. Outback Steakhouse, I won't go back.

Visit restaurant website.

The Brunch Club

70 Peel St, Soho, Central
Visited 12th March

Tucked away on the upper fringes of Soho is the Brunch Club; a firm favourite amongst a group of my friends. It's setup more like a café than a formal restaurant; racks of magazines, comfortable couches, candles and a small courtyard out back. I was personally rather taken by the masses of flowers littering the place. Of course like every good Hong Kong restaurant they also have a second branch; in this case Brunch and Supper Club in Causeway Bay.

The menu consists of mainly western dishes as well as the popular all day breakfast options. We decided to share a set dinner and get (at my friend's insistence) an additional serve of eggs Benedict. Of the several available choices for each course and we opted for cauliflower and bacon soup, seared tuna salad, barbecued quails and lemon and raspberry tart to finish. The soup was pretty good with plenty of bacon chunks, while the tuna was OK; coated in sesame, the rare meat was tasty, though it was let down by the basic and rather average salad of lettuce and a couple of cherry tomatoes. The quails consisted of one and half grilled plump little birds served atop wilted spinach and pan-fried new potatoes; a nice dish. The lemon tart we had for dessert was tart and tasty, though the sliver we got was pretty thin and was topped with fake 'cream in a can'; always a turnoff. The highlight of the meal was definitely the eggs Benedict; well poached soft eggs, delightful lightly toasted, super soft muffins and a rich creamy sauce. I enjoyed a couple of glasses of crisp Willow Bridge Semillon Sav Blanc and my friend a banana smoothie.

Brunch club offers a pleasant, relaxed setting and friendly service; this is a big plus in the world of Soho restaurants were artificial, fake formality rules the day. I enjoyed my meal and I thought the set dinner pretty good value at $222 for the four courses and the eggs Benedict a bargain at $68, though $38 for a banana smoothie was perhaps pushing things a bit. It's called the Brunch Club and the best thing we had were the eggs, my suggestion; go for brunch!
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Jaspas

13 Sha Tsui Path, Sai Kung
Visited 8th July 2008

The options of what you can do on a Hong Kong public holiday are pretty limited. Masses of liberated punters make any remotely popular spot a no go zone; Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, TST and any shopping mall are definitely too crowded to be considered. HKSAR Establishment Day is such a renowned public holiday we thought lunch at Sai Kung with a few mates might be a workable solution to escape the hoards of rampaging merrymakers. Jaspas was pretty busy but we'd booked and got a nice table outside facing the busy square. There are also branches of this ever popular restaurant at Happy Valley and Soho.

The menu is usual assortment of western dishes - a mix of salads, pasta, pizza, grills with a couple of Mexican and Indian options thrown in. We began by sharing a serve of Quesadillas; the crispy little pockets filled with chicken and cheese were a tasty start. For my main I went old school and ordered surf 'n' turf. The steak came topped with a single giant prawn, chips, three chunks of grilled vegetable and a little gravy boat filled with 'mushroom'; my sauce selection. The steak was well cooked and flavoursome, the prawn lovely though lonely and the sauce a gluggy goop that reminded me of packet gravy. While the chips were good I was disappointed by the lack of decent salad or vegetables. Naomi's beef fajitas consisted of a hotplate of beef, capsicum and undercooked onion, flour tortilla, and bowls of guacamole, salsa and sour cream. While the serve was generous, she also lamented the lack of salad and would have liked at least a little lettuce or tomato to accompany the pile of meat. There was nothing to fault about Jaspas, but nothing really excited me either. It's the sort of place that reminds me of numerous other restaurants around Hong Kong; the foods decent, the service professional, but the menu uninspiring. My meal was tasty enough, not really exceptional value at $175, the bottles of cold Sol we were drinking clocked in at reasonable $35 each and the whole bill was wrapped up in usual 10% service charge. Oh, one more thing. Jaspas is a restaurant, it's for people. A dog is a dog, not a person. A dog should not wear clothes. A dog should certainly not sit at a table in a restaurant, wearing clothes and eating from a plate. Sure it's OK to leave out a bowl of water, but a restaurant that allows dogs eat off the same crockery as guests while sitting in seat is the sort of restaurant I won't visit again. Jaspas get rid of the dogs.

Pearl on the Peak

Shop102, Level 1, the Peak Tower
Visited 26th January 2008

To celebrate Australia Day we kept with our theme of Australian restaurant's in Hong Kong and visited Pearl on the Peak. This new take on Melbourne's highly awarded Pearl is situated on the second story of the Peak Tower; one of the most scenic locations in Hong Kong. Somehow we managed to get the coveted corner table, yet unfortunately cloud set in and all we could see through the giant floor to ceiling windows was an insipid white haze.

The menu has Asian and Middle-eastern influences as well as offering many Western favourites. Seeking advice I was persuaded to try the sweetcorn and crap soup. The beautifully presented soup and crap were severed separately and accompanied by a fried crab wonton; a delightful mix of luxurious flavours. For a main I continued in the vain of self indulgence and ordered up a chunk of aged rib eye. The excellent steak was full of flavour and accompanied by tasty bone marrow and red wine risotto. The mouthfuls I wrestled of my brother's pork chop and Naomi lamb were both just as superb. Desserts took self-indulgence to the next level and I enjoyed peanut semifreddo sandwiched between two crispy caramel wafers. Naomi didn't like the bitterness of her chocolate pudding, but my brother on the other hand talked up his chocolate and berry soufflé as one of the bests desserts he'd ever eaten (not bad praise from such a fat guy). To drink us boys shared a bottle of Punters Corner Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, a decent wine despite the poor vintage. Naomi in a sweet daze was more than satisfied with her favourite De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Semillon by the glass.

Pearl on the Peak oozes class; the decor is tastefully stylish, the staff slick and the whole place has a polished and professional vibe. A visit is not a cheap venture, but for such high quality food, outstanding service and spectacular views I think it actually offers pretty good value. The mains started at $298 though the steak was $378, while desserts and entrees were all about $80. Our bill came to $2553 for the four of us with three courses, coffee and wine. Stinking of sophisticated style, Pearl on the Peak is absolutely superb and definitely one of the best restaurant experiences to be had in Hong Kong.
Visit the terrible Chinese language website of Max Concepts, Pearl's Hong Kong partner.

Cafe de Paris

2/F, 90 Stanley Main St, Stanley
Visited 22nd September

Wandering along Stanley promenade isn't just about avoiding pathetic looking dogs dressed in human clothing (the pup who wears the silver bow-tie is one of the worse) it's also all about an alfresco lunch. Naomi and I, despite huge appetites, did a few laps accompanied by the old "you choose", "no I don't mind, you choose". Perhaps we were as pathetic as the owners of all those stupid looking dogs, but eventually we made decision and ascended the stairs to Cafe de Paris. Part of the Igor's Group, there are also branches of Cafe de Paris in SoHo and Discovery Bay; the Stanley one is above the Pickled Pelican pub, another member of Igor's little Empire. Climbing the stairs I was quietly impressed with the beautiful setting and enchanting views. We propped in a comfortable booth with excellent views of the ocean out, large, open windows.

The menu is small, simple and classically very French. There are only three permanent mains on the menu; steak, mussels and a sole fillet, plus a couple of daily specials. Naomi ordered the set lunch which included the daily soup, main and dessert, plus a glass of wine, while I went with a serve of mussels and helped myself to Naomi's wine. Her cauliflower and pear soup was superb; creamy, soft and subtle. My mussels came with a salad which was good, but simple and just the same as you get in every other Hong Kong restaurant. Naomi was very happy with the plate de jour; a tender chicken fillet in peppercorn sauce served with a potato gratin and spinach. My bowl of mussels were pretty tasty, though the serve was small. The dessert of the day was a beautifully presented mille-feuille layered with apricots; though not something I'm particularly fond of Naomi was more than happy, which is the whole point of dessert!

Our visit to Cafe de Paris was a pleasant affair; the decor, friendly service and great views all contribute to a classic - and I hate to say it - almost "romantic" ambiance. $168 for three courses and a glass of wine ($138 without the wine) for the set lunch is great value. On the other hand $162 for a smallish serve of mussels, even with a salad and fries, is pushing it; and looking over the menu coming for dinner and a few glasses of wine wouldn't be cheap. The service is slick and efficient; our water glasses were constantly re-filled and we were offered more bread several times. In many ways Cafe de Paris is a fantastic restaurant; we enjoyed the beautifully presented food, the lovely setting and authentic French atmosphere, yet I'm not sure if I'd so impressed if I'd paid the dangerously expensive prices you could be up for at dinner. Have the set lunch and enjoy the view.

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Med Stars

Ground Floor, Gold Coast Shopping Mall, Tuen Mun
Visited 14th September

The first week back to work after the holidays is always a struggle; but five days later Friday night seems to make everything OK again. Naomi and I met a mate for dinner and drinks at the Gold Coast. Though the Gold Coast is a bit of a hike from the Tuen Mun town centre and KCR station it's worth trudging across to be able to sit by the water and watch the setting sun traverse Lantau Island. Med Stars is one of the restaurants in the small shopping arcade; inside it's an ugly industrial pub dominated by a huge TV; outside is a total contrast with tables, umbrellas and views of the water.

Drinks at Med Stars are reasonably priced and the couple of cold Tiger beers I drunk were refreshingly good value at only $22. The menu has a pretty large selection; mainly basic Western dishes, but there's also a BBQ char-grilling meaty treats. I started by giving the barbecue a workout and ordered a grilled sardine; the little charcoaled critter was delicious, and an absolute steal for only $13. For a main I ordered grilled tuna fillets which were served with a wasabi based sauce and vegetables. For a $138 the two chunky bits of tuna were a very generous serve and were pretty tasty despite being well over-cooked. Naomi enjoyed her fat club sandwich which was simply served with chips and my mate loved his lamb chops (though he always loves lamb chops so I'm not sure if that's saying much). We shared a bottle of Dona Paula Merlot 2005; a wine I liked, though Naomi thought was over priced and dominated by off putting sour, green flavours.

Yuen Long seems a long way from the beach and when I crave a view of the ocean I often find myself at Med Stars. The beers are cheap, the food's basic, but good and the service is efficient. It's the sort of place were you can waste a whole day or just drop in for dessert and a nightcap. I've got a quite a few friends who live at the Gold Coast and many of them are well over Med Stars as it's the only decent pub in the vicinity, yet I like it and recommend it for a beer or casual meal if you're in the area.

Top Deck at Jumbo's

Jumbo Floating Restaurant, Aberdeen Harbour, HK
Visited 1st July

Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong SAR handover from British to Chinese rule. Instead of battling the millions watching fireworks above Victoria Harbour we decided to celebrate at another Hong Kong institution; Jumbo Floating Restaurant. This iconic barge in Aberdeen Harbour contains several restaurants including the recently refurbished Top Deck. Part of the Cafe Deco group, the Top Deck has a Sunday Brunch buffet and was the perfect place to meet up with a big group of friends.

Well a buffet is all about food and I was pretty impressed what the Top Deck offered. There was an interesting selection of salads, sushi, and mains, including a Peking duck station. Naomi was critical that there weren't too many choices for the non-seafood eater, not that this will bother most Hong Kong residents. I gave the buffet a pretty good workout and some favourites included the eggs Benedict, sushi, crispy wontons and Thai style prawn cakes, Peking duck and marinated snapper fillets. Moving onto desserts was just as satisfying and there was certainly something for Naomi to choose. Favourites around the table included the highly discussed mini-meringues, made to order crepes and the apple and berry crumble. Overall the food was of excellent quality, but the selection was pretty limited and it would have been nice to see a few more options.

'Bubbles', softdrinks, tea and coffee were included so I enjoyed (perhaps one too many) glasses of Veurve de Vernay NV, the French Sparkling wine on offer. Though somewhat simplistic it was refreshing to drink and it's slightly sweet note meant that it was easy to enjoy all afternoon. I was also impressed that the coffees included cappuccinos, lattes and espressos; a step up from the usual pre-brewed dribble.

Dining outside is all about location and it doesn't get much better than the Top Deck. Though it was warm sitting outdoors, floating in middle of Aberdeen Harbour was fantastic. Service was good, but non-intrusive; my water glass was full all afternoon and post buffet debris was quickly removed. For $328 per person the Top Deck Sunday brunch isn't bad value, like any buffet it's all about how much you eat, but with wine included I reckon I certainly came out ahead. Hong Kong's hotels have numerous lunch buffets to choice from and many are cheaper and have larger selections, but what the Top Deck offers is atmosphere. Visiting this well polished Hong Kong icon is a perfect for a special occasion or to offer visitors a unique experience. Thanks MW for organising a great day!

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798 Unit & Co Bistro

1/F, 9 Hau Fook St, TST
Visited 19th June

Hidden above the steamy noodles joints in Hau Fook St, it's pretty easy to walk past 798 Unit & Co Bistro in total ignorance, but to do so would be a mistake. The night we first stumbled up the stairs to this classy joint I was surprised find a large, stylish restaurant, with cool tiled floors and views of the open kitchens. While the rest of Hong Kong was engaged with the dragon boats Naomi and I headed to TST for dinner at 798 Unit & Co Bistro.

The menu is an assortment of user friendly classics: salads, pasta, risotto, pizza, grills and magnificent desserts. First we shared a peperoni pizza. It was simple and tasty, with plenty of bubbly, gooey mozzarella and chunks of peperoni. The ultra thin crust was a little biscuity for me, but I could see how it would be perfect for many. Naomi ordered a duck breast that was severed perched atop a pile of baby spinach and accompanied by glistening raspberry coulis; good reports were received. After much humming and haring I selected the barramundi fillet which was roasted with lemons and cherry tomatoes. The fish was perfectly cooked with a crispy outer and tender soft flesh, though the wine in the sauce was a little obvious. Dessert beckoned and we shared a generous serve of hot chocolate brownies topped with banana/toffee ice-cream. The unorthodox brownies were baked in separate chocolate and nut layers; Naomi found this a little off putting, I didn't. What was uncontroversial was how good the ice-cream was.

To drink Naomi made the most of the reasonably priced cocktails - sipping on nicely chilled, pretty concoctions. After starting with an Asahi I tried several of the wines on offer by the glass. The highlight was a glass of superb, aged Bordeaux for only $38, a cracker of a deal. The drinks list was good and reasonably priced, though perhaps a little limited; there was no Riesling or Semillon and a choice of only three beers.

798 Unit & Co Bistro is a slick operation. The staff are friendly, efficient and extremely good at what they do: the water glasses on are table were filled up on arrival and never empty; the barman was more than happy to adjust one of Naomi's cocktails and the first time I visited we were even offered complementary desserts to apologise for having to wait for a table. 798 Unit & Co Bistro offers excellent value, many of the mains are under $100 and the drinks are very reasonable. Our bill came to about $600, but that included included a pizza, mains, a dessert, service and quite a few drinks. The food is a superb blend of quality and simplicity; nothing was over done or taken to fluffy extremes; instead we were served good food in an upfront and accessible manner. A highly recommend restaurant and I look forward to checking out its sister venue 798 Unit Gastro Pub in Causeway Bay

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Bayside Brasserie

25 Stanley Markey Rd, Stanley
Visited 26th May

Stanley, do I love it or hate it? Sitting on the waterfront, having an alfresco lunch and sucking on a couple of beers seems a superb way to spend a Saturday afternoon, yet hidden just round the corner from this apparent bliss there's the market. Shops, lots and lots of scary shops, filled with souvenirs, designer rip-offs and really spooky stuff like baby clothes. Saturday lunchtime I faced my phobias, rushed past the market and met up with friends for a casual lunch at the Bayside Brasserie. This open, breezy restaurant is at the market end of the dinning strip along Stanley waterfront.

The menu contains an eclectic assortment of modern Western, Italian, Asian and Indian dishes, everything from bangers 'n' mash and pizzas to laksas and tandoori chicken. I skipped entrees, but the Vietnamese rolls, samosas and spring rolls the others had looked great. Naomi ordered an amazingly chunky hamburger that was served with gloriously crispy wedges and salad. I decided on sea bass and was presented with two big fillets; they were excellent, perfectly pan-fried with a crispy outer and flaky flesh. Dished up on a bed of ultra creamy mash and roasted capsicum, I thought $138 was good value for this excellent dish. The others seemed very happy; both the prawn packed Singapore Noodles and blackened cod with crab omelette and bok choy enjoyed next to me looked fantastic. Drinks wise I had cool, crisp bottles of Sol, Naomi had a freshly squeezed guava juice and the others chose from the good selection of wine by the glass - Rosemount Chardonnay and Crane Lake Cabernet. The desert selection was an interesting mix. Naomi had a very tasty, but somewhat small serve of lime gelato, while another friend enjoyed a tumbling creation called 'Nicker Bocker Glory'; basically an explosion of fruit, ice-cream, gelato and cream; heaven for a ten year-old. The only culinary let down for the day was the pavlova, a solid, burnt brick of meringue which you almost needed a chainsaw to hack through.

The Bayside Brasserie offers pleasant, but withdrawn service in a fantastic setting; book early and ask for a window setting so you can soak up the sea views. With the exception of the pavlova the food was excellent and I thought pretty well priced. If you can somehow avoid the racks of baby clothes at scary Stanley market the Bayside Brasserie is most definitely worth a visit.

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Bacar Wine Brassiere

2 Shelley St, SoHo, Central
Visited 17th May

This was the third time I've visited Bacar and I'm becoming a bit of a fan. After chewing on some big Aussie Shiraz at the Grape to Glass winetasting (see here) I was ready for food, any food, just food. Most in attendance were of the same opinion and pizza was suggested. Our destination was Bacar; a thin, stylish bar hidden on the edge of SoHo, were the mid-level escalators does the dip before ascending towards Staunton St. It's a mix-mash of low sofas and high tables fringed with a long bar.

The highlight of Bacar's comprehensive menu is the range of tapas and pizzas. We shared a plate of wedges, sesame seared tuna, stewed chorizo and a couple of pizzas; all were fantastic. The crispy wedges, baked with rosemary were superb; on a previous occasion my mother was quoted as labelling them the "World's best". The tuna was delightful; moist, tender fish hidden under a contrasting layer of crunchy sesame. The pizzas, oh the pizzas; after sipping away at bottles of big red nothing is more satisfying then thin crusts and tasty toppings accompanied by a couple of pints of cold beer, Budvar in this case. Bacar does have a good range of drinks including few different beers on draught and amazingly a draft prosecco, which according to rumour isn't as bad as it sounds. The wine list is interesting with a several 'by the glass' options. The non-alcoholic drinks also look good and are stylishly served in classy glassware. Price wise Bacar isn't cheap, but nowhere in SoHo is. My share of the bill was a tad under $200, which for a couple of beers and a stomach full of food isn't bad; they also have a nightly happy hour.

Packed with attentive, polite staff; dishing up tasty treats and serving a good range of drinks in a slick environment Baccar is definitely worth a visit.

New York Cafe

Transport Plaza, 2-6 Fung Cheung Rd, Yuen Long, NT
Visited 1st May

New York Cafe is a favourite of mine. It's an American style diner; the kind of place where the Staff don't just know your name, but know what type of beer you drink. Located just around the corner from Castle Peak Rd in Yuen Long it may be out of the way for many, but if you're in the area it's definitely worth a visit. Good food at reasonable prices makes it perfect for lunch or a casual midweek dinner; we went Tuesday night with a couple friends.

The mainstays of the menu include salads, grills, pasta, burritos and burgers. I enjoyed a rack of NZ lamb, which for $99 I thought was excellent value. The meat was cooked perfectly and served with smooth mash and freshly grilled vegetables. Naomi's beef burrito was good and the king prawn risotto my mate raved about was topped with a generous handful of monster prawns and looked fantastic. Eating in Yuen Long means that drinks escape the ridiculous prices of more central locations, New York Cafe is no exception with a selection of bottled beers at $16 and a decent wine and cocktail list. Randy, Alan and all the team offer friendly, helpful service and don't even wack 10% on the bill for the privilege.

Whether its lunch or dinner New York Cafe delivers. An oasis of reasonable prices, consistently good Western food and outstanding service are definitely something to be treasured, especially in the remote wilds of Yuen Long.