Page 84 - Hong_Kong_&_Macau's_Best_Restaurants_English_edition

HONG KONG RESTAURANTS
SCENE

MAISON LIBANAISE
9
8
7
8
10 Shelley Street, Central,
Hong Kong
TEL: +852 2111 2284
www.maisonlibanaise.com.hk

One of the city’s hipper Middle
Eastern restaurants, Maison
Libanaise occupies a three-storey—
including a charming rooftop—
space in bustling Soho. A colourful
design of Moorish mosaic, wooden
tables and vibrant tiles make for
a laidback setting reminiscent of
a Lebanese canteen, and is the
perfect backdrop to the piquant
cuisine. While the ground floor only At Okra Kitchen, indie
offers quick take-outs, the menu and retro rock plays to a
upstairs is varied and designed for mostly younger clientele
sharing, the focus being traditional
Lebanese mezze dishes. Standards
such as hummus and baba
ganoush are well executed, but NEW PUNJAB CLUB OKRA KITCHEN
more creative dishes, such as the
Maison’s fattoush—a delightfully 8 8 9 10 7 8 8 8
At the helm of
messy plate of fried sweet
potatoes, labneh, caramelised 34 Wyndham Street, Central, 110 Queen’s Road West, Western
Okra Kitchen is
onions, yogurt and soft herbs—and Hong Kong District, Hong Kong
the almond falafel sided by house Max Levy, who TEL: +852 2368 1223 TEL: +852 2806 1038
pickles, a generous helping of tahini www.newpunjabclub.com www.okra.kitchen
is something of
and cucumber labneh are the real
showstoppers. Service is prompt a poster boy for Black Sheep Restaurants’ 15th hit is Dining at Okra Kitchen is like
but not intrusive, and the staff are a personal project of co-founder stumbling on a little secret. Set
modern Japanese
knowledgeable with dishes and Syed Asim Hussain, proud Punjabi just off Queen’s Road West in a
explanations. The wine list, too, is who has applied his myriad quiet part of Sai Ying Pun, you’re
cuisine in
particularly noteworthy, presenting restaurant experiences into unlikely to find it if you’re not
a good selection of bottles from Hong Kong this highly polished opening. By looking for it. A sliver of a room
Lebanon itself and a decent offer drafting in the talent of chef Palash contains a galley kitchen and
of 10 wines by the glass between Mitra of the brilliant Gymkhana counter seating on one side,
whites, reds and rose. Middle in London, the menu is a tightly and small bar tables along a wall
Eastern cuisine relies on simple curated read that skirts from adorned with a mural on the
ingredients blended together updated street classics (smashed other. Indie and retro rock plays
skilfully, and Maison Libainese does samosa chaat with its cap of to a mostly younger clientele.
that beautifully. tamarind glaze and pomegranate) At the helm is chef-proprietor
to proteins properly charred within Max Levy, who is something of a
the hot walls of the tandoor—opt poster boy for modern Japanese
for the line-caught cobia, a rich cuisine in Hong Kong. Don’t come
MERCEDES ME and meaty fish that can withstand expecting dainty titbits however,
the oven’s unrelenting heat. The the food here—unlikely to be
7 flesh is imbued with the fresh found on other menus and made
7
8
7
hum of dill, which gives way to for sharing—is big on flavour and
Shop C and D Entertainment Building, 30 Queen’s Road Central, the smoky undertone from the unafraid of spice. Levy is a fan
Central, Hong Kong tandoor. Luscious, thick curries of aged fish, which can impart
TEL: +852 2895 7398 beg for a swipe with the smoky, greater depth and tenderness,
www.mercedes.me/hongkong freshly-baked naan breads while though can be an acquired taste
keema pau combines the magic of for some. Lightly charred crispy
One doesn’t immediately think of cars and food going hand in hand, but at fluffy milk buns with spiced, ragu- brussels sprouts get a sweet and
Mercedes Me that’s exactly what diners will find. A Mercedes-Benz welcomes esque minced lamb to be topped savoury lift with the addition of
diners at one entrance, while an open kitchen and dining area completes with zingy red onion and a squeeze fried raisins and homemade XO
the set-up, offering booths as well as high tables—the venue is a popular of lime. Thirsty? Note the gin sauce. Pair your meal with unusual
after-work drinks spot. The menu blends Japanese, Peruvian and Spanish trolley, the obligatory hat-tip to the sake, many with bolder profiles to
cuisine; load up on the tapas-style starters where quality seafood shines, era of British India; you’d be amiss match the food. Most are available
such as in the Australian Big Eye tuna ceviche with cucumber and ponzu- to refuse an expertly mixed G&T by the glass or bottle, including
sesame sauce, instead of saving calories for desserts that fail to inspire. The from the persuasive staff. With Okra’s own-label The Monkey.
beetroot tartare with goat’s cheese and mango egg yolk, and the duck egg equal parts swagger and glorious Make sure you save plenty of
yolk with black truffle, shimeji and onion compote are rewarding choices. The campiness, New Punjab Club is a room for the Uji matcha Cookie
latter, served in its shell, the duck egg yolk contains a delectable hit of umami confident, modern-day homage to Boy, a warm and comforting
The wine list is reasonable, but we suggest you eschew it in favour of sake, 80’s hotspot Mughal Room—and dessert of roasted green tea and
which pairs well with the cuisine on offer, or a selection from the creative it’ll have no problem signing up a red bean cookie with smoked
cocktail menu. Everything is served with a smile. roster of regular members. cream and lemon salt.

82 | T .DINING 2018