Page 94 - Hong_Kong_&_Macau's_Best_Restaurants_English_edition

HONG KONG RESTAURANTS
CAS U A L

BEEF & LIBERTY
7
7
9
6
3/F California Tower, 30-32
D’Aguilar Street, Central,
Hong Kong
TEL: +852 2450 5778
www.beef-liberty.com/hk

If there’s one place that deserves
to survive the city’s recent
burger obsession, it’s Beef &
Liberty, who have got the art of
a great burger down pat. Their
signature patties are made from
top-quality grass-fed Scottish
beef and are juicy, packed with
rich meaty flavour and grilled to
a perfect pink, but their other
burger fillings (such as beautifully Brickhouse’s taco platter
tender slow-braised BBQ pork) is a riot of flavours
are just as impressive. The sweet
potato fries with secret sauce
are deliciously addictive and the
warm cookie skillet is the epitome BRICKHOUSE CIAK
of pure dessert indulgence. The
wine list is short but sweet, but 5 7 5 7 8 8 7 8
its extremely reasonable prices
are noteworthy; B&L pledges G/F, 20A D’Aguilar Street via Brick Shop 327-333, 3/F, Landmark
to only add a charge of HK$180 Lane, Central, Hong Kong Atrium, 15 Queen’s Road Central,
per bottle, compared to the www.brickhouse.com.hk Hong Kong
300-500% mark-up commonly For dessert, sneak TEL: +852 2522 8869
found in other restaurants. The This Maximal Concepts eatery is www.ciakconcept.com
in a cheeky Harlem
California Tower location is huge, the true definition of a ‘hidden
kitted out in inviting bronze Hard Shake— gem’ when it comes to authentic This casual restaurant with live
and wood tones, and features Mexican street fare in the city, cooking stations opened by the
some terrace seating; it fills up because it’s always tucked away in an unassuming venerable Umberto Bombana (of
quickly at peak periods and once alleyway in Lang Kwai Fong that Otto e Mezzo) evokes the gourmet
5pm somewhere in
packed, it can be quite difficult gives it an grungy, hole-in-the- food halls of Europe—or at least the
to flag down staff—but when they the world wall feel. The menu features best it can in a mall setting in Hong
do arrive, they are friendly and nicely executed classics such as Kong. It’s a one-stop shop for all
helpful. A meal at Beef &Liberty Mexican street corn and hamachi your Italian cravings, whatever the
is likely to leave you happily with jalapeño vinaigrette that time of day and the casual, lively
stuffed, delicious proof that boast zesty seasoning and fresh setting with open kitchens makes
excellent quality food at excellent ingredients. The latter stands out it a good choice dining in a group.
value for money is achievable in among a selection of three raw The food is well executed and for
Hong Kong. dishes—the fish is impressively anyone with a craving for Italian, it
fresh, with the vinaigrette adding will hit the spot. Portion sizes are
just the perfect amount of generous and in most cases, good
BREAD STREET KITCHEN & BAR spice and character. The dos to share, especially the plates of
mole pollo is delightfully tender fresh pasta, made in-house, and
8 complemented by a rich dressing, crisp pizzas, made with dough
8
6
8
while the chunky guacamole is fermented over 36 hours, making
Mezzanine Level, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong almost overshadowed by the it popular with groups for various
TEL: +852 2230 1800 nachos de molcajete‘s perfectly occasions—from family dinners,
www.diningconcepts.com grilled and juicy marinated to team lunches, to relaxed dates.
shrimp and ribeye skewers. We Beautifully puffed and crispy,
He may be known for his shouty pursuit of perfection, but Gordon Ramsay recommend the taco platter the pizza dough fermented over
and his Bread Street Kitchen brand eschews the usual white table-clothed, that provides a selection of five 36 hours makes a great base for
fine dining standards for a lively bistro-esque space that can be enjoyed tacos including wagyu beef cheek, anything, especially the sausage
by the whole family. At BSK, traditional British fare such as shepherd’s pie tiger prawn, fish, pork belly and in the piccante, which has just
and fish and chips share the menu with Asian-inflected creations such as marinated chicken—ideal for a hint of spice to keep things
hamachi sashimi and seared yellowfin tuna created just for Hong Kong, sharing, but be prepared to order exciting. For a full dinner however,
though pork eaters may be dismayed to hear that the local rendition of seconds. The hip hop beats playing the prices do add up (and during
Ramsay’s signature beef Wellington uniformly omits Parma ham for religious in the background can get slightly white truffle season, they can seem
considerations. Awash in cheery yellow tones and a scattering of vintage overwhelming, so if you’re looking positively scandalous) and it can
knick-knacks, the space, like the service, is warm and welcoming and makes to enjoy an intimate conversation, seem a little pricey given the laid-
you feel like you’re dining in a friend’s kitchen. For dessert, pick from bring your cocktails (the thirst- back setting. Wine lovers won’t be
familiar British favourites such as a mixed berry Eton mess and quenching Margarita and Diabla disappointed, with their extensive
sticky toffee pudding, or sneak in a cheeky Harlem Hard Shake, are crowd favourites) to the and well-selected list of mostly
made with Bacardi 8 years, Jägermeister and salted caramel outdoor area where petroleum Italian bottles, many of which are
ice cream—because it’s always 5pm somewhere in the world. cans are repurposed as tables. reasonably priced.

92 | T .DINING 2018