July 1-2 weekend of dining in HKG!
Jul 7, 2005 | 10:46 am
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Daejeon, Korea
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Posts: 384
July 1-2 weekend of dining in HKG!
I went to HKG last weekend, to visit a friend. As usual when I visit him,we ate most of the weekend away! 
This is a quick rundown of the 'food' side of the trip. The whole trip report is here.
Friday:
After I arrived in the afternoon from ICN we went to the Grand Hyatt for a late lunch and some cocktails. A bit of late afternoon shopping and then it was time to get ready for dinner- we had to get over to the Kowloon side for an 8pm reservation at Aqua- which has Italian and Japanese food.
It was full in Aqua of course, though we had managed to get a window table, and arrived just a few minutes before the lightshow and fireworks started- while not a huge display, it was a good show. I liked Aqua, and the staff were friendly- compared to most other places in HKG that is! The Foie Gras starter was excellent- 3 large slices, as was the lamb carpaccio. Japanese for mains- various meats and vegetable skewers- yakatori etc.
We moved up to Aqua Spirit, the bar over looking the restaurant for dessert, as they really needed our window table. The manager came over and asked if we would mind moving, and he escorted us up to a window booth overlooking Kowloon Park, which was good for another view of Hong Kong at night. Chocolate Fondant, and a couple of dessert type cocktails finished off the evening. The total cost for two people, including drinks and service charge was HK$2100 (US$270), which was not too bad considering the amount we had to drink- 8 cocktails and a bottle of wine between us.
Finished of the night with a few drinks at a couple of other places, including the Mandarin Oriental back on Hong Kong side.
Saturday:
Brunch at Soho Soho, I was not that pleased with it, and will not go there again. Shopping was followed by a late lunch at Spring Moon over at the wonderful Peninsula Hotel- really nice atmosphere, but I think that it would feel very crowded at night when it's full. The dim sum were really nice though. The total for 2 was about HK$700 or about US90, which was a bit expensive, but I've been there now, along with Felix's- for drinks last time I was in Hong Kong, so there is only afternoon tea in the lobby that I want to try at the Peninsula.
Dinner was at a great French place in Central- La Terrasse. It is a small place, which seats only about 20-30 people, and it was almost empty on Saturday night. The menu changes every couple of months or so, but the Foie Gras is their speciality- though I had the escargot for a starter, and the roast pigeon for mains- both were really wonderfully presented, and tasted excellent. It is a hidden gem in Hong Kong. The owner greeted us warmly, as my friend goes there a few times a month, and is well known. The only thing that I disliked was the fact that, since it is so small, the many wait staff were hanging around very closely to our table, and at one stage very obviously listening in to our conversation!
With a bottle of nice French Medoc, the total for the two of us was about HK$900 (120US), which I think was cheap for quality of the food that we got. Drinks out and about at a couple of different places of course followed including Tiffin at the GH, finishing off a fun, and filling weekend in HKG. Sadly it was time to go to bed, ready to head back to Korea with next morning!
This is a quick rundown of the 'food' side of the trip. The whole trip report is here. Friday:
After I arrived in the afternoon from ICN we went to the Grand Hyatt for a late lunch and some cocktails. A bit of late afternoon shopping and then it was time to get ready for dinner- we had to get over to the Kowloon side for an 8pm reservation at Aqua- which has Italian and Japanese food.
It was full in Aqua of course, though we had managed to get a window table, and arrived just a few minutes before the lightshow and fireworks started- while not a huge display, it was a good show. I liked Aqua, and the staff were friendly- compared to most other places in HKG that is!
The Foie Gras starter was excellent- 3 large slices, as was the lamb carpaccio. Japanese for mains- various meats and vegetable skewers- yakatori etc.We moved up to Aqua Spirit, the bar over looking the restaurant for dessert, as they really needed our window table. The manager came over and asked if we would mind moving, and he escorted us up to a window booth overlooking Kowloon Park, which was good for another view of Hong Kong at night. Chocolate Fondant, and a couple of dessert type cocktails finished off the evening. The total cost for two people, including drinks and service charge was HK$2100 (US$270), which was not too bad considering the amount we had to drink- 8 cocktails and a bottle of wine between us.
Finished of the night with a few drinks at a couple of other places, including the Mandarin Oriental back on Hong Kong side.
Saturday:
Brunch at Soho Soho, I was not that pleased with it, and will not go there again. Shopping was followed by a late lunch at Spring Moon over at the wonderful Peninsula Hotel- really nice atmosphere, but I think that it would feel very crowded at night when it's full. The dim sum were really nice though. The total for 2 was about HK$700 or about US90, which was a bit expensive, but I've been there now, along with Felix's- for drinks last time I was in Hong Kong, so there is only afternoon tea in the lobby that I want to try at the Peninsula.
Dinner was at a great French place in Central- La Terrasse. It is a small place, which seats only about 20-30 people, and it was almost empty on Saturday night. The menu changes every couple of months or so, but the Foie Gras is their speciality- though I had the escargot for a starter, and the roast pigeon for mains- both were really wonderfully presented, and tasted excellent. It is a hidden gem in Hong Kong. The owner greeted us warmly, as my friend goes there a few times a month, and is well known. The only thing that I disliked was the fact that, since it is so small, the many wait staff were hanging around very closely to our table, and at one stage very obviously listening in to our conversation!
With a bottle of nice French Medoc, the total for the two of us was about HK$900 (120US), which I think was cheap for quality of the food that we got. Drinks out and about at a couple of different places of course followed including Tiffin at the GH, finishing off a fun, and filling weekend in HKG. Sadly it was time to go to bed, ready to head back to Korea with next morning!
Jul 8, 2005 | 8:02 am
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
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Posts: 1,100
Nice report, it sounds like you had a great weekend of eating and its nice to know someone loves Foie Gras as much as I do. I ate at a restaurant called Aqua about 4 years ago but it was more in the Soho area than in kowloon. Are the two related?
Jul 9, 2005 | 10:11 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Daejeon, Korea
Programs: AAPlat,QF,SQ,KE ,SPG,OZ
Posts: 384
Aqua in Kowloon is new- it was the one in Soho, but it moved to 1 Peking Rd, with a fantastic view of the island.
The handover festival was nothing really special- I think that the National Day celebration on Oct 1 is better- the normal nightly laser/light show on HKG side was bigger, with added fireworks in July, starting on July 1 for the handover party.
I'll be trying Hutong I think at the end of the month when I am back in HKG, this time with my fiancee.
The handover festival was nothing really special- I think that the National Day celebration on Oct 1 is better- the normal nightly laser/light show on HKG side was bigger, with added fireworks in July, starting on July 1 for the handover party.
I'll be trying Hutong I think at the end of the month when I am back in HKG, this time with my fiancee.