Pizza Pizza Pizza! New Italian Restaurants in Central

Due to my hectic schedule as of late, I haven't had much of an opportunity to dine out far from home. I was feeling hopeful about the latest Italian inspired venues that have cropped out up in the area so I thought I'd give them my own test run.

PIZZERIA JACOMAX, Shop C, 88 Comericial Building, 38-42 Wing lok Street, Sheung Wan

Out of the four recent venues sampled, one of the best by far was Pizzeria Jacomax. Not only was the pizza authentic, it was served in my favorite thin-crust style, with flavorful but not over bearing tomato sauce. The Italian mom and son duo manning the restaurant gave it extra charm and I would readily return for more "cheap and cheerful" fare.

If you like heavily laden pizzas that eat like meals, then I would not suggest Jacomax. If the pizzas don't fill you up enough, they do have some pasta options (the pasta is homemade). I sampled the amatraciana spaghetti and it was done well but I wasn't particularly impressed when comparing it to the pizza. The menu is, generally speaking, limited and the space is decidedly take-out/fast food style. I wouldn't recommend the salads as their freshness and quality of ingredients is akin to the 711 takeaway options in the open refrigerators. Although the restaurant is tiny, and only seats 14, you can still call ahead and make a reservation.

PEPPERONI'S, Wyndham Street, Central

The next new pizza joint on the block is Pepperoni's. Having heard positive reviews (come on, 96 smiley faces on Openrice.com!), I was eager to try it out as soon as renovations in the old Vivo space completed on Wyndham Street. Sadly, my excitement at the prospects of a gourmet pizza place literally around the corner from my flat was quickly met with disappointment when our food arrived. We ordered a mixed green salad with avocado and prawn salad as a starter, a parma ham and rockette pizza (medium size, adequate for 2), and their ultimate burger.

I have so many complaints, I don't know where to begin. The salad was OK but again, lackluster and flavorless. Their namesake pizza was a poor show with its undercooked dough, straight out of a can tomato sauce and quite possibly the saddest looking rockette ever paired with overly salted prosciutto. And the burger? It looks pretty damn good doesn't it. Sadly, nothing about the burger was 'ultimate'--- the patty tasted of meat tenderizer and reminded me of the Chinese beef balls you get at dimsum. The buns were soaked by the beef jus before we even took a bite. And to add insult to injury, the fries served with the burger were cajun potato wedges, straight out of a bag in the freezer aisle.

Parma, rockette and parmesan pizza. Looks decent but I

would've honestly rather have spent my $$ on Pizza Hut.

All in all, I give it two thumbs down. I know they just opened about a week ago but I question whether or not the food is fundamentally too flawed for improvement. Maybe I'm too demanding but I probably will never return unless quality ingredients and proper cooking techniques are employed.

I'm not giving you the full address because it ain't worth going to!

LINGUINI FINI, the L Building, Queens Road Central, Central

Another disappointment is the latest rustic chic venue in the L Building, Linguini Fini. Again, I liked it's concept with fresh pasta making in one corner, it's hip decor, and fresh faced staff. Here, the pasta did taste fresh but again, I was not particularly impressed by any of the dishes and I can't get over how small the portions were.

The pastas were creative and inventive in description but the execution fell flat.

Sometimes zany and out of the box does not = tasty.

The cod on toast with tomato salsa and pesto was the best dish but that's sad considering that this it's supposed to be a full serviced Italian resto with loads of options. I don't think you should ever leave a restaurant thinking that the highlight of the meal was the bread!

Squid ink linguini with cod roe and parmesan

PIZZA MILANO, 34-73 Cochrane Street, Central

Although Pizza Milano is not a new restaurant in Central, I finally made it there after living in Hong Kong for 2+ years. I still can't believe it took me so long to try their pizza because had I known it was so good, I would've made it there much sooner!

The pizza crust/dough was the perfect balance of crispness and breadiness. They had the perfect air bubbles and the crust stayed intact through out the meal.

It never got soggy which I thought was quite the feat considering Hong Kong's humidity. It's rare to eat such an authentic Italian style pizza in Asia and I definitely treated myself by wolfing down four slices! I have yet to try their pastas and other side dishes but I reckon the pizza is the real highlight here.

The decor looks like a classic pizza parlour albeit a bit run down. The upstairs roof terrace is a nice change of scenery and although also a bit decrepit looking in some spots, it was still a comfortable venue for a lovely pizza night.

* * * * * * * * * *

After that last round of Italian outings, notwithstanding the pizza, I wholeheartedly believe that the best pasta is the pasta served at home --- made with quality ingredients and attention to flavor. Not to mention, pasta dinner at home almost always guarantees a full belly bear =)

Gustatory travels outside of Central...yes!

This is my officially my third year living, working, and studying in the Central area. As a result, I've become rather bored of the same dining options. New outlets crop up every few months but more often than not, they miss the mark in terms of quality and price.

When I can, I try to get out of the half mile radius I call home and try to eat in a different part of Hong Kong. I must admit, I have a hard time making it to the New Territories but thankfully, there are loads of good food options, much closer to home:

FUSION GOURMET at the Pemberton, Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan

Rarely seen in HK, Fushion Gourmet manages to do the farm to table concept well. One caveat, the farm is in Australia and two, the clientelle is primarly Chinese. As a result, the dishes do tend to be be on the lighter side, focusing primarily on the fresh ingredients and to me, seems to appeal to the Canto-style palate for healthier foods (think Pumpernickle).

Many of the ingredients used in the dishes are also conveniently available in their market area so if you dine here, you get 30% off your purchase (20% off wine). Tomberrys (super tiny and super sweet tomatoes) were probably the most unique item available for sale in addition to my favorite Italian butter made from buffalo milk.

The bread is freshly baked and delicious and all dishes sampled from the fresh and flakey seared snapper served over mixed mushroom risotto (pictured on the left) to the cauliflower soup were done well. The main ingredients were never compromised and I left feeling healthy (albeit a tad hungry still). Sadly, freshness doesn't come cheap though. Lunch for two was $337 (2 lunch sets, juice and bread basket).

Perfectly roasted chicken bursting with flavors,

accompanied by pureed cauliflower soup and prosciutto side salad

* * * * * * * * * *

FANDANGO, 100 Canton Road, 9/f Toy house, TST

Finally a traditional tapas place in Hong Kong! I loved the kitschy Spanish villa style decor, the massive menu, and the acoustic guitarist playing Spanish ballads. All that was missing was a flamenco dancer! I would highly recommend this restaurant for a date or even a group as the dishes come in a variety of sizes.

The tapas and entrees were all well seasoned and hearty. I left thoroughly satisfied and was just so damn thrilled to finally eat a decent seafood paella. The stuff they usually serve in Hong Kong is more akin to a fried rice than a proper paella. The prawns were MASSIVE and the other seafood were equally fresh and lush in size and texture.

Some other highlights included the suckling pig and the patatas fandango are a must! The crunch of the potatoes paired with the viscous gooey goodness of the egg yolks are a perfect match.

The sangria was also good although there was nothing particularly outstanding about it. The desserts however, were a real nightmare. The choices were limited and the one we sampled, catalan cream with strawberries tasted more foamy dish soap than foamy cream. I would save dessert for another venue.

Crispy suckling pig over potato salad

Price per head, approximately 500-600 including drinks.

* * * * * * * * * *

THE MON, 4/F, The Goldmark, 502 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay

Although I've wanted to dine here for a while now, the Mon's inflexible system of reservation has made it nearly impossible. You can only dine here if you have a reservation, they take no walk-ins.

Fortunately, on a whim, my boyfriend, cousin and I decided to try going there at almost prime time on a Friday evening. To our extreme surprise, there was an opening at 9:30 p.m. Although dinner took place a bit later than I would have liked, it was well worth it! For once, the reviews were right: The Mon serves great Japanese food at great prices.

We sampled a variety of small plates, raw and cooked, their sushi, noodle and rice dishes, and of course, their famous omelette with radish! I have zero complaints other than that they had completely run out of clams and I had to jealously watch the table next to ours devour their sake clams cooked in stone bowl -.-

If you can be bothered, try to make a reservation here for a solid Japanese meal in Causeway Bay. I've included some of the highlights from the evening below:

Sushi Platter: good variety and well priced at HK$240

Tuna tartare over sweet potato: I enjoyed the complex yet delicate flavors; the only caveat: it not a sharing dish!

Grilled Cheese Mochi wrapped in seaweed: this was my first taste of cheese mochi! They're tasty but one too many of these bad boys could leave you with a bit of indigestion as the mochi are quite dense.

I will be adding the Mon to my roster of Japanese restaurants. It's too bad it's so tough to get a reservation but the food and service are well worth the wait!

Price per head approximately HK$250.

NYC Invasion in Hong Kong!

So looks I'm not the only former New Yorker making moves in HK (ok, so I'm not making any moves yet but one can hope!). There have been many restaurants cropping up in Hong Kong these last couple of years with NYC chefs at the helm. From 208 to to Lily and Bloom, parts of Central are starting to become more and more like my former home. Below are three restaurants that I've recently dined at and found worth visiting:

Bless you, Yardbird, there is finally a little slice of NYC in Hong Kong! Lily and Bloom have come close to recreating a Nueva York vibe but Yardbird hits the nail on the head, with its hipster music selection, minimalist wood and steel decor, distinctly LES-looking waiters and of course, food that is a pure expression of its natural ingredients.

It's unusual that I like EVERYTHING sampled at a restaurant. Although the menu at Yardbird isn't vast and it's primarily chicken, I thoroughly enjoyed the small plates, yakitori, and mains. I've listed some of the highlights below:

Corn Tempura

Fried Chicken that reminds me of so so much of New York. Perfectly fried, not greasy and served with a tangy mayo dipping sauce.

The delicious meatball served with a raw egg dipping sauce

KFC: Which to me tastes like a General Tso's inspired Korean cauliflower

I would also highly recommend the Caesar salad (I love how garlic-y it is and the addition of shredded seaweed to give it a pleasant maritime crunch) and the "oyster" yakitori. Who knew the thigh meat of a chicken from New Territories could be so succulent?

And what about DRINKS?! I love the whiskey lemonade here, a refreshing solution to the still warm weather of Hong Kong. My good friend Michael is a fan of the Rob Roy, which he says is one of the best in town. If you want a shandy with a punch, try their hitachino version. Lastly, their house sake is very easy to drink and I recommend sharing a bottle over all their tasty nibbles.

Located at 33 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan (next to Oola, behind Centre Stage).

Al Molo.

I wasn't particularly impressed with the food offered at their grand opening but I decided to give Al Molo another try. Thankfully, NYC celebrity chef Michael White did not disappoint. Although I doubt I will be rushing to go back, I was definitely satisfied with the quality of ingredients and the overall taste of all the dishes (even at the buffet!)

The lunch buffet spread was a good value, which included incredibly fresh burratta (which you rarely find in HK!), beetroot salad, braised artichokes, and delicate mini-desserts. The salad buffet alone is $138, and for $40 more, you can add a entree of pasta or pizza. The mushroom risotto, spicy clams pasta, and prosciutto pizza were all excellent. I would even go far as to say that the risotto tasted like one that I would get at Risotteria in West Village: unpretentious and full of flavor; not an over-stirred glue like mess, which is often what is served in Hong Kong. Just make sure they don't undercook the rice, we had to send ours back the first time around, but it came out perfect in the end.

Parma Ham and arugula pizza, very tasty and one of the better pizzas in TST

Spicy semolina cavatelli pasta with clams

Dinner at Al Molo is a lot pricier so try it out at lunch if you're in the Harbour City area.

Doppio Zero.

Since I clearly have an overeating disorder, before I even ate at Fusion Gourmet, located in the same building, I decided to scope out Doppio Zero, a casual bistro serving up fresh pastas by the NYC chef that ran BLT Burger since it's inception in Hong Kong two years ago.

The decor was a bit stark and I felt like I was sitting more in cafeteria than a warm trattoria BUT the food to me saved the day. I only tried two starters and pastas but apart from the calamari spaghetti, everything was delicious. You must come here for their tagliatelle bolognese---it is the BEST one I have had in Hong Kong. I don't often eat fried seafood but the fritto misto was well done as it was cornmeal batter crusted which is a nice change from the tempura style batter we often get. If you're in the Sheung Wan area, check it out for lunch as it's a reasonable value at approximately $100 per head including a starter, pasta/panini, and a drink. The portions are small though so order accordingly.

Located at the Pemberton, Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan

2 Year Anniversaire!

I have officially passed the two year mark living in Hong Kong. I never thought that the time would fly by so quickly. I'm still mildly surprised by all that I have managed to accomplish in this short period and am happy about all of life's trials and tribulations, professionally and personally. Fast forward 2 years later, I'm far along the path of becoming a lawyer and am fully immersed as a local Hong Kong-er. It truly feels more like home for me here than anywhere else. My recent trip back to Boston/NYC made me realize that I probably couldn't live in the US right now and most likely, not for the next few years. What would I do without my 24hr Tsui Wah, junk trips, octopus card, and quarterly visits to Thailand?

Sitting in Newark Airport, watching the people of America walk by made me miss very little of the formerly once proud and loud country. What I did miss was the fresher air in Weston, my dysfunctionally close family, our dog Hiro, a few of my closest friends and of course, the FOOD! However, it's probably for the best that I don't eat American sized portions anymore as I now realized why I was 15lbs heavier when I lived in NYC. But, man oh man did I miss the food!

I must admit, one thing that America does well is STEAK. I probably had enough red meat intake during my 3 week visit to last me through the next two years. Everywhere we ate seemed to offer a decent steak on its menu, full of flavour, naturally and humanely raised, and definitely at a much more reasonable price point. I also noticed that eggs tasted more fresh, with distinct flavor between the yolk and the white and whilst at home, they whipped up fluffy and light. Perhaps it's all the US hormones that make them taste better but regardless, it made my omelette this morning (from organic New Zealand eggs) appear a lot less sexy.

Seared sirloin over mixed green bean salad at Stefanie's, Newbury Street


Delicious eggs benedict served over hashbrowns with bacon and cheddar at Mel's, Framingham

To further the cholesterol extravaganza, I clearly overindulged in SEAFOOD. Lobster, oysters, clams, shrimp: you name it, I ate it (in mass quantities). The freshness again and the price point made it hard for me to say no to another round of raw cherrystones and Cape Cod oysters, arrived just that day.

Some highlights from my stay in Boston:

Homemade cavatelli pasta in Giacomo's lobster sauce with lobster meat and giant prawns, Giacomo's, North End

Just barely cooked cod with a diaphanous bernaise sauce topped with caviar, Jo's Brasserie

Tempura Soft Shell Crab at Legal Seafood's, Boston

As I only had four days in NYC, I had to make most of my limited time to eat till my belly physically could no longer store any food. I got off to a good start, stopping by Saigon Bakery for my beloved Banh mi as soon as I arrived to Chinatown.

The #1 BBQ Pork Banh Mi, only $4.25!

My favorite viet sub was followed by a strawberry frasier at the Financier on Wall St which probably wasn't the best idea considering dinner was at 8:30 at another great latin fusion outlet, Yerba Buena:

Tangy, citrus-y and spicy clams ceviche at Yerba Buena

I was lucky to get a table with my good friend from college, Carrie, at Clinton Street Baking in a mere 30 minutes (shortest wait ever!). Of course, I had the pancakes and of course, it was just as glorious as I remember: spongey cake saucers, lightly powdered in sugar, covered in summer blueberry compote, and all dipped in maple buttery goodness.

The meal that remains most salient from my short trip to NYC was to Salinas, a nouveau Spanish eatery, opened only months ago. Located on 9th avenue, b/w 18th and 19th street, I highly recommend making a reservation at Salinas for an intimate dinner with friends. I guarantee, you won't be disappointed.

Each dish was thoughtfully plated and presented with slight artistic flare. The portions tended to be on the slim-side but this made it easier to order a variety of starters and entrees.

Brussels sprouts and cauliflower with smoked paprika at Salinas

Ceviche canario, simple & fresh, but bursting with flavor

A sublime salad of baby romaine with garlic ajili and anchovies,

Grilled Dorade, served with a watercress salad

Other delicious plates included a trio of charcuterie and the steak entree. Even the patatas bravas were amazing, perfectly crisp and seasoned liberally with their signature smoked paprika. Not only was the food excellent, their wine list was equally impressive. Both Rioja's sampled were of top quality, incredibly complex, full bodied, but not in your face.

Lastly, Salina's as as space is quite lovely as well. The main eating area has walls of exposed limestone while the eating area in the back is reminiscent of a posh green house. The front of the house touts a cozy bar area that would make any wait reasonably comfortable. A special thank you is in order to my friend Renaud for the wonderful recommendation.

I must admit, after all this fine dining, I'm blessed to not have gained too much weight (emphasis on the too ). Now that I'm back in Hong Kong, the gym regime has resumed! That doesn't mean however, I'll be forsaking my constantly hungry tumm tumm. Stay tuned for reviews of Yardbird, Al Molo, and Cantopop.

Love, peace, and grease,

Renee

Welcome back sunshine!

Just your regular update on my latest gustatory adventures... I'm a little less ranty these days in terms of food consumed. With a full belly and reasonable dining experiences, I'm feeling a bit more positive about Hong Kong dining. I've done the impossible as well and given up pork and beef Monday through Saturday (my friends know what a meatlover I am) and to be honest, I feel healthier and lighter so maybe this semi-veg foray will be for here to stay! I want to thank my friend Andrea for giving me the inspiration to live a healthier pescatarian lifestyle.

Some of my recent good dining experiences include a fine dining Indian experience in Central, an afternoon on Star Street and my weekly lunches at Tin Hau.

Bombay Dreams, 75-77 Wyndham St, Central

I admit that in many ways, my palette is very Cantonese. As a result, I rarely eat Indian (God forbid the clean favors of my fish or meat be obliterated by the strong spices of tumeric and cumin!). Recently, with gentle encouragement from my boyfriend, I've included Indian food into the bi-weekly rotation. After much practice, I now prefer the more authentic, eat on a pandan leaf style of Indian food. However, for the newbies, I would recommend visiting Bombay Dreams for a gentle introduction to the curries and local favorites. Bombay Dreams presents Indian classics like chicken vindaloo and potatoes and cauliflower without pretentiousness. The flavours of all our dishes were clean albeit somewhat restrained, probably with the ex-pat and local Cantonese person in mind. The naan bread (my faaaav!!!!) was well done and expertly prepared in the glass walled kitchen, an unusual touch for an Indian restaurant which usually keeps it's prep kitchen under wraps. Overall, this would be a great choice in Central if you're looking for a reasonably priced meal in a very upscale setting (approximately $300 per head).

Spicy Chicken Vindaloo

Can't get enough garlic nann :D

Lazy Afternoons in the Star Street Area!

Classifieds, 31 Wing Fung St., Wan Chai

So I've managed to come here not once, but twice in one week! I'm absolutely addicted to their house dressing on watercress, freshly pureed soups, and grilled panini lunch sets that thoroughly satisfy without breaking the bank ($56 for soup and panini). Their pasta specials are also hearty and prepared with noticeably fresh ingredients. It's always a treat to taste vine ripened tomatoes as opposed to ketchup based marinara in HK! In addition to their simple rustic fair, I'm a huge fan of their MASSIVE coffees. At $34 for a large cappuccinno, I was properly caffeinated for several hours after (Quite frankly, I was probably a bit too coffee cracked out!). The food, the ambience, and the endless supply of magazines and newspapers make this one of my favorite spots time and time again.

Duck breast panini with fresh mozzarella and tomato with watercress salad

Epoch, Wan Chai

You'd think that after large cuppa coffees at Classifieds I'd have enough caffeine coursing through my veins to last me through a half marathon. Diagonally across from Classifieds is the coffee shop Epoch. They serve ILLY coffee (rejoice! more great coffee in HK!). Some of my favorites include their Viennese coffee but stay away from their uninspired teas. The decor, free wireless, and excellent soundtrack make this a great study spot.

Delicious Viennese coffee that's probably not great for the waist line -.-

Adventures in Tin Hau: Andrea and Renee take on dining at Tsing Fung St and Electric Road with Gusto!

Kins Kitchen, 9 Tsing Fung Street, Tin Hau

As a promise to eat more locally and more healthy, Andrea and I have decided to try a new restaurant in Tin Hau every week for lunch. So far, we've tried Cafe Eos, Poppy's Restaurant, Fantasy Vegetarian Restaurant, and Kin's Kitchen. While all of them were at least B grade or above, I particularly liked Kin's Kitchen although a bit pricey for lunch. The giant walnut prawns were expertly battered and fried with the nuts inside ($150 for 4 large prawns). The braised noodle with mushrooms was flavorful and exceptionally delicate for being just a noodle dish ($88). Although the presentation was lack lustre, the clean environment certainly made up for that small shortcoming. I would recommend coming here with family or for a work lunch with colleagues several steps up from a cha chan teng.

Fantasy Vegetarian Restaurant, 66 Electric Road, Tin Hau

Fantasy Vegetarian Restaurant garnered less than stellar reviews on OpenRice.com. Perhaps going in with low-expectations actually helped me enjoy the meal more than I would otherwise given the loud wait staff and C-rated cleanliness (I was given a recycled takeaway container which I had to pay for! what?!). I thought our meal was satisfying considering the very reasonable prices. They have large portioned set meals for two starting at $100HKD. You can spend even less by ordering a la carte. The braised tofu with mushrooms was filling and well seasoned and although Andrea wasn't keen on the turnip cake, I thought it was smooth and quite tasty for $3HKD. As a week day vegetarian, I'd definitely come back!

Our massive vegetarian spread for $115

Introducing the "Skunner" List

After my latest disappointing meal at Mesa 15, I was feeling positive that my subsequent dining experiences would only get better. My next attempt was met with the same fatal end: uninspired, overpriced, and definitely not as advertised.

This seems to be a trend as of late and I'm starting to worry about my own ability to discern a good restaurant from a bad one. Even though I usually read all the reviews and am confident that I've done my due diligence, the meals have been mediocre at best. Sadly, I no longer think I can rely on TimeOut, HK Magazine, nor OpenRice.com to give reliable advice. My "Skunner" list is getting longer by the minute and I can say emphatically that I will never dine again in Soho unless desperate (okay, I lie, I still like Posto Publicco but even that's been losing it's lustre ).

THE LATEST LOSERS:

LIMEHOUSE, Wan Chai

Everything from decor to food to service fell below the mark for this critically acclaimed restaurant by TimeOut. What happened to the quaint and cozey decor? I just felt like I was in a white washed room with a couple of wood tables. The small space boasted one waitress and a completely charmless maitre'd. Upon tasting the house wine, a 2009 cab sauv that tasted more vinegar than dark cherry as advertised, I asked the waitress if there was anything else by the glass. The Maitre'd rushed over and said that they had a Chilean wine but then almost immediately reneged his offer. All in all, very odd and slow service at Limehouse.

And the food? Completely forgettable. We tried the fish and chips and the foie and duck egg appetizers. Both were fine but the portions were incredibly small and the price point at $78 and $98 respectively, was not cheap.

The main entrees were slightly better. Out of the seared monkfish, steak diane, and shepard's pie, the pie was by far the best. It was hearty and delicious but again, there was nothing particularly remarkable about it to justify it's $138HKD price tag. It literally just came out as a pie in a casserole dish---they didn't even give me any peas on the side! TimeOut HK magazine, I'm sorely disappointed with your misrepresentation! I definitely would NOT come back here.

Egg was undercooked although the foie and duck liver components blended well with the brioche and yolk.
Steak Diane was well seasoned but again, nothing special.

The best part of the meal, my shepard's pie. Tastey but definitely not worthy making the trek back for.
This was advertised as a raspberry shortcake. It tasted more like a toasted blueberry muffin with a dollop of cream and a couple of berries on top. It was overly sweet and definitely not worth the $48HKD. I will personally toast you a muffin and call it shortcake for a quarter of the price!

YORKSHIRE PUDDING, Staunton St., Soho

I'm really sad to report that my favorite place for Sunday Roast is officially on the Skunner list. Feeling a bit under the weather, I tried their tomato and roasted red pepper soup. It tasted and looked like Worcestershire sauce---eww!!! After two sips, I asked to swap out for their other soup of the day which was a cream of fish. I kid you not, it tasted like cream of butterscotch with floating parcels of overcooked fish nubs. Jay's burger although glorious in its appearance, had the distinct taste of meat tenderiser. If you ever dine here, make sure to stick with what they're good at which is their roasted meats and yorkshire puddings.

My first ever butterscotch flavored soup masquerading as fish chowder

THE WINNERS:

I would like to point out that the restaurants below aren't even what I would call "winners" by a NY standard. They're winners by HK standard which brings me to a topic near and dear to my heart: why do HK eaters expect less and pay more? It's mind boggling to me that people accept the quality of food that they receive and are willing to pay over $300 a meal for something that I could make with a can of prego and borelli dried pasta out of a box. Is it the years away from home that have numbed people's palettes? Are the folks living in HK simply accustomed to an interior standard of food? Or am I just being over critical and unreasonable for applying what I would consider acceptable in Manhattan? Regardless, I'm losing my enamor for non Chinese food dining in HK and it breaks my heart because I love this city.

LIME, Shelley Street, Mid Levels (right off the escalator, above Prince's Terrace)

The decor and location is a bit strange for this brand new Thai bistro, nestled in the mid-levels. The old Lime in Kennedy Town shut down and it decided to reincarnate itself as a tacky green, disco lighted club in an otherwise residential area. Contrary to other reviews, I found their curry hot as hell! I'm not the best when it comes to heat but I'm not pansy either. I had the Tempo tissues out during my entire lunch and it was so refreshing to finally feel the sizzling tingle of a thai curry done right. In the 1.5 years I have lived in the Central area, I have not had a curry as complex in flavor and hot enough to warrant brow sweat. Thank you Lime, green fluorescent lights and all. Lunch sets start at $98 and dinner per head should cost approximately $200-300 per head depending if you drink or not.

Thom Yum Seafood Curry Lunch Set

THE BURGER ROOM, Causeway Bay

All I have to say is why has no one told me about this place yet?! Finding a good burger in HK is like trying to find non-commerical music in a LKF club. I want to personally thank Jay for taking me to Burger Room and for restoring my hope in the HK burger. I've recently crossed off red meat from my list so I ordered the chicken burger:

The chicken was well seasoned, the condiment just right and my potato wedges crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. This meal plus a drink was only $39HKD for the tea set. A great value considering it's the "mini-size" and I was still stuffed afterwards.

Now if you want to go full on cardiac arrest, try the portabella burger smothered in cheese. This thing is so big, you'll need to share it with a friend. In fact, all their regular size burgers are HUGE. And I lied again...I did try a bite (sorry mr. moo cow!)---I just couldn't resist! The patty stayed together as you bit it. The beef was well seasoned and incredibly juicy. All in all, a very good burger. Just be wary of the queues and long wait time for your meal.

THE CHINESE RESTAURANT AT THE GRAND HYATT

My second dining experience here was not as good as the first a few months ago but I did not leave disappointed. The service is still great and the food is still as refined as before. I never thought lotus roots stuffed with fish meat could be elevated to a 5-star quality dish (this is normally a dish my mom just makes at home). Although delicious, the price tag is staggering. A meal for three came to $1900 not including dessert. Considering the price and the views, I would still bring special guest or visitors here but I'm not sure if it deserved the dining award of the year by TimeOut HK for Chinese food.

When Szechuan means Canton: Jumbo prawns with crab meat and coral and chili peppers next to lotus roots and peppers stuffed with fish meat.

Lamb casserole with beancurd sheets and mushrooms. Perfectly cooked lamb and barely gamey, even by my standards.

So who's on your SKUNNER list? Tell me what restaurants you wouldn't ever go back to and why!