bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Lauren Crothers

G/F, 57 Wyndham Street, Central

Tel: 2526 7993

Open: Monday-Saturday noon-3pm, 6pm-10.30pm (until 11pm on Friday  and Saturday)

Cuisine: French and Italian.

Price: About HK$370 per person plus 10 per cent service charge for three courses without drinks.

Ambience: Surprisingly chilled and relaxed, given the restaurant's proximity to a busy street. Downstairs offers drinks and dining looking out to Wyndham Street, whereas upstairs boasts a more contemporary yet intimate atmosphere.

Pros: The staff were attentive without being suffocating. We were in the mood to talk so they left us alone, but didn't forget about  us.  The food is attractively presented and well executed.

Cons: Some people might be put off by the traffic that streams past. It didn't affect our meal, but if you think it would bother you, the upstairs room is an option. The wine was served chilled - as in straight from the fridge - whereas we would have preferred  room temperature. The casual exterior  may mislead people into thinking this is  an inexpensive restaurant.

Recommended dishes: The spinach and gorgonzola salad (HK$95) was a perfect combination of layers of leaves  with chunks of creamy cheese. It was accompanied by grilled pears, candied walnuts and sweet herb dressing, which made it not only a refreshing blend of flavours and textures, but one that packed a punch. The crab tartlet (HK$105) was rather pricey given  the size, but the warm crust was soft and blended well with the creamy crab filling. The tuna salad (HK$95) my guest chose  as her main course showcased perfectly seared tuna that was still a little raw in the centre (as requested), on a bed of leaves. Tasmanian salmon (HK$215, above) tasted as if it had been pulled straight from the  sea, with a mouthwatering flavour that  was one of the best fish fillets  I've tasted.  It was served with crushed potato and sauteed watercress with caper aioli that complemented the fish. Dessert of vanilla creme brulee (HK$60) had a nice crackling top, and the chocolate pudding (HK$65) was excellent - but the accompanying homemade ice cream stole the show.

What else? Free canapes are served at 5pm in the drinking area downstairs.



Zest