SYP’s dining scene is really taking off, and when an American diner with a neighborhood vibe opened up along the new Centre Street escalators (between High Street and Bonham Road), we were excited and extremely curious. Would diner food please the Hong Kong palate? Evidently it can, as every time we go, the friendly little restaurant has at least one person seated at a high top facing the window and two tables full of people enjoying a wide selection of home-style dishes.
Awakening Café aims to be your neighborhood American style café providing traditional home style dishes such as baby back ribs, burgers, smoked rib-eye steaks and chili cheese fries. After opening in December last year, Awakening Café has become popular amongst the brunch crowd on weekends serving up their signature chicken fried steak and French toast served with fresh fruit. Along with the promise of no service charge, Awakening Café serves unlimited refills of Iced Lemon Tea and bottomless coffee.
Once home to Skylark Lounge and its resident Motown crooner Bobby Taylor, another classic American staple has taken over the first floor of Parekh House. The newest edition to the banker strip sits safely out of reach of the drunken masses, keeping intact the down-south atmosphere the Restoration team has worked very hard to bring to Hong Kong.
Started by husband and wife team Jack and Kathlyn Carson, you can expect hearty and homey newly-invented Louisiana fare at Restoration. The restaurant’s name is a reference to its interiors, which proudly display salvaged items, post-Katrina, as decor.
Genuinely tasty hot dogs are a difficult thing to come by in Hong Kong, for whatever reason. In theory, they’re one of the easiest foods to make: you slap a sausage on a grill, put it between two buns, then douse the whole thing in a variety of sweet, sour, spicy and savory condiments. Nevertheless, what one often ends up getting in our city are lackluster wienies squished between flavorless, characterless pieces of bread.
The Frank, then—which is owned by the same folks as Triple O and Yo Mama—is already one step above most with its offerings of American-style hot dogs garnished with everything from grilled onions, mushrooms and cheese to the fundamental sauces (ketchup, mustard, mayo).
The Frank, the brainchild of the group behind Triple O and Yo Mama, is another newish establishment that opened its doors last year. The design is clean and bright, almost European-chic, and their frankfurters come in generous portions. Try the Korean (kimchi on a chicken frank) for an interesting departure from your classic ketchup/mustard combo, or go all out and down the Suicide (fear not, you won’t actually die from the spice).
To celebrate the launch of "Catering by Magnolia" there will be a lucky draw to win a free catered party for 20 people. All you have to do is make sure to like Magnolia Private Kitchen on Facebook and request a catering menu by emailing: info@go-gourmet.com.
There are many other prizes to be won:
Magnolia launches a new catering service so you can enjoy their delicious New Orleans specialties at any occasion - on a junk, at a cocktail party, at home or at the office.
Watch Out For…
The HK side—specifically, within a two-kilometer radius from Central—is positively drowning in restaurant-related activity this month.
Mario Batali and Dining Concepts’ latest project, Carnevino, is all about steak and fine wines. Located right on top of Lupa (Batali and Dining Concepts’ first collaboration), the space gives off an old boys’ club vibe, with masculine touches and lots of wood and leather. It’s a proper steakhouse, in short. Expect USDA Prime cuts accompanied with artisanal salt, and lots of starchy sides such as Tuscan fries, mashed potatoes and creamed corn.
Mario Batali and Dining Concepts’ latest project, Carnevino, is all about steak and fine wines. Located right on top of Lupa (Batali and Dining Concepts’ first collaboration), the space gives off an old boys’ club vibe, with masculine touches and lots of wood and leather. It’s a proper steakhouse, in short. Expect USDA Prime cuts accompanied with artisanal salt, and lots of starchy sides such as Tuscan fries, mashed potatoes and creamed corn.
The two-story space where M1NT and Republik once held court lay vacant for so long, we were worried that no one would ever bite. But then the folks behind Play and Brickhouse took a chance on it, and boy, are we glad they did. The descriptor “New York-style” has been thrown around a lot, but Blue Butcher might be the closest thing that actually feels like it.
A NYC-style meat house headed by chef Danny Chaney that serves lots of dry-aged steak, fish and animal parts in general. If you like Yardbird-style hospitality and the Lily & Bloom vibe, Blue Butcher will be right up your alley.
Applegreen’s menu offers a huge selection of healthy dishes, from spaghetti and flatbreads to snacks and desserts. However, their salads are what truly stand out.
Applegreen’s menu offers a huge selection of healthy dishes, from spaghetti and flatbreads to snacks and desserts. However, their salads are what truly stand out.
A popular Irish brand of beer, Guinness has been traditionally enjoyed with staples of Irish pub food, such as beef pie and fish and chips. This summer, Lily & Bloom has created modern gourmet pairings of light dishes with the popular beer to provide a new combination of flavors.
Taste of Guinness Menu includes oysters Kilpatrick and beetroot carpaccio for starters, roasted pigeon and dry aged irish rib-eye for mains, and peppermint sorbet and Guinness tiramisu for desserts.
Guinness Hong Kong is launching Taste of Guinness Menu on July 1st as part of its Guinness Sessions, a series of summer season events.
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