Rating: ★★★★☆

Address: 1/F, Carfield Commercial Building, 77 Wyndham Street, Central

Telephone: 2525 5808

I feel the need to share with you one of my favourite lunch spots in Central!

Tango Argentinian Steakhouse is run by the Dining Concepts restaurant group, which also brought to us many favourites including Bistecca, Cecconi’s, and the newly-opened Lupa.

Tango, as its name suggests, serves Argentinian and Latin American food. I don’t know much about Argentinian cuisine, but I could assure you that Tango definitely takes their steak seriously!

Set lunch is $268 for 2 courses with the 10-oz Hanger Steak for the main course, and $118 for 2 courses without the steak. The best thing about Tango is that even though the food is absolutely fantastic, being located on the first of a building and on Wyndham Street (which tends to be far for most people working in Central), you could almost always walk in and find a table without reservation!

This Mixed Ceviche with Citrus Dressing is my all-time favourite appetiser. The salmon is chunky, fresh and delicious, and the avocado is a fantastic match with raw fish! The portion is definitely not small, which suits carnivores like myself and my friends!

This Onion Cream Soup was creamy and delicious too, but I’ll definitely prefer my ceviche to it.

An empanada is a stuffed bread or pastry, which can be baked or fried, and the name comes from the Spanish verb empanar, which means to wrap or coat in bread. This Traditional Beef Sirloin Empanada was marinated beef wrapped in a fried pastry. I found it quite heavy as the beef was strongly seasoned and the whole pastry was deep fried, but my guy friend S seemed to love it! (Photo below comes from LifeStyleAsia, as we dug into it before taking a photo…these things happen!!)

The Charred Calamari with Mixed Salad and Garlic Aioli was beautifully char-grilled and was just as good as the calamari I had in Spain! Also, it comes with a large mixed salad which means you could tell yourself that you are eating healthy…

When you go to Tango, you will be able tell when they are preparing your piece of 10 oz Fire Grilled Hanger Steak, as it is cooked over an open fire grill in the restaurant and the aroma immediately fills the restaurant! The steak is then brought to you on a giant block of wood, and comes with a selection of mustards and sauces to choose from. My favourite is the dijon mustard! 

The steak comes with potato chips or mixed salad.

Considering that Tango does their steak so fabulously, I decided to try their other beef option, the 200 grs (7oz) Hamburger, Provolone Cheese, Ham and Chips, but it turned out to be quite average. The ham had too much fat and the combination of ham, burger steak and cheese tasted too greasy. For a simple, wholesome burger at lunch, I personally prefer the one at SimplyLife (IFC)! We also tried the Spaghetti with Mushroom Sauce and don’t recommend it.

Conclusion: I adore the food and the steak at Tango, so the “trek” up to Wyndham Street during lunch hour is definitely worth it!

Rating: ★★★★★

Address: 108 Hollywood Rd, Central

Telephone: 2613 9286

Thank you Quintessentially for organising a wonderful preview at Blue Butcher, the new bar and restaurant on Hollywood Road (where Republik/ M1NT used to be) on 21 May, two days before its Grand Opening!

I had an amazing time at this funky yet glitzy venue! The coolest thing about this New York-style eatery is its walk-in dry aging room lined with massive slabs of steaks sourced from all over the world. Steak-lovers, be prepared to loosen your belts, as the chef Danielle Giambattista (a New Yorker who has worked with Daniel Boulud and Gordon Ramsay before) and his team are prepared to serve you a selection of juicy meats from the menu! I managed to try some mini-burgers with caramelised onions at the Quintessentially event, and they were absolutely delectable!

In addition to food, there is also a range of Prohibition-inspired cocktails to choose from! These 2 were my favourite:

Gin Smash - This gin and lime drink comes in 2 flavours, basil and mint! Which one would you prefer? I personally adored the basil Gin Smash as there was a certain Italian twist to it, but my friend S preferred the old-school, minty version.

Fruity and delicious, this Pig’s Blood Martini has a beautiful orange taste to it and is definitely the perfect way to ease you into a night of intoxication!

What are you still waiting for? Get in there tomorrow for your Friday night drinks before all the seats are taken! :)

Rating: ★★★★☆

Address: G/F / 1/F, The L Place, 139 Queen’s Road

Telephone: 2857 1333

If I have, in the past, failed to mention to you how much I absolutely adore pasta, and how carbohydrates are integral to my mental well-being, then I’ll say it again. I love pasta and I whole-heartedly thank the Italians for having invented it in the first place! (Well, there are legends that Marco Polo imported pasta from China…but that’s a discussion topic for another day!)

Therefore, you could imagine my excitement when I finally got to try Linguini Fini, a restaurant which is under the IHM group (owned by two New Yorkers Todd Darling and Robert Spina) and is famous for their casual and authentic Italian dishes.

The restaurant is split into 2 floors, and reservations can be made for tables on 1/F, but not on G/F. Remember to make a reservation if you want to avoid sitting at bar tables!

I went for lunch and they had a 3 course set lunch for $198. Seeing how the restaurants boasts its “value-for-money” Italian food, and given its location in Sheung Wan as opposed to Central, this did seem like a bargain. However, the price is actually all right as there is no compulsory 10% service charge and the restaurant leaves it up to you to tip.

The waiter recommended these two starters to us. The Homemade Spicy Pork Sausage was excellent. The meat was slightly chunky and so had a more chewy and fun texture compared with normal Frankfurters. The garlic mustard sauce was also delightful, as were the roasted onions and peppers on the side.

What really made my day was this White Gold Bar! Mozzarella is already one of the greatest loves of my life as it is. Then wrapped in herb bread and deep fried? It was simply pure bliss on a plate! The marinara sauce was fantastic as it was refreshing and not too cirtus, and had soft pieces of tomatoes in it, which was a great compliment for the crunchy mozzarella sticks. I’ll never forget how the cheese beautifully oozed out as I cut into them!

Arthur Ave. Linguini with Clams - My friends, especially Jocelyn, have been raving on and on about the amazing pasta at Linguini Fini. But for me, it was a bit of a disappointment! True, the pasta itself was freshly made and perfectly al dente (not sure if this is the best analogy, but the texture of freshly made pasta should be a bit similar to the texture of cooked bean curd sheets “腐皮”. You should almost be able to taste the layers as the pasta has been folded over and over while it was made), but the sauce was truly insipid!

Perhaps here in weight-conscious Hong Kong, we much prefer food that is lighter on the waistline, but you simply cannot cook pasta without enough olive oil! You can see in the photo below that the sauce was quite watery, and the clams were…let’s just say, few and small in size. (Do they even look like clams to you?)

As for the Fettucine Funghi, the sauce was similarly bland and watery, and the mushrooms flavourless. IHM, the group to which Linguini Fini belongs, is committed to using local, natural produce and has a shop called HomeGrown Foods which sells vegetables grown in Hong Kong farms. Seeing how the ingredients are supposed to be fresh and of high quality, I suspect the blandness could only be explained by unskillful seasoning.

The Apple Crostata was delicious and the yogurt gelato creamy and smooth. The Tiramisu was really creative too! It was basically a coffee-flavoured cake with a thin layer of mascarpone on top, sprinkled with ground chocolate. Sort of like a normal tiramisu but with the usual proportions of sponge cake and mascarpone reversed.

The set lunch comes with a coffee or tea, and you could pay $10 to upgrade to a Latte or a Cappucino. My Latte was not bad - aromatic but not bitter.

Conclusion: Even though the pasta was a bit disappointing, I would totally come again just for the rustic atmosphere, satisfying food and the deep fried mozzarella sticks!

gko88:

So cute! Pick Your Nose Animal Cups [Fancy]

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Address: 65 Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, London, W1B 4EA

As I mentioned in my review of Mitsukoshi, Piccadilly Circus is great for shopping but may not be the best place for food. I had a recent discovery, Senkai, which is owned by the same people as Dinings, and both restaurants serve Japanese “tapas” (i.e. small plates to be shared). While the food is not the most authentic, the restaurant is chic and spacious and is complete with a cosy bar where you could grab a drink and rest your legs after a long day of intense retail activity. They also have a wide selection of yakitori (Japanese skewers) which are fantastic comfort food.

Unfortunately, it seems that Senkai has now closed down. If you a fan of sharing food, I recommend the Italian Da Polpo or Senkai’s sister restaurant Dinings, which is a more upscale version of Senkai and serves fantastic foie gras sushi.

The location is faultless. The address says Regent Street, but the entrance is actually located on Air Street, immediately off Regent Street.

Aubergine, white miso - This is a healthy and palatable option, but there is no miso taste at all!

Chicken yakiniku (left)/Scallop, yuzu, brown butter (middle)/Fried rice, wasabi and ginger (right) - It would be safe to go for their grilled or fried dishes, which are consistently good and very gratifying.

Pork and Jerusalem artichoke gyoza - The dumplings are nicely crispy and juicy, and the sauce is slightly sour and very agreeable. Senkai also serves foie gras dumplings if you prefer a heavier option!

Soft shall crab tempura Senkai Roll

Not the most glamorous, but the bar is quiet and intimate and is just perfect after a long, stressful day on Regent Street and Oxford Street.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Address: 49 Frith Street, London W1D 4SG

Koya is the place to go if you are looking for authentic, timeless Japanese cuisine. It is situated in Soho, and you can always see a crowd outside the restaurant. But fear not, as you will usually only have to queue for around 30 minutes before you get seated!

Koya specialises in its excellently chewy udon, but other items, including side dishes such as their poached egg and tempura are also magnificent. The staff is predominantly Japanese and are efficient and responsive.

Beef Udon in Hot Broth - The thinly sliced beef is a perfect match for the thick, soft udon, served in a hot, delicious broth.

I much prefer udon in hot broth to cold udon (which will be dipped in a sauce and eaten), as the hot broth makes the udon softer and smoother.

Prawn Tempura - The prawn tempura is beautifully deep-fried, crunchy and not greasy at all!

Marinated Mushrooms - The mushrooms are delicately marinated and is deliciously served cold.

Gyudon - This warm, large bowl of Gyudon (beef served on rice) is unpretentious and unfailingly gratifying! See the small portion of pink pickled ginger on top of the rice in the photo below - try a bit to see if you like it. If you do, you could mix it into your rice; if you find the taste too overwhelming, just throw it out.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Address: 24 Cambridge Circus, WC2H 8AA

Chic and glamorous, Mint Leaf Lounge and Restaurant is a “progressive” Indian Restaurant in Bank which combines traditional cooking techniques with fresh, seasonal local produce.

Its prime location in Bank enables it to draw a lot of smart diners who work in the area. As I mentioned before, I am a newbie when it comes to Indian food, but Mint Leaf’s modern and magnificent setting and glitzy bar will guarantee an exciting and marvellous night out. (Moreover, it is some of my Indian friends’ favourite restaurant, so it can’t be too bad!)

Lamb Sheekh Kebab, red onion and olive salad with cucumber jelly -
The Lamb Sheekh Kebab is meaty and delicious, and the cucumber jelly has a chewy texture and exotic taste.

Mushroom and Goat’s Cheese Parcel- The mushroom and goat’s cheese parcel is appealingly soft, cooked in a delicious tomato sauce. I also love the beautiful presentation with thin sheets of edible gold!

Chicken Chettinad, Spinach Poriyal - The chicken chettinad is simple and excellent.

Lastly, Garlic Naan - I love garlic naan. It is one of my all-time favourite sources of carbohydrates!

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Address: 40 Wellington St, Convent Garden, London WC2E 7BD

I am constantly looking for restaurants near shopping areas (e.g. Mitsukoshi, Clos Maggiore), and Boulevard Brasserie is one of them, being just off the Piazza in Covent Garden.

This Parisian brasseries serves reasonably authentic French food, and often has great discounts on Toptable. The food, as expected for its price, could be more fine, but some dishes were good, and the service was warm and friendly. It is therefore understandable that Boulevard Brassserie still continues to draw tourists and theatre-goers.

For cheap and more reliable European food, you could try Kettner’s in Soho.

Foie Gras & Chicken Liver Parfait, caramelised onions and country toast -
The parfait is delicious and the caramelised onions are perfectly cooked and slightly sweet.

Confit de Canard, leg of duck confit with lentils, lardons, mushrooms & baby onions - The duck confit lifted our spirits on a rainy day, as its skin is crispy and it is packed with delicious flavours. The lentils, however, were not cooked long enough and were a bit hard (see the Braised pork belly with Puy green lentils at L’atelier de Joel Robuchon for skillfully cooked lentils).

Beef bourguignon & Mash, braised beef stew in red wine with baby onikons, lardons & mushrooms - The beef bourguignon is reasonably good, rather insipid as a main course. You would have happily eaten it but not feel delighted.

Crème brûlée - The caramel is burnt! That aside, the custard is rich and creamy and it tastes decent.

Rating: ★★★★★

Address: 127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2AQ

You are planning your trip to London and you are scrolling down list of Michelin starred restaurants. You suddenly realise that there are over 50 of them in London alone - what do you do? The best solution is to skip the Michelin one-starred restaurants and head for the two-starred ones.

Restaurants with two Michelin stars have an edge over the ones with only one star. Moreover, they will usually be striving for the third star, and so will usually perform consistently well. Michelin three-starred restaurants are excellent, needless to say, but tend to be more lavish and might not be suitable for a meal on the run.

The Ledbury is a great example of a phenomenal Michelin two-starred restaurant, with gracious service and mouthwatering food. It is difficult to secure a table at the Ledbury, so we were very happy that we managed to secure a table at 9.45pm during the week. The restaurant’s popularity was immediately evident in the fact that it was completely full on a Tuesday evening, despite its not-so-central location (by that, I mean a 15-minute walk from Westbourne Park tube station). I can, however, assure you that the meal was definitely worth our walk in the cold!

For lunch, there is a set menu (£35.00 for three courses) as well as the à la carte menu, but for dinner there is only a fixed menu and you can choose how many courses you want to order. The set dinner is at £80.00 for three courses, but it is worth every penny as the food truly exceptional!

The Australian super-star chef Brett Graham certainly did not disappoint, and produced thoughtful and delicious food throughout the entire meal.

The amuse-bouche was a Soft Boiled Quail and Mushroom Marmalade, which was a playful and delectable combination. Not to mention the portion was also perfect!

I loved the tasty breadroll on the right which had onion and bacon bits in it!

Your heart would literally sing, as mine did, as you ate this Flame Grilled Mackerel with Smoked Eel, Celtic Mustard and Shiso! The mackerel was tender and deliciously burnt on the surface, and the creamy Celtic mustard was wrapped in a chewy (and slightly sweet) gelatin packet.

Cornish Oyster Chantilly and Tartare with Horseradish and Dill - The
oyster tartare tasted sea-fresh and the seasoning was absolutely agreeable. How elegant and edible did the oysters look in a cocktail glass!

Hand Rolled Macaroni Stuffed with Rabbit and Celery, with a Velouté of Toasted Hay and Truffle - Apologies for eating bunnies…but the hand rolled macaroni was marvellously al dente and this dish also got brownie points for the shaved black truffle which all girls love!

Roast Turbot with Crab, Pinenuts, Cauliflower and Blood Orange
- Argh!! Look at the pile on the right - who shaves cauliflowers like this? It looked so pretty and so much like snowflakes that I didn’t want to eat it!

Jowl and Cheek of Pork with Carrots, Spice Cream, Pedro Ximénez and Dried Chicory Reduction - You just have to come and try this slow-cooked pork! It has been cooked for 8 hours and it is jelly-soft and literally melts in your mouth! It even beats the phenomenal pork dishes at L’atelier de Joel Robuchon and Hibiscus! 

Pre-Dessert - Pineapple Jelly with Coconut Foam - Very delicious, and felt like an edible piña colada!

Passion Fruit Soufflé with Sauternes Ice Cream - The soufflé was light and fluffy and the sweet and citric passion fruit seeds and syrup gave the dessert a fruity flair!

Caramelised Banana Galette with Salted Caramel, Peanut Oil Parfait
- Absolutely amazing dessert as well! The thinly sized, caramlised banana was sweet and crunchy and not overwhelming at all.

Mille Feuille with Vanilla, Rhubarb and Clementine Leaf
- Don’t let the word “rhubarb” scare you, this buttery mille feuille is absolutely fluffy and delightful and we ate it in seconds!