[Mariposita]

Originally Posted by martyn

Have you tried La Pampa's Argentinian Steak House in SOHO? I felt they did a good job with the steak.

Oh, I totally agree with martyn on this one. The steak is juicy and cooked perfectly however you want it (I'm a medium rare type and they made it exactly that way rather than over cook it which is what usually happens). Don't forget to ask for the chimichurri sauce (this argentinian herb salsa that tastes impeccably good with the meat) for it though because the waiters usually won't bring it out unless you ask them to.

The restaurant manager was also checking on the clientele every once in a while and was very responsive and friendly so it made the meal that much better. I heard him patiently recommending wines to the table next to us and we had a chance to chat with both him and the main chef. So, wonderful service if you decide to use it!

I also really like the small and cozy environment. Be prepared to spend quite a substantial amount of $$ though if you want to order a full meal. Between two we rang up around $800 with a bottle of wine, 2 appetizers, 2 main steak dishes and dessert. It was worth it though, and of course, it's entirely possible to spend much less. We weren't sure of the portions and I couldn't even finish half the stuff of my main course because the slab of meat was huge and came with large portions of sides.

Does anyone have suggestions of places for the best seafood?

I also like The Peak Lookout for once-in-a-while special meals. They have a large menu and I don't think the prices are that exorbitant unless you decide to get some fancy unpronounceable dish. The last time I went I got drinks and a main dish and it was roughly $120 per head. And of course the venue is pretty - sitting outdoors in the evening when the weather is nice has a great ambiance.

[dainsai]

Hi ! I think the idea of $500-budget is great. My choices are:

Best in Central - Plats
Best in Lan Kwai Fong - None, you just don't go there for food.
Best in SoHo - Jaspas and BOCA
Best in Causeway Bay - Chuen Cheung Kui
Best Hotel Restaurants - Grand Hyatt coffee shop
Best Seafood Restaurant - Under Bridge Spicy Crab
Best Cantonese Restaurant - Chuen Cheung Kui
Best Dim Sum - West Villa
Best Thai Restaurant - Tung Shing
Best Italian Restaurant - None in this price range ...
Rest of the Best - Beijing Dumplings, Yin Ping Vietnamese, Ichiban

[mong1972]

Originally Posted by mattstewart

and why dont people mention any of the local alley way garage door shops?

those are by far superior in flavor compaired with the big chains and whatnot....

Try these few places..look beyond their decor and space, it is really nice.

Claypot rice at Sai Ying Pun,no.5, gui xiang st (2803 7209)

Pang's Kitchen at 25 Yik Yam St, Happy Valley.(28385462)
Try their fish chin with garlic and spring onions... to die for. Must pre-order

Under Spicy Crab
429 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai ( 2573 7698)
My husband and I love this one! Often bring our overseas friends here.

For better ambience...

We loved Plats, French private kitchen, at 2/f, Yu Wing Bldg, 64-66 Wellington St. (29710808)

Good and affordable Cantonese cuisine
Ka Kee at Queen's Road WEst 438 ( 2540 8266)

For a slightly higher budget, we enjoyed the ambience at Petit Pomerol, G/F, Shelter Street, Causeway Bay. ( 2915 7282)

Yeah... it's our past time to look for good food, not necc. expensive.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by mong1972

For a slightly higher budget, we enjoyed the ambience at Petit Pomerol, G/F, Shelter Street, Causeway Bay. ( 2915 7282)

I'd be interested to hear other opinions on this place. I went once probably 18 months ago for lunch. The food, service and ambience were very good, but the portions were absolutely tiny and the price was very, very high. I remember leaving there after taking their full set lunch (3 or 4 courses) and both I and my companion immediately went looking for some snack to eat because we were still hungry. And it cost $200+ (not including wine) per head for lunch.

Is that still the way it is?

[cb1118]

I recently went to Regal Hotel Causeway Bay.
there is an Italian restaurant on the top floor (31st fl, I believe)

I have not tried it, but the menu looks good!

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by cb1118

I recently went to Regal Hotel Causeway Bay.
there is an Italian restaurant on the top floor (31st fl, I believe)

Zeffirino. Yes, it is good, in a slightly formal upmarket Italian sort of way. Not bad views, plenty of space between the tables, good food, and deals on HSBC Credit Cards (the Premier one at least) which range up to 50% off the food bill on Wednesdays.

[texasaxel]

I've summarized the responses so far; recommendations offset with negative comments in the thread have not been included; the numbers in parentheses indicate number of recommendations.
I created additional categories where it seemed reasonable. Enjoy!

Best in Central – Plats (French) at 2/f, Yu Wing Bldg, 64-66 Wellington St (2)

Best in Lan Kwai Fong- Stormy Weather, Hanagushi (Japanese)

Best in SoHo- Jaspa's (5), La Pampa's Argentinian Steak House (2), Pacific Grill, Boca

Best in TST- Swiss Chalet

Best in WanChai - CineCitta, Olala, Sweets

Best in Happy Valley – Brown, Pang's Kitchen at 25 Yik Yam St, Happy Valley

Best Hotel Restaurants- High tea at the InterCon (better than Peninsula), Mandarin Oriental's The Grill (though pricey), Conrad Buffet and Ritz Carlton Buffet, Grand Hyatt coffee shop

Best Korean Restaurant: Myung-ga in World Trade Centre (2), CWB

Best Japanese Restaurant - Kikuzen (Japanese in Pacific Place), Ichiban

Best Indian Restaurant - Bombay Dreams (3), Veda, Jojo's Mess Club in Wan Chai, Branto (TST), India Palace (TST)

Best Vietnamese Restaurant - Yin Ping Vietnamese, Soho Spice

Best Thai Restaurant- Thai Basil in Pacific Place (2), Phukets Mid Levels, Wyndham Thai, Tung Shing, Sukothai in Stanley

Best Pub Grub- Diesel's on Lamma, Old China Hand

Best American Restaurant- Hard Rock (3), Dan Ryan's (2), Shooters in Times Square (2), Ruth Chris's Steak House, TGI Friday's

Best Cantonese Restaurant- Chuen Cheung Kui (Causeway Bay), Petit Pomerol at G/F, Shelter Street, Causeway Bay , Ka Kee at Queen's Road West 438

Best Dim Sum- City Hall, Dim Sum (Happy Valley) and Water Margin (Times Sq), Lei Gardens (Wan Chai or IFC), West Villa

Best Seafood Restaurant- Under Bridge Spicy Crab at 429 Lockhart Road in Wan Chai (2), Lamcombe on Lamma

Best Pizza- Pizza Express (3) , Pizza Milano, Bookworm Cafe, Life, Wildfire

Best Italian Restaurant- Gaia, Grappas, Via Quadronno (IFC), Zeffirino

Rest of the Best-, Chuan Bar Bar for Sichuan, Win Fat for sponge cake, Olive (Greek), Quarterdeck Club, Coyote (for Nachos), Balalaika (Russian), Peking Garden (Pacific Place), El Cid (Spanish), Peak Lookout, Beijing Dumplings, Claypot Rice at Sai Ying Pun,no.5, Gui Xiang Street,

[mrcheese321]

Here are my votes:

Best Deli: Oliver's (yes, I'm adding a category)

Best Seafood: Anything on the harbor in Sai Kung

Best Pizza: California Pizza Kitchen

Best Steak: Morton's of Chicago

Best Japanese: Blowfish

Best Pizza: Pepperoni's in Sai Kung

C

[cb1118]

http://www.ifc.com.hk/english/restaurant.aspx?id=3071


ISOLA, IFC

this restaurant is great taste (next to Lane Crawford)

[hughb2000]

Best in Central - Dot Cod
Best in Lan Kwai Fong - Woolo Moolos
Best in SoHo - Cant remember name but about 3 restaurants down from pepperonis
Best in Causeway Bay - Kubali's (in wanchai actually) or Entrecote
Best Hotel Restaurants - Mandarin Grill
Best Indian Restaurant - Jashans
Best Asian Buffet - Spices
Best American Restaurant - Shooters 52
Best Seafood Restaurant - Lamma Seafood restaurant
Best Cantonese Restaurant - Anywhere with cha siu fan!
Best Dim Sum - Maxims Palace (City Hall)
Best Thai Restaurant - Lang Kwai alley or Thai farmer hut (wanchai)
Best Pizza - Pepperonis! - The New Orleans pizza hands down!