Common Ground

Common Ground 

G/F, 19 Shing Wong Road, Central, Hong Kong

Date of visit : 11 Mar 2013 (Sun) 6 pm

No. of diner : 1

Average cost per head : $90

Food quality : 8.3/10

Environment : 8.4/10

Service : 8/10

Value-for-money : 8.7/10

Overall rating : 8.34/10

This is another unique tiny café in the NOHO (North of Hollywood Wood) area. The unit was used to be a local design jewelry shop and office, and have been converted  to a café and shop since a month ago. Had a chance to chat with Sean, one of the 4 partners about the concept of the café. Common Ground, as it’s named, aims to be a common place for friends or strangers to mingle. As Sean briefed, many of the wooden furniture were “upcycled” from used benches, desk, floor tiles which also reflects the philosophy of the shop. 

Like many cafes around, Common Ground have limited choices of food, but you can feel their passion from their food. Glad that I paid the visit on a Monday evening and share the 4-seated table with no one. Jazz was played in the house and the visit made my day.

a) Salted Chocolate ($40) – 8.2/10

My eyes spot on this recommended drink (marked with an asterisk) on the menu. Made from their own mixed chocolate base, the shake was rich in chocolate flavour all the way till I finished the drink.  However, I could barely taste the sea salt in the mix but it gave an interesting finishing. A sprinkle of grinded salt crystals on the top may further enhance the flavour of the drink.

b) Common Toast ($50) – 8.4/10

It took some 10 minutes to prepare for the dish but it’s worth waiting. Diced portobello mushroom and onion were deglazed with cream and rested on toasted dried tomato bread. The bread was just a bit too crispy and dry but overall still a good savoury snack. Local grown organic greens and tomatoes sat on the centre of the plate with balsamic cream. The salad was fresh and delicious. This was another recommended dish on the menu board which I totally agreed.

Q : When will I go again?
A : On weekdays to avoid the crowd or before it gets popular.
Q: What will I next order?
A : Crunchy cheese cake or fresh beef burger.

03.2013

Tai O Lookout

Tai O Lookout

1/F, Tai O Heritage Hotel, Shek Tsai Po Street, Tai O, Hong Kong

Date of visit : 8 Mar 2013 (Fri) 5:50 pm

No. of diners : 5

Average cost per head : $150

Food quality : 6.8/10

Environment : 8.5/10

Service : 8.5/10

Value-for-money : 8/10

Overall rating : 7.89/10

Travelled a long way from town after lunch to this hot spot in Tai O was a little bit rush, however, we could still manage to arrive before sunset. But Tai O Lookout, the only dining outlet in this heritage hotel had closed her door between 5 to 6pm to prepare for the dinner. As we only asked for some drinks at ground level (still 2-storey high above the sea level) which was in fact a public area with ratten lounge chairs and coffee tables, the waitress was kind enough to bring us a chilled white with a bowl of peanuts where we could enjoy the beautiful dusk. As we only drank wine for the visit, the rating on food quality is only based on what we had and not relevant to their food.

a) Double 8 Sauvignon Blanc 2010 ($350) – 7.4/10

With no expectation, sauvignon blanc from Marlborough in New Zealand wouldn’t disappoint you either.

b) One Pebble Lane Rosé 2011 ($330) – 6/10

This private label of Tai O Heritage Hotel was made in Hong Kong by the 8^th Estate Winery who imports frozen grapes from Bordeaux, France for this wine and have them aged in their French and American oak barrels located in Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong. This colour of this rosé resembled that of cranberry juice and carried a very sweet note of cherries. Not any close to my favourite dryness as it tasted more like cough syrup for kids than a table wine.

Q : When will I go again?
A : For lunch or afternoon tea.
Q: What will I next order?
A : Likely sandwiches or snacks.

03.2013

Landmark Café

Landmark Café

1/F, The Landmark, 16 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong

Date of visit : 1 Mar 2013 (Sat) 8:15pm

No. of diners : 2

Average cost per head : $290 ($155 after credit card discount)

Food quality : 8/10

Environment : 8/10

Service : 8.5/10

Value-for-money : 8/10

Overall rating : 8.05/10

This Landmark Café is a popular spot for local celebrities having high tea and attracts the paparazzi because of its openness setting in the mall. However, the café will return to normal after dusk. Being one of the Maxim’s group, it offers AE platinum card holders a 50% discount off for a dining party of 2  persons (33% off for a party of 3 and so forth) for dinner throughout the year. So the restaurant is dominated by couples (including me) in the evening. Besides a high price-quality-ratio, efficiency is also a plus for this café. Our dishes took less than 10 minutes from order to serve, so as long as you are able to get a table, you can finish a quick and above average meal in less than 30 minutes.

a) U.S. Sirloin Steak ($280) – 8/10

Medium rare was requested for this steak, obviously it’s more like a “rare” instead. As I could stand raw flesh I didn’t ask to send it back to the kitchen. Another reason that I didn’t complain is that the steak itself is of good quality and was very tender. Nice smell of charcoal. However, the side dish was quite disappointing. The fat chips were not thoroughly fried like what "Deli and Wine" under the same catering group does. And more, the serving plate was cold, a de facto standard for decent Western restaurants.

b) Lobster Capellini ($250) – 7.8/10

Half of a Boston lobster was used for the dish. The lobster itself was fresh and with roes and fat solids in its body. The pasta was cooked with buttery sauce, the overall impression would be better if both the food and plate were hot.

Q : When will I go again?
A : When I need a quick meal given seats are available.
 Q: What will I next order?
A : Anything on the menu depending on the appetite.

03.2013