WARNING: GURU

I rarely do these horrific posts where I tell everyone to not go to a specific restaurant, so you know that when I do, it's serious.

After watching The Nutcrack with Y, we decided to go have some shisha and chill drinks. We got a nice little table outside Guru and ordered two mojitos. The weather was a bit hot last night so it was really refreshing to take a deep long sip from the cold drink. As I was about to take another sip I saw a MASSIVE BUG in my drink. It was not just a fly, it looked like a BABY COCKROACH. 

I honestly was about to throw up, it was absolutely disgusting. I told the owner and he gave the bartender a dirty look and took away the drink without uttering a single apology. 15-20 minutes later I had a new drink, and was not offered ANY explanation or apology- nothing. The LEAST you can do is say sorry, if anything the drink should be free! The bill came and we just payed it but I was this close to having a bitch fit. 

Reviews on this place have been relatively positive but even if their food is ok, you can only imagine how dirty things and unhygienic this place is, also, this type of attitude towards customers is just unacceptable. If you don't want to be potentially consuming baby cockroaches in your meal/drink, avoid this place!

Guru 

13 Elgin

Soho

Central

Hong Kong

Papa Fok's Feast

Bestie C's dad is a master chef and I've been lucky enough to savor his creations on various occasions. I went over to C's place for a study date one day and was delighted to find out that her dad was cooking dinner that night :D

Societi

H and I have been wanting to try Societi for some time, I am not quite sure how I came about this restaurant but the reviews have been very good and prices also seemed very reasonable. We went with a group on Friday and although the food was good, I think it is better as a casual weekday dinner. Happy Friday should be reserved for more exciting meals and Societi comes across as a place you would drop by after work for a quick bite. The atmosphere was cozy and comfortable. The service definitely needed some improvement; the waiters were polite but undertrained. When I ordered the charcuterie platter the waiter looked absolutely bewildered... I repeated it several more times and he was still clueless. In the end I had to say "meat board" in cantonese for him to finally realize what I meant. It is a absolute given that waiters should at least know the name of the dishes on the restaurant that they worked at! The were also not very good with keeping the wine glasses full, we had to ask them several times to refill our glasses. They also did not have the knowledge that you had to change wine glasses for different types of wine and almost poured a new type of wine into a wine glass that was used to serve the previous wine.

Chicken Bites with Homemade Wasabi Mayo
Mmmm these were soooo scrumptious. I usually do not like white meat but the chicken was not dry at all. The chicken was really tender, juicy, and flavored perfectly. The outer layer was gorgeously browned and crispy. The chicken bites were not too greasy and each piece was a generous serving. I did not enjoy the wasabi mayo too much as it was a bit too sweet, if there was alioli this would have been on another level! 

Caesar Salad with Chicken Fillet
This was a decent caesar salad, the greens were crisp and fresh, the dressing was good, and the bacon bits and croutons were crispy. I am not a huge fan of salad so I just had a few bites of this. Nothing to rave about but this was decent and a good portion.

Grilled Sardines
These are probably the biggest sardines I have ever seen. I did not enjoy this very much, I though the taste was very sub-par and it may also be because I cannot deal with fish bones at all. The fish was grilled nicely though as you can see from the nicely charred skin. Perhaps someone who enjoys sardines would like this but I didn't think this was a very appealing dish overall. T was annoyed as well because the waiter did not notify us of the unusually large size of the fish so we ordered two dishes thinking it would be the small size and ended up only eating a very small amount. 

Societi Charcuterie Platter
Ever since the charcuterie platter at Franc in Shanghai, I have yet to come across one in Hong Kong that could even compare. I want one where there are pâté and terrines, not just salami and parma! This one had the pâté which was nice but apart from that the salami, parma, and chorizo was only so so. It would also be nice if the bread was a bit crunchier as it was a bit cold and stale. 

Homemade 8 oz Beef Burger with Swiss Cheese and Chunky Fries
I only had a small bite of this patty and I thought it was a bit too salty and sweet (strange I know). The patty seemed to just be over-seasoned and masked the flavor of natural beef. I am not sure if this means that the quality of beef is low therefore they had to go heavy on the seasoning to make up for it or if it was just a mistake in the execution of the dish. 

Spanish Omelet 
The egg was piping hot and fluffy while the crust was deliciously crispy. The chopped vegetables provided a nice array of flavors and the egg itself was also seasoned just right. This was a nice simple dish done right! 

Mussels with Tomato Salsa
The mussels were very plump and meaty and was drenched in a lovely tomato salsa that was very sweet and flavorful. 

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
This is was very simple dish but one that I enjoyed a lot. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is spaghetti with olive oil, garlic, and chili peppers. The spaghetti was cooked al dente and was infused with the aromatic flavors of the garlic with just the perfect about of heat with the chili peppers. I think it would be a good idea to order a meat dish along with this as it would get a bit boring if you just ate an entire plate of spaghetti with no meat but I did thoroughly enjoy this dish. 

Linguini with Braised Beef Cheek
The beef cheek was incredibly tender and just broke apart when you touched it with your fork. It was very very good but the sauce was just too sweet. If the sauce was done right this dish would have been very enjoyable. I think it would also be nice if there was another element to the dish such as diced onions. 

Grilled Ox Tongue
This dish was one of the restaurant's signature dishes but it just did not live up to expectations. It may be because I preferred my ox tongue to be prepared differently. The ox tongue seemed to have been cured as the texture reminded me of corned beef. Perhaps other people enjoy this method of preparation but this was not for me.

"Societi" Roasted Chicken 
Fortunately the restaurant's other signature dish did not disappoint! The chicken was incredibly juicy and the skin was roasted to a lovely golden brown. We were all pretty stuffed at this point but this was definitely a very well roasted chicken. 

The restaurant had its hits and misses, but overall the food is well done and the atmosphere is comfortable. The meal was not particularly memorable and I don't think I will be rushing back for more, but this is a place that I will keep in mind if I am in the mood for a casual quality meal. I think this is a nice neighborhood spot for people who live in Sheung Wan though!

Societi 

87-89 Jervois Street

Sheung Wan

Hong Kong

Press Room

To continue with the feasting on our happy hiking day, we decided to treat ourselves to a gluttonous meal after our physical exertion. L and I decided to dress up just for the fun of it even though the place we went to was not particularly formal. I’ve always known about Press Room and have been here a few times, but for some reason I never come as much as I would expect myself to. The food is really good and I love the atmosphere, its location is also very convenient for me so I am always a bit perplexed with my low frequency of visits! Press Room’s goal is to serve simple and delicious food made from the finest ingredients. The menu is mostly French Bistro yet contains other European comfort favorites. The atmosphere at Press Room is cozy and casual yet retains a sophisticated air.

Hmm... the photo quality is not as good as I expected, I've been using my iphone to take photos recently but I suppose I will go back to my camera for dimmer settings!

Oyster Platter
The oysters were very fresh and was very sweet and flavorful! A great start to the meal.
 

Onion Soup Gratineé
I only had a small spoonful of this but I remember it was well flavored and the amount of cheese was also very decadent :) The amount of onions was very generous which resulted in a very rich soup. 

Grilled Flatbread - Caramelized Onions, Goat's Cheese, Bacon, and Rocket
This dish was decent but was not particularly memorable. The bread was nice and crunchy and went well with the hearty bacon and onions, but I would prefer to order other dishes over this next time!

Louisiana Chili Crab Cakes
The crab cakes were just ok. They were not bad, but I would have preferred them to be a bit denser and crispier!

Dressed Crab - with Gazpacho Dressing
This dish was absolutely delicious! Every delightful morsel was gobbled down in a blink of an eye. The amount of crab was generous and was fresh and sweet. The avocado was creamy and went perfectly with the crab. The gazpacho dressing was refreshing and just took the dish to the next level. We enjoyed it so much that we did not hesitate for a second to order a second serving! Yum!

Slow Braised Lamb Shank - Parmesan Polenta
The lamb was incredibly tender and drenched with a decadent and rich sauce. The meat was infused with the hearty flavors and melted in your mouth. The polenta was a little bit lumpy and I would have preferred it to be smoother and creamier. The vegetables were cooked perfectly, slightly seasoned as to not mask the natural sweetness. Overall a lovely dish. 

Lobster Risotto
I was getting rather stuffed at this point, so only had a small spoonful of this. The risotto was perfectly al dente full of rich lobster flavor. I would like to have more of this next time when I am not filled to my eyeballs with food. Presentation was also very appealing as you can see. 

Cedar River U.S.D.A Natural Prime Ribeye - Peppercorn Sauce
Ok so I had a bite of this even though I was on the verge of explosion. Or at least I am quite sure I did as we also had a lot of wine... oops. But if I do recall correctly this was definitely a solid steak. 

These were the sides that came with the steak. Can you guess what that huge white puff is? Cauliflower! 

Pistachio Crème brûlée and Biscotti
There is always room for dessert! I had a spoonful of this. I don't remember a distinct pistachio flavor but it was nice and sweet. Will have to pay more attention next time! 

Winter Spiced Bread and Butter Pudding - Armagnac Crème Anglais 
This is the final dish of the meal I promise. Bread pudding can always put me in a good mood. And this version was quite good but I think it was a bit too dense. The shaved chocolate and excessive amount of sauce was lovely though. And I must admit I was quite overcome with the previous dishes and wine that I may not be giving this dish a justified review. 

The Press Room is definitely worth a visit! The food is overall very good and the atmosphere is also enjoyable!

Press Room

108 Hollywood Road

Sheung Wan

Hong Kong

Daruma Ramen House 達磨日式拉麵

Sick with the monotonous activities of Hong Kong, H, T, L, and I decided to have a healthy Sunday where we are not buried under the covers hungover and on the verge of death. We decided to hike the "Dragon's Back" trail and planned to get to the trail by 2 pm. Naturally we met up around 3 and did not arrive to the trail until 4 pm. We also ensured we pigged out before engaging in our hike...

I've been to Daruma Ramen House before but did not take any photos therefore did not blog about it. The ramen is quite good, but still does not beat out Butao as number 1!

Daruma Ramen R8 - Tonkatsu Broth Ramen with Mentaiko Paste, Pork Belly, and Chashu
This is one of Daruma's most popular choices and I believe was the same choice that I had the first time I came here. The tonkatsu broth is rich but definitely not as flavorful as Butao's. The mentaiko paste is yummy and is a unique aspect of Daruma's ramen. The chashu was a bit too fatty for my liking but surprisingly the pork belly was tender and had just the right amount of meat and fat. I recommend getting an extra plate of scallions. Overall this is a solid bowl of ramen but H did think that the broth was a bit sweet for his tastes. 

Purple Yam Croquettes
L spotted this on the menu and I am so glad she did! These croquettes were really scrumptious, the yam filling was moist and sweet while the outside panko crust was crispy and not overly greasy. Will definitely get this again next time!

Deep Fried Gyozas
I thought these were ok, they were just normal deep fried gyozas... nothing special. But then again I guess its hard to make some mind blowing gyozas that will change me forever. The dumplings were a bit TOO deep fried for my liking, I would have preferred it if only the undersides were crispy. T really liked these those and gobbled them up.

Cheese Mochi
Yay! My favorite. The best cheese mochi are the ones from Sumi Yakitori, but these are also quite yummy. Daruma also serves these already indulgent treats with a plate of condensed milk... which is a added bonus. 

Mentaiko Stuffed Chicken Wings
The flesh of the chicken was quite moist and the mentaiko filling was flavorful. I would have wanted the chicken wings to have a bit more meat but these were quite yummy nonetheless. 

Although Daruma is not as good as Butao, they offer very solid food and is a good choice for a satisfying bowl of ramen. They also serve other foods such as the mochi and chicken wings unlike Butao who only serves ramen. The lines here are also not as long (although both times I've been here was not during peak hours). Definitely keep Daruma in mind if you are craving ramen!

Daruma Ramen House 達磨日式拉麵

92E

Tung Lo Wang Road

Tai Hang

Hong Kong

A not so glorious return to Boqueria

After my first experience at Boqueria, C and I were completely won over and could not stop raving about how delicious it was to our friends. Therefore when S said she wanted tapas I fervently suggested that we go to Boqueria so that she could find out how great the food was. Sadly the meal was a GREAT disappointment and it was nowhere near as enjoyable as our first visit. We have previously heard mixed reviews from our friends who visited the restaurant and could not understand why they did not like the food as much as we did. Now that I have gone a second time I understand why! S and I were joined by H and T; all of us were ready for a nice meal to beat out the weekday monotony, sadly this meal did not meet expectations! All the dishes I had last time were delicious, and when I ordered one of them again it was still very good. Some of the dishes were decent, yet there were also dishes that were absolute misses. But a good restaurant simply cannot have such discrepancies in the quality between each dish! The service was also a little bit spotty with dishes repeating itself and wrong orders. The male host was very friendly however and happily made our sangria stronger at our request.

Chorizo Cantimpalo - Mildly spicy pork sausage cured in pimentón 
T has this obsession with chorizo, therefore we got two things featuring chorizo. I am not particularly a fan and I can't really judge if this is good or bad chorizo but I am not too fond of this dish. The bread was also cold and dry and just not very appetizing.

Chorizo Braised in Red Wine Reduction
Chorizo dish #2. The sausage was just really hard and I did not think the flavor was particularly striking. 

Albóndigas - Lamb meatballs, tomato sauce, sheep’s milk cheese
The lamb meatballs were a bit dry and very mediocre. The tomato sauce was nothing special either. I did like the addition of the sheep's cheese, it added a interesting texture and a nice tang to the dish. Apart from that, the nice was very subpar.

Buñuelos de Bacalao - Salt-cod and potato fritters, citrus allioli
After three disappointing dishes, this was a pleasant change. The fritters were fluffy, flaky, and well seasoned. The outer crust was delicately crispy and went perfectly with the creamy allioli dip. 

Pimientos de Padrón - Blistered Shishito peppers, coarse sea salt
This dish was not bad. The peppers had a nice char to them and a strangely satisfying bitter taste. The presentation however was slightly pathetic. It was not bad, but not something I would order again.

Bombas de la Barceloneta - Two beef and potato croquettes, salsa brava, garlic allioli
These croquettes were mentioned frequently in the reviews and I had high expectations for them. I felt that the croquettes were packed too tightly and was just a big ball of potato. The crust was nice and crispy but I would have preferred the insides to be creamier and fluffier. More meat would also be nice as the ratio of potato to meat was unbalanced. I think a higher amount of allioli and salsa brava would also improve the dish as the big ball of potato seemed a bit dry and one dimensional by itself. I much preferred the creamy croquettes that I had last time! We got them again at this meal and luckily they were just as good as I remembered.

Carne a la Plancha - Seared beef a la plancha, fingerling potatoes, Shishito peppers, mojo verde
"a la Plancha" means grilled on a metal plate, and grilled beef sounded rather promising. Unfortunately this was mediocre dish #I don't even remember. The beef was overcooked and lukewarm. Actually the temperature of the food was a big issue the entire night. Almost all the dishes were lukewarm and that just does not make me happy. I do not recall this problem at my first visit. The beef was seasoned decently, yet the flavor and texture of the meat was very mediocre. As you can see, the fingerling potatoes also left a lot to be desired. 

Tortilla Española Traditional - Spanish omelet of farm eggs, confit potatoes, Spanish onions
This easily was the worst dish of the meal. I understand that the omelet can be served cold but this dish was just not tasty at all. It was basically a bland and cold block. The egg was too firm and the potatoes were mushy and tasteless. The onions did not add any level of sweetness or flavor, it was another empty component to the dish. Even as a egg fanatic I could not eat more than 2 bites of this. 

Anchovies with Salsa Verde and Olives
This dish was a bit of a joke as it came in this humongous dish and contained a few little pieces of fish. I like to eat anchovies but this dish was literally just a few pieces of anchovies... nothing else (well besides the dressing I guess). I would have wanted something done to the anchovies... perhaps on top of some toasted bread with other components to result in a complete dish with harmonious flavors and textures. I don't need to go to a restaurant when I can just grab my own huge red plate and plop some anchovies on top of it myself at home. The quality of the anchovies was fine, but this dish was just too simple and did not qualify as a restaurant dish.

Paella de Mariscos - Bomba rice, monkfish, sepia, squid, shrimp, clams, mussels, saffron, salsa verde
The rice was well flavored and the amount of seafood was decent. This is one of the better paella's I've had in Hong Kong. I think the amount of saffron can be increased as it was not very aromatic. I would not say this dish was amazing, but it was decent. The presentation was also appealing. 

Considering how much I loved my first meal at Boqueria, it was a huge disappointment for me to realize that many of the dishes were of such low standards. Some of the dishes were very good while others were extremely unappetizing. I feel that Boqueria has a lot of potential it is apparent that the chef has talent as reflected by the few excellent dishes that I have tried. Yet the low quality of the bad dishes cannot be redeemed by the tasty dishes! Boqueria should ensure that all dishes are made to the same high standard. People all have different palates, yet some dishes were simply not made well. I may return to Boqueria for the dishes that I enjoyed such as the lamb skewers and potatoes, yet I do hope that the other dishes will be improved to show that they truly care about their food and customers!

Return to Tutto Bello

I have raved about how much I loved Tutto Bello when I went for the first time back when I went to Taipei with my parents. We decided to have our first dinner in Taipei here and Tutto did not disappoint! I think the first time was probably more impressive since it was a surprise but the food was still delicious and service was extremely polite and professional. Every dish was executed well and presented beautifully. The plating was absolutely gorgeous and the ingredients were fresh and of high quality. It was definitely a lovely evening with great food and amazing friends :)

TRUFFLE BUTTER. Give me. 

mmm handmade linguine with truffle 

Such lovely attention to detail 

Amazingly juicy, tender, flavorful lamb. YUM

Tutto Bello

Shuang Cheng Street

Lane 25, Number 15

Taipei 104, Taiwan