One Island East is a skyscraper in Quarry Bay run by Swire Properties, and in the building are hundreds of hungry office workers. Business-savvy Swire would never miss an opportunity, and so, their concept was born - Public!
There are actually 3 Publics in the building, one Public on the ground floor, then Public the restaurant and Public the deli both on 38/F. All of them cater to the lunch crowd.
This review is for the Deli on 38/F.
The food is actually quite typical, sandwiches, salads and pasta, at decent quality and all in easily take away-able packaging. In addition, they also have hot food counters serving curry, roasted foods and chinese, depending on the menu that day. The price is similar to a Simply Life, which is slightly below the $100 mark. Affordable and extremely convenient for people who work inside the building.
Public closes at 6pm, so is obviously a lunch-only place, they do not aim to be the next Michelin restaurant, but the concept is clear: a good place to have a lunch BREAK: The area is spacious, seats are self serve and almost every seat gives you a sweeping view of the lush green hills behind Quarry Bay or a panorama of Victoria Harbor. You will get a true sense of the word "break" here. Besides that, there is also a foosball table, which I presume is a well-appreciated installation, from the giggling office ladies playing with it, and for the really nervous people, there is a gigantic stock ticker and news display rolling across the top of the entire deli.
Overall, a decent place to buy takeaway or to chill during lunch. But be mindful of being overheard - remember that the restaurant almost exclusively serves people working in One Island East - today I bumped into my company Chairman grabbing a salad here! read more