We found Oyster & Wine Bar (Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence) on Best Restaurants Guide.
Amidst a Hong Kong trip that was heavy on food stalls and classic cha chaan tengs, this dinner was exactly the break we wanted: a calm, polished family meal with a breath-taking Victoria Harbour view and true fine-dining service. The entire dinner was cooked, paced and served just right.
Plates and silverware were refreshed between courses like clockwork; a nice change from restaurants where we have to bring our own napkins, wipe down the dishware, and share rickety tables with strangers.
The pan-seared foie gras was sublime. Since it's illegal in California, we always order it when we see it on a menu out-of-state, and this iteration perfectly hit the spot for us.
Guava-cured shima-aji was sliced thin with a clean, oceanic finish and citrus notes that helped clear the palate.
Wagyu beef tartare was topped with a generous spoon of caviar, and each bite popped.
Chestnut cream soup with black truffle and lobster was warm and silky, with a cozy, nutty base.
Brioche-crusted sea bream was browned nicely with a gentle crunch on the outside. Thin black truffle slices added a musky, luxurious aroma.
Wagyu bolognese over curly pasta was hearty and satisfying with generous portions of meat.
Rack of lamb, seared hard for a browned crust and a juicy interior was clean and gamey in a good way.
One of my favorite fine dining fun facts about Chilean sea bass came up. I rarely see it on the menu with its original name, but here it was: Patagonian toothfish. This was nicely steamed, snow-white and buttery, breaking apart in big clean flakes.
The Challandais pigeon was roasted, and the meat was rosy and juicy. The deep, winey jus tasted like classic French sauce.
Black truffle scrambled eggs, spoon-soft and custardy with a simple seasoning that let the egg quality shine.
Bottom line: a very pleasant fine dining experience -- a great break from the beautiful chaos of Hong Kong's most authentic meals, while still feeling worth doing on a family trip. read more