Shop 2015, 2/F Miramar Shopping Centre, 132 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: 2473 0168
The vibe: at first glance, the dark interior of small tables flanked by beige chairs under walls lined with wine bottles, and the ubiquitous oversized television screen, looks pleasant enough. But walk past the kitchen, where hams hang inside a glass case, and the selection of cheeses, and you'll find most of the patrons out the back. Set just above the brash Knutsford Terrace strip, this casual area hemmed in by high-rises couldn't be called charming, but it is calm.
The drinks: to complement its hams and cheeses, the bar's extensive wine list has an interesting mix of old and new, most about HK$300 to HK$400 a bottle. But most successful was the Beer Combo, a flight of four beers, which arrives on a wooden platter. The staff advise in which order to drink them. The choices - two Arcobr?u (one light, one dark), Asahi, Hoegaarden, Budvar and Marston's Pedigree - are different enough to make for interesting comparisons. Once cocktail hour arrived, however, things went severely teenage. Tongue-curlingly sweet and with relatively little alcohol, the Manhattan, gimlet (with way too much ice) and mochatini (the bar's version of an espresso martini) elicited a grimace with every sip. But what was bizarrely drinkable was the unseasonal christmastini - a pool of grenadine under a green layer of mint and melon liqueur, mixed with pineapple juice. We had expected it to blast the sweetness scale to smithereens.
The verdict: while the service is friendly, and for the most part efficient, it seems the bartenders are mixing their bubblegum cocktails for people who haven't progressed past soft drinks. If you're in the area, a post-work Beer Combo on the terrace hits the spot, but it's not really enough to make a special trip.