Name: SCMP
Telephone: +852-2680-8888

Caramelised apple tart from Cafe Epure in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Restaurant review: Cafe Epure in Tsim Sha Tsui does French classics very well, and the service is friendly

This tea room has changed its name, but it is still serving up delicious fine French dishes and pastries that are beautifully made and presented

Susan Jung

Published: 5:03pm, 27 Apr 2017

Why you can trust SCMP

The little tea room outside the fine-dining one-Michelin-star restaurant Epure used to be called La Brasserie by Epure, but changed recently to Cafe Epure. It’s a charming space with a whimsical mural, and service that is friendly, thoughtful and proactive.

The interior of Cafe Epure. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The menu lists French classics: escargots, foie gras and beef tartare, all done very well. You can order à la carte (and I’ve given prices for the dishes), but it’s better to order the set meals of three courses for HK$398 plus 10 per cent, or HK$488 for four courses.

Both Cafe Epure and Epure are part of Dalloyau, best known for its pastries, macarons and chocolates, so it makes sense that all the pastries and breads we tasted were excellent, including a light, buttery brioche that was part of the bread basket.

Sautéed escargots with garlic, onion and bacon on toasted brioche. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The same brioche dough was made into a “coffin” for the sautéed escargots with garlic, onion, bacon and cream (HK$118). It was a lovely dish, with tender snails and a sauce that was just rich enough without being heavy. Seared foie gras (HK$198, with a HK$48 supplement on the set meal) was soft and perfectly cooked, and the accompanying onion and apple compote provided a sweet contrast to the rich liver.

Polmard beef tartare with bread crisps and mixed leaves. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Polmard beef tartare (HK$198) was fantastic – the meat wasn’t chopped too finely, so it still had texture, and the seasonings were balanced.

A main course of button mushroom puntalette pasta with black truffle cream sauce (HK$188) was lighter than expected because of the pasta, which looks like rice, so it tricks the mind into thinking it’s going to be heavy instead of delicate and slippery-smooth.

Slow-cooked beef cheek (HK$228) had wonderfully soft meat with a delicious, well-reduced sauce. We ordered a bowl of potato purée (HK$48) to accompany this dish, but the hot, crisp fries that came with the meat were addictive, and we ate them instead. Duck leg confit (HK$228) had crisp skin, but the meat was slightly too salty; this was the only dish we didn’t finish.

Grand Marnier soufflé. Photo: Jonathan Wong

For dessert, caramelised apple tart (HK$98) had excellent, delicate puff pastry and a plentiful amount of apples. Grand Marnier soufflé (HK$118, with a HK$20 supplement), served with mandarin sorbet, was light and subtle. Crêpes Suzette (HK$128, with a HK$20 supplement) was skilfully flambéed at the table by our waiter. The crepes were tender, but the sauce could have used more orange juice and Grand Marnier.

Cafe Epure, Shop 403, Level 4 Ocean Centre, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 3185 8331.
About HK$400 without drinks or the service charge.

Other places we’ve reviewed nearby recently

Restaurant review: Esmé at Maison Eight in Tsim Sha Tsui – fine French fare

Restaurant review: Sushi Tokami, Tsim Sha Tsui – omakase specialists

Restaurant review: Hanbando in Tsim Sha Tsui – modern Korean

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Cafe Épure

Post