NATHAN Road may not seem the most obvious picnic spot in Hong Kong to down bags and eat. But amid the basement shops at the Holiday Inn's Delicatessen Corner, it is possible to get the spread - minus the checked table-cloth.
With this style of picnic, there's no danger of forgetting the bottle openers or needing insect repellant. Delicatessen Corner is a functional, busy restaurant, filled with tourists, tired shoppers and business types.
If you visit during peak hours, the service is rushed. That's frustrating, especially if you're curious. When asked 'what's slimmer's bread', one waitress replied by fetching an ingredient list. From the deli counter those bent on picnics can select from a huge selection of meats from the hotel's smoke-house, 20 varieties of breads, pastries, salamis and cheeses.
It would seem an opportunity lost, not to choose some meat and cheese, have them brought to the table with some bread, open a bottle of Warsteiner beer ($36) and picnic Hong Kong style. But our request to do this was dealt with difficulty. It took time for the mortadella ham, emmenthal cheese, pickled herrings and goose liver terrine to return from the deli counter.
When they did, they were metamorphosed to platters with strawberries and grapes. Still, an excellent spread for $120 for a picnic for two.
From the restaurant menu the hot dishes promise hearty fare to those who seek comfort in homemade soups, such as Hungarian goulash. Other fillers include pizza and pasta.
The value of the daily special (soup, bread, meat, dessert and coffee) can't be contested for this neighbourhood, $79. Even the salads don't skimp: Cobb salad comes in a basin filled with lettuce, chicken, egg, avocado and bacon ($88).
