Lavish rules at Lunar New Year
Year of the Tiger promotions kick into high gear as restaurateurs face chicken-less festivities marked by currency worries, wild stock market swings and fireworks fatigue. That does not, however, appear to have deterred a few upper-crust venues from putting on $1,000-a-head fireworks dinners from yesteryear and hoping for the best.
The Peninsula says it still anticipates being very busy. The effect of the economic downturn has been a cap on price increases, which the hotel says have been nominal.
Most expensive are the Western menus. The New World Hotel's harbourside Panorama dining room is offering dinner for $1,068. At the Island Shangri-La's Petrus, the special fireworks dinner is $988 per person. The Regent's Plume is charging $928 for a five-course set menu on fireworks night. All exclude 10 per cent service charge.
With a few exceptions, Chinese banquets appear to be better value and cost a little less. At The Peninsula's Spring Moon Chinese restaurant, the Longevity dinner costs $7,880 for a table of 12, which works out at $713 a head including 10 per cent service. The Wealth dinner is $6,880 per table, and the Fortune dinner $5,880.
Depending on the choice of set menu, dinner at the Grand Stanford Harbour View is either $4,880 or $5,680 for a table of 12.
The Regent's Lai Ching Heen is serving an eight-course set menu at $860 per person, for a minimum of two people. The Kung Hei Fat Choi menu is $11,800 for a table of 10 to 12.
Bar spirit lacking It should be a blues bar, with a name like Moonshine 1928, but punters must wait until Lunar New Year or beyond before they can have a drink with their live music.
In a spirit of prohibition fostered by Hong Kong's liquor licensing police, the Wan Chai bar is unlikely to celebrate its opening on January 26 with an alcoholic toast. Or at least, not with a legal one.
While management does its best to woo the authorities, staffers will put all their energies into creating atmosphere and a traditional American steak and burger menu. Weekly specials are being planned, along with specialities from different US cuisines.
Located on the site of the old Mercedes showroom on the corner of Lockhart and Luard roads, the theme bar will be decorated in a 1928 Deco style and will seat 65 to 70 people. The manager is Hans Peter, a veteran of Hong Kong's hospitality scene. Tel: 2528-2099.
Sushi does rounds Conveyor belt sushi has taken an evolutionary step into home catering. Hot and happening UK company, Yo! Sushi, is hiring out its conveyor belts - and its chefs - to London's private party circuit.
The upmarket restaurant, which features a remote-control 'robot' drinks trolley, has also opened a second branch in Dickson Poon's Harvey Nichols store, which could bode well for the ideas people at Poon's Seibu shops in Hong Kong.
