Fare Thai-Vietnamese.
Ambience Designer chic with a choice of indoor and outdoor seating. Fountain centrepiece with baby elephant statues adds to the sense of contemporary luxury. The presence of actor and martial arts film producer Sammo Hung Kam-bo dining nearby assured us there would be harmony.
Cost HK$120-HK$300
Who to bring Hiking companions seeking to relax from the rigours of Tai Mo Shan; a date or friends on a drive out of town. If you're on foot, the location is HK$21 taxi ride from Cheung Sha Road MTR.
Turn-ons Red Penny's subtle designs and layout would be the envy of many a hotel restaurant, and easy to forget it's within the grounds of what resembles a modernised village property. Service was attentive yet non-intrusive. From the well-run grill we opted for crocodile with Thai lemongrass which came served on three skewers with baby tomatoes and pineapple. Alongside the grill were stalls displaying Thai vegetables, the prized Alaska Crab and Canadian rib-eye steaks. The chicken wings with lemongrass were the toast of the appetisers while the steamed fish crowned the mains.
Turn-offs It's near to a two-lane road so traffic noise can sometimes intrude. So opt for seating well within the restaurant if you prefer more serene dining. Connoisseurs may feel their Thai-Vietnamese favourites may not match that of favourite eateries downtown, but the range of choices and setting more than compensates.
