Bar review: The Drunken Duck in SoHo serves great beer and pub food with an Asian twist
Gastropub puts the emphasis on good food and, of course, beer
The vibe: The Drunken Duck is bustling yet relaxed and, spread over two floors, pleasantly spacious with solid wooden tables and chairs. A wall of window panes rising from ground to mezzanine level gives an open feel and a sense of connection to what’s going on outside on Staunton Street. Described as a “tavern” the place has a twin focus – gastro-pub food with an Asian twist from British chef David Tamlyn and the drinks to go with it (or imbibe on their own). The name comes from the establishment’s signature dish – spiced duck soaked in beer before cooking.
The drinks: the prime attraction, as you’d expect in a tavern, is the beer. An impressive array of seven draught and 25 bottled beers from 11 different countries offers something for every taste, along with a choice of fruit-flavoured beers and ciders.
Star of the show was the Rogue Dead Guy Ale from the USA (HK$63). Rich, full-bodied and bursting with hops this is a serious beer with 6.5 per cent alcohol (and it has an uber-cool label, too).
Fuller’s Honey Dew from England (HK$68), made with organic honey, has a golden colour and wheaty taste that reminded us of cornflakes.