Opened recently in Lai Chi Kok's D2 Place is Rustico (tel: 2743 4511). This quaint venue was busy on a Thursday evening, but we can't understand why diners are willing to wait in line for a table, as the food was mostly mediocre. We were famished when we arrived, but the first dish of prawns fried with garlic, chilli and olive oil was so overcooked that we couldn't finish it.
The cheese volcano turned out to be a baked round of goat cheese; slicing it open resulted in an eruption of melted cheese, but it tasted bland. Highlight was the slow-cooked suckling pig (above) with crispy skin and tender flesh.
Former Petrus chef Frederic Chabbert has moved to Mano (tel: 2399 0737) at L Place in Central where he will offer a casual daytime menu and fine dining for dinner from early August.
Office workers in One Island East in Taikoo Shing will be pleased by the arrival of Ground Republic for coffee and takeaway bites, and Public (tel: 2784 7900) for items such as steak and Guinness pie and sandwiches.