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First Served: Carbone

FIRST SERVED

We visited the eagerly anticipated Carbone (tel: 2593 2593) in LKF Tower the second day after it opened and were transported to an old-school New York fine dining restaurant, with a 1960s and '70s soundtrack to match. Waiters are dressed in sharp suits - apparently designed by Zac Posen - and menus are large, but list select items.

Be warned that a meal here is not cheap - our bill came to HK$600 a head, even though we shared everything. The appetiser of grilled octopus was fantastic with a kick from the chilli peppers, but the sea urchin fusilli fell flat with more flavour from the spring onion garnish than the uni.

Lamb chops (above) were more rare than medium-rare, but the US-imported meat was tender and topped with mint leaves that were chopped tableside. Some of the items, such as Mario's meatballs and the chocolate blackout cake, were not available, but what makes an evening here memorable is the wise-cracking New Yorker, Louie Carbone, cousin of co-founder Mario.

A new restaurant called Sepa (tel: 2521 9800) has opened on Caine Road. The outlet, whose name translates to "squid" in Venetian, is helmed by Enrico Bartolini, the youngest chef in Italy to be awarded a Michelin star (he now has two). Sepa serves "Italian tapas", including anchovy, tomato and stracciatella cheese focaccia; beetroot tartare; and ravioli filled with veal cheek and parmigiano sauce.

 

Opening a restaurant or bar? Contact [email protected]

 

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