The Bargain Gourmet
Get the most for your money with the best dining deals in town.
The recession means that we’re tightening our purse strings, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t treat ourselves to the occasional indulgence. Who says that you need to drop a ton of money in order to enjoy a good meal? Here are our favorite restaurants for great value-for-money fine dining.
Living Room
High tea has never really been about the food—it’s all about the atmosphere. But while most hotels’ afternoon tea sets come with a major price tag, we’ve discovered an exception with the tea set at the W, which is served in their superbly comfortable Living Room lobby lounge. A wicked bar with fancy cocktails and a DJ at night, it sees warm sunlight stream through its floor-to-ceiling windows during the day. And it’s an ideal place to kick back after a hard day’s shopping around Elements. For $238 for two people, you can choose from two menus, which each feature 20 bite-sized savory and sweet canapés, and over 30 different blends of tea or coffee. The set is available daily, 2:30pm-6pm.
W Hotel, 1 Austin Rd., West Kowloon, 3717-2889.
Unkai Japanese Restaurant
Japanese restaurants in hotels are great, and usually very expensive. But Unkai, the highly acclaimed long-standing Japanese restaurant in Sheraton, has an insanely cheap brunch deal. On every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2:30pm, for just $388 you can enjoy unlimited orders of teppanyaki, featuring fine selections such as Australian Wagyu beef, Atlantic salmon, the giant Hokkaido scallops, free range chicken breast, together with appetizers, desserts and free flow of Asahi beer. That’s right, unlimited wagyu and beer—we’re loving this recession.
3/F, Sheraton Hong Kong, 20 Nathan Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2369-1111 ext. 3087
Fusion 5th Floor
Tucked away in a Sheung Wan serviced apartment block, this European restaurant offers a three-course dinner for $358, or four courses for $398. Its tasting menu costs $450 for six courses, while the eight-course extravaganza will set you back $550. Highlights include quail, free-range Challans chicken, black truffle risotto, and linguine carbonara with crabmeat and sea urchin. For maximum enjoyment, take it out onto the secluded terrace on a warm evening. Not cheap enough for you? Drop in for a lunch set for $118-$148 and enjoy a 4-ounce US prime rib-eye steak with creamed mushrooms and red wine sauce.
5/F, The Pemberton, 22-26 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan, 2854-1801