The French Connection

Agnès b. Le Pain Grillé
They’re fashion people, so you can be sure there’s meticulous attention to details in all three restaurants. The one on the peaceful street corner of Leighton Road has Provençal ceramic tiles and furniture pieces imported directly from Paris. The one on fashionable Kingston Street is twisted stylishly into two parts, the café area rich with 70s nostalgia, and the inner sanctum a glamorous underground dining room. The newest addition is the casual café with raw, vintage wooden flooring in Festival Walk. The menus are different at each restaurant, but they’re all comfortable places to sit and enjoy your little slice of France. Don’t miss out on the beautifully presented desserts, including strawberry tarts and a selection of crepes.
111 Leighton Rd., Causeway Bay, 2577-2718
2-4 Kingston St., Causeway Bay, 2577-0370
Shop UG-33, Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong, 2265-7681

Café de Paris
Satisfy your cravings for typical Parisian bistro food at Café de Paris. A pleasant, casual dining experience awaits you, with black-and-white checked floors, maroon walls, and even a few old leather cases and a beret or two thrown in to evoke the leisurely café culture of gay Paree. The SoHo outlet has a little terrace at the back, while the one in Discovery Bay opens out to the bay area. The house specialties include mussels in white wine butter sauce, Black Angus rib eye steak with Café de Paris butter and pan-fried foie gras with homemade frites. They also offer a vegetarian menu.
23 Elgin St., Central, 2810-0771
G01B, Water Margin, Discovery Bay, 2987-8202

Caprice
Caprice’s gorgeous classic interiors fill one with the expectation that this dining experience is going to be something special. Everything, from the shimmering chandeliers to the sweeping open kitchen and a glowing catwalk that leads into the dining room, is rather spectacular. Chef Vincent Thierry brings his French panache straight from Le Cinq, the celebrated restaurant of The Four Seasons in Paris, and takes a contemporary approach – flavors are rich yet lighter and fresher than traditional French cooking. A little-known fact is that Caprice houses one of the best cheese cellars in the city, importing an unrivaled selection of rare fromages.
The Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance St., Central, 3196-8888

Dap
Oh là là, we can’t say enough good things about Dap. This French restaurant might be hidden in a commercial building on Austin Road but everything about it is geared up to wow the customers. The chandeliers set against modern, dark décor with kitsch-classical furniture is just the start – wait till the food arrives. The roasted suckling pig with marinated grapes, baked halibut with lobster sauce and herbed mascarpone and beet napoleons are as divine as one could find in far fancier – and more expensive – French restaurants in town. Try the lunch and dinner set menus, beginning at just $60 at lunchtime.
1/F, 102 Austin Rd., Jordan, 3526-1228

Le Monde d’Ulysse
Nestled among the bustling wet market stalls on Gage Street, the world of Ulysses is a petit world indeed. With just six tables, most of them two-seaters, it’s an intimate spot for a tête-à-tête between couples over some fine but affordable French food. The menu isn’t long, and it doesn’t have to be. Foie gras starters are worth the moral guilt trip, while the sole and risotto – whose heavy cheese and cream inspires a whole other world of guilt – is pan-fried to perfection. Best of all is the graciously tender entrecôte with frites.
9 Gage St., Central, 2526-2621

Petrus
Perched on the 56th floor of the Island Shangri-La, Petrus mesmerizes you with its commanding views of Victoria Harbour and decadent European interiors, the perfect venue for a fantastic soirée. Serving traditional haute cuisine unsullied by any attempt at fusion or other fripperies, head Chef Frederic Chabbert creates classic meals with the freshest ingredients and a simple approach to presentation that lets the food speak for itself. To accompany this, the wine cellar houses one of the most extensive wine lists in Asia, the highlight of which is of course the verticals of Château Petrus. The attention to detail here is immaculate. A touch that particularly tickled was the “hand bag stools” provided for the ladies and their Hermès – perhaps more of a Hong Kong influence than a French one.
The Island Shangri-La, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Rd., Admiralty, 2820-8590