Chef Antonio Oviedo of 22 Ships is partnering with Jia Group again. This time, the Madrid-born chef will focus on contemporary interpretation of Spanish cuisine and a fine dining experience. Diners can expect set menus with dishes such as Verdial extra virgin olive oil cultivated in Málaga served with wheat and red wine butter, to Choricero chilli pepper – a dehydrated variety of Spanish red pepper served with crayfish and nectarine.

Shop 14, G/F, D Hall, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central

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2. Ramato

Jia Group has been busy during the fifth wave of the pandemic and has announced a second new opening under its wing. Taking over the space that used to be 208 Duecento Otto, the menu is curated by none other than Chef Antimo Maria Merone of Estro. Ramato is a casual concept serving Italian comfort dishes like dry spaghetti with ramato tomato sauce, home-made pappardelle ragu, and home-made fettuccine with king prawns.

208 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan

3. Koi

The waterfront area in Tseung Kwan O is just filling to the brim with new restaurants. The latest addition is Koi, 2,600 sq ft space that offers affordably-priced, refined Japanese bistro-style and continental-style fare. The menu features a wide variety of offerings from classic yakitori, grilled unagi and rolls, to fresh salads, hearty soups and sandwiches.

18 Tong Chun Street, Tseung Kwan O

4. Frenchies

A beautiful little shopfront housing a viennoiserie has opened up on Hollywood Road. If you love baked goods like we do, then head to Frenchies for croissants – made with special flour ground just outside Paris – espresso cinnamon rolls and crunchy wholewheat sourdough. We can imagine the smell of bread and coffee already.

39-43 Hollywood Road, Central

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5. Kin Food Hall

A brand spanking new food hall has opened in Taikoo Place. With more than 300 seats available, the space boasts a star-studded line-up of dishes (over 200, no less) by some of the most well-known names in town, including chefs from Michelin-starred establishments like Richard Ekkebus of Amber and Matt Abergel of Yardbird. There are also exclusive items such as a sukiyaki burger from Honbo. One to check out for sure.

2/F, Devon House, Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay

New menus and moves

1. The Baker & Bottleman’s wine bar

The wine bar at The Baker & the Bottleman is finally open! In the evening from 5.30pm onwards, The Baker & The Bottleman’s upstairs space will transform into a casual wine bar serving natural wines alongside snacks, cold cuts and cheese. The perfect place for happy hour and catching up with mates.

Shop Nos. G14-15, G/F, F15A, 1/F, Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai

2. New chef at Maison Libanaise

Chef Teya Mikhael has joined the team at Black Sheep Restaurants and has launched an awesome meze menu. Sink your teeth into taboule janoubia with bulgar, tomato, parsley and spring onions, or labneh moutabal featuring strained yogurt, garlic, dried mint and walnuts in olive oil. Of course, old favourites such as the roasted cauliflower are still on the menu.

G/F-2/F, 10 Shelley Street, Soho, Central

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3. Chef Rafa Gil returns to La Rambla

Remember the famed Spanish eatery Catalunya, which later changed names to La Rambla after moving to IFC? Well, this is the man who gave us its well-known spherical olives and truffle bikinis. Chef Rafa Gil has returned to Hong Kong and is back to serving diners his amazing cuisine, including new dishes such as steak tartare with Avruga caviar and seafood trikini, a layered bite of Japanese king crab, tuna and caviar crème fraîche.

3071-73, Level 3, IFC Mall, 8 Finance Street, Central

4. Spring menu at Hansik Goo

Welcome in the season with Korean spring ingredients at Hansik Goo. New to the tasting menu (HK$1,398 or US$178) are the oyster dish with deep-fried oyster and jangajji aioli and fresh oyster in chogochujang. We also love the restaurant’s take on naengchae, a snapper roulade with spring vegetables and maesil dressing. If you thought you loved the samgye risotto, the new version incorporates abalone cooked in butter, elevating this old favourite to new heights.

1/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central

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5. Free-flow brunch at Percy’s

Seafood lovers can indulge in a free-flow brunch at Percy’s from Friday to Sunday, 11am to 3pm. The menu is à la carte with items such as dry aged tuna Merguez sausage with Oysri oyster (HK$638); a seafood quiche (HK$268) packed with plump scallops, prawns, blue crab, caramelised onions; and crab cake benedict (HK$248). Two-hour free flow starts at HK$268 per person.

18-18A Shelley Street, Mid-levels, Central

6. A4 Miyazaki menu at N.I.C.E Yakiniku & Fine Wine

Did you know that Miyazaki Wagyu has been winning accolades at Japan’s Wagyu Olympics for the last 15 years? Sample the coveted beef at N.I.C.E Yakiniku & Fine Wine with its nine-course tasting menu Kuro (HK$798), which includes an innovative amuse-bouche trio of preserved vegetables, crab and Wagyu filo roll and drunken Miyazaki Wagyu beef; A5 Miyazaki Wagyu tartare toast with raw quail egg, Kristal caviar and home-made liver paste; A5 Miyazaki chuck roll; sukiyaki with shaved black truffle and more. A great way to celebrate until the next Wagyu Olympics are held this year.

7/F, Aura on Pennington, 66 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay