Vanimal offers adventurous vegetarian dishes as well as those who prefer to play it safe

VANIMAL
Shop 01, G/F, Cadogan, 150 Belcher’s Street, Kennedy Town, 2872 8880

FARE Vegetarian.

AMBIENCE Modern décor accented with bursts of neon and dinosaur-themed furnishings completes the whole look and complements the restaurant's mascot, a colourful dinosaur. Pop music from the past decade filled the air, giving the restaurant a relaxed vibe.

WHO TO BRING Friends with adventurous taste buds.

COST HK$1,126 for two, including drinks.

TURN-ONS We had fun browsing through the menu which featured interesting ingredients, including home-made fermented bean curd powder and a combination of jalapeno and rosemary in After a Fight, a spicy yet refreshing cocktail. The highly-creative dishes, such as Chocolate 5572 which featured chocolate mousse layered on top of brownies, were beautifully presented and packed quite the flavourful punch. Those looking for traditionally "safe" options should try the sweet corn with home-made butter soy sauce and the seasonal tempura. The paella, which included carrots, turnips and lotus roots, is also another excellent safe choice and perfect for sharing. We especially enjoyed sunshine within, a dense dessert pudding made with Chinese dates and paired with peppercorn-infused caramel bits.

TURN-OFFS Although we appreciated the fun twist the restaurant came up with, allowing us to make up our own salad dressing to accompany the fresh "daily catch" of vegetables, the home-made camomile oil and pickle juice did not leave us raving. While the staff were eager and friendly, the wait time for the food was too long for us. The whole dinner took about three hours.

DRINKS The restaurant boasts an extensive drinks menu including craft beer.