Italian excellence: fine Tuscan meals at Associazione Chianti
- The restaurant combines good service, delicious dishes, striking decor and, to top it all, music from the 1960s
FARE Tuscan trattoria
AMBIENCE You cannot miss the bright red-and-gold signage beckoning you in when walking along Ship Street. There is a deli at the door and the restaurant is inside. The red theme continues in the banquettes along the white-tiled walls, which hold a few shelves filled with bottles of wine. The tables are rustic wood and the back wall is made up of windows showing the hanging dry- and wet-aged meat.
COST Steak from HK$588 for two to HK$1,298 for four.
WHO TO BRING Friends, dates and family.
TURN-ONS The service was warm and welcoming. We soon had a glass of prosecco in hand while we perused the menu. We started with a light pecorino stagionato cheese with fresh pear and thyme-infused honey. The sweetness of the pear went well with the stronger flavour of the cheese.
Next, the Tuscan steak tartare with carta di musica cracker was full of contrasting textures, from the crispy, smoky biscuit to the subtleness of the seasoned beef.
We shared a thick-cut, bone-in strip loin that was cooked medium rare with lots of seared flavours on the outside. It was tender and delicious and we paired that with grilled broccolini. We also loved the early 1960s music; some would say it was loud, but we could still have a conversation.
TURN-OFFS The pasta with a Chianti beef ragu and Parmesan was a bit salty for our taste.
DRINKS There is a good choice of Italian wines – we chose the Associazione Chianti, which went well with most of the dishes.
Associazione Chianti, 15 Ship Street, Wan Chai, 3619 3360