From Fried Chicken to Fresh Burrata: Here's What to Eat in December

Osteria Felice
The constant ebb and flow of restaurant openings and closings in this city can be disheartening, especially when you’re saying so long to old favorites (RIP Fatty Crab and Souvla), which is why we’re glad to see newcomers that seem to wield staying power. Hidden away in dead man’s land between Central and Admiralty, the opulent, gold-plated dining room of Il Milione has been stripped away to make room for a more affable, more affordable newcomer, Osteria Felice that has us hooked already. The mozzarella and burrata section is pure decadence, with 11 different presentations of the premium cheeses, including the classic caprese and topped with Oscietra caviar. Don’t miss the well-priced handmade pastas such as squid ink linguine and oxtail ravioli, as well as the pizzas that rival the chewy, slightly charred crusts of current Neapolitan-style pizza king, Motorino.

The Roundhouse—Chicken + Beer
With nothing being more quintessentially southern than fried chicken and beer, chef Austin Fry is sticking to his roots at The Roundhouse—Chicken + Beer, a new take on the original Roundhouse taproom in Central. We found the fried chicken just as you’d expect from a Texas-born chef (and one named “fry” nonetheless)—juicy and tender sweet tea-brined chicken coated in a crispy, crunchy, well-seasoned batter. Other snacks like fried okra, deviled eggs (also fried) and buffalo wings are needed to soak up 32 different beers on tap, including local heavyweights Young Master Ales and one of our favorite Shanghai imports, Boxing Cat Brewery. Be prepared to guzzle several different varieties and don’t miss the Spiced Porter, which makes for the perfect winter drink.

Café Hong Kong
Looking to evoke the nostalgic atmosphere of the old Hong Kong bing suts of the 60s and 70s, Café Hong Kong celebrates its grand opening this month with a great deal: $128 for a 90-minute all-you-can-eat feast featuring 32 items on the menu, including baked seafood rice, spaghetti with beef, steamed shrimp dumplings, chicken buns and pork chop rice. Decorated like an upscale cha chaan teng with vintage posters, dark wood furnishings and antique radios, Café Hong Kong is the place to come reminisce on good ol’ days gone by—or alternatively, to stuff yourself silly with as many plates of noodles, chicken wings and dim sum you can squeeze into an hour-and-a-half eating marathon. The promotion runs for dinner daily from now through Feb 29, 2016.

A version of this article appears in the December 11, 2015 issue of HK Magazine as New & Noted.