26 September, 2012
Eat & Drink

Brasserie On The Eighth – charm & elegance at the Conrad HK, plus WIN dinner for two!

26 September, 2012

There’s always something glamorous about dining in a hotel restaurant. Although you may not have the luxury of actually staying in the hotel, you are still given that amazing VIP treatment from the moment your cab pulls up outside. Such was the case at the Conrad Hong Kong; as soon as we arrived, we felt like celebrities as we were escorted from the lobby to our table at Brasserie on the Eighth, and from then on, we might as well have been royalty! I’d love to say that as a Sassy writer I am a bit of a celebrity (chuckle) but the same treatment is given to all diners.

Brasserie on the Eighth’s pastel décor and faded carpet might be considered outdated and in need of renovation by some, or as exuding the elegance and charm of a bygone era by others… and I agree with the latter! The floor to ceiling windows overlooking a beautiful banyan tree and garden further add to its charm.

Before our four-course meal began ($798 with a wine pairing, $688 without, plus 10% service charge; there are also two or three course options available), we were served a gorgeous plate of canapés featuring juicy figs wrapped in Parma ham, tender bites of salmon, melted brie on toast topped with sweet pear, and amazing pate on crisp bread. These delicious bite-sized goodies set the bar high for the rest of the meal.

Unable to decide which starter to choose, I opted for the appetiser combo: smaller versions of the salmon tartare, pan-seared scallops with asparagus, and foie gras. Each one was perfect, but I was particularly fond of the rich buttery foie gras, served with a slice of dried orange to cut through the fat – delicious.

For the soup course, I chose the lobster bisque. It was rich, creamy and full of flavour, with welcome soft chunks of lobster and crunchy croutons to add a little texture. It was delicious but a touch on the large side considering I still had another two courses to go!

The French onion soup was a better size and the rich flavour was spot on, although the actual soup base was a little too runny. For me however, the main attraction to a French onion soup is not the onion soup itself, but its pungent thick cheesy topping and this one certainly did not disappoint!

Onto the main courses and the black cod had a perfect flaky texture, yet it was ever so slightly lacking in flavour; all it needed was a squeeze of lemon and it would have been good to go.

The grilled king prawns and lamb chops were an interesting yet unfortunately rather disappointing combination that could have been so perfect… The lamb was incredibly tender and flavoursome, paired with a scrumptious mint sauce that really brought out the flavours. The prawns however, although tasty, had been cooked for a little too long and were just too tough to fully enjoy.

Last but by no means least, dessert arrived to save the day. For indecisive (or greedy) people, Brasserie offers a dessert sampler featuring four mini-desserts: strawberry panna cotta, tiramisu, ice cream and hazelnut parfait, the last of which I absolutely adored.

The absolute star of the night however was the ginger soufflé. It was flawlessly light and wonderfully gingery, made the more so by the light ginger sauce drizzled through a hole in the top of the soufflé. Utter. Perfection.

After some complimentary petit fours and more than enough food and wine to send us into a certain food coma, we rolled out of the restaurant, again guided to the lift by the obliging staff.

Brasserie on the Eighth is a charming elegant place with attentive service, wholesome food and a lovely view. Yes, there is certainly room for perfection… but nobody’s perfect. Just make sure you leave space for that soufflé!

SASSY GIVEAWAY: We have two dinners for two at Brasserie on the Eighth at the Conrad Hong Kong to give away! Two lucky winners will get a voucher for a three-course dinner for two people with wine pairing (i.e. what Ale had, minus the soup!), worth $698 per person.

To be in with a shot of winning, simply Like both Conrad Hong Kong and Sassy’s Facebook Pages, then fill in the form below. This giveaway is now closed – congratulations to our two lucky winners, Helen F and Lily Y!

Brasserie on the Eighth 8/F, Conrad Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty
2521 3838 www.conraddining.com/en/

Check out more from Ale on her fab blog, The Dim Sum Diaries!

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