Review: New French Restaurant Le Colvert Specialises In ‘Duck Cuisine’

Chef Guillaume’s sustainable food philosophy honours the duck in its entirety, transforming every cut into flavourful French dishes.

District: Sai Ying Pun
Cuisine: An array of duck specialties using every part of the bird, from breast to gizzards and foie gras
How much: $500 to $600 per person
Must order: Tasting platter; Rouen-style pressed ‘Challans’ duck; Cuisse Confite; Penne pasta with foie gras, porcini, breast confit and truffles
Best for: Casual date nights and group dinners

Tucked away in Sai Ying Pun, this cosy French restaurant pays homage to all things duck. Chef Guillaume spotlights dishes from South-West France adding his own modern twist, upholding sustainability by using every part of the versatile waterfowl.

Read More: The Best French Restaurants In Hong Kong — Where To Eat French Food

The Location

You’ll be instantly whisked away to a Parisian brasserie upon entering this warm, inviting eatery. Designed to evoke the hominess of a grandmother’s kitchen, the vibe is laidback, convivial and an apt setting for the hearty portions of comfort food. Keep an eye out for the duck artwork, showcasing the bird theme throughout.

Read More: Your Neighbourhood Guide To Sai Ying Pun

What We Ate

What didn’t we eat is the question?! A great way to sample appetiser highlights is the tasting platter, encompassing pâté in a crust, foie gras, smoked duck breast and gizzards confit. All were delicious but the latter was perhaps the favourite, each bite a garlic and parsley flavour explosion. You’re best asking for extra toast ahead of time as two pieces aren’t enough to spread the generous serving of duck liver. 

Read More: The Best New Restaurants In Hong Kong This Month

The Canard de Challans is undoubtedly the pièce de résistance, topped off with just the right amount of showmanship as our delightful server showcased the Duck Press which is used to extract the essence and create a rich sauce. Finished with cognac, wine and herbs, this is drizzled over the tender duck breast that was roasted to perfection.

Read More: The Best New Menus & Dining Deals In Hong Kong

This is not to be outdone however by the humbly presented, yet equally succulent, Cuisse Confite — slow cooked, caramelised and perhaps the duck dish that stole the show. If you’re looking to indulge, the penne pasta with foie gras, porcini, breast confit and truffles, is a combination of every decadent ingredient you can think of. And yes, it’s as good as it sounds. The sides stand up to the punchy flavours of the mains. We were huge fans of the simple green beans with garlic butter and gratin Dauphinois. 

Read More: Where Locals Eat In Central & Sheung Wan

Desserts are also a must. Standouts included the chocolate fondant Baulois (a more solid version of its OG counterpart. Don’t expect any lava spillage when cutting into it) which was heavenly dense. The meringue with whipped cream and red fruit coulis, in contrast, provided just the right balance of light texture, zingy fruit and creaminess, rounding out the French duck feast on a high note.

Read More: The Best Peking Duck In Hong Kong

Final Thoughts

Admittedly expectations were high walking in, with whispers that the city’s discerning French foodies had vouched for Le Colvert’s authenticity, and we were not disappointed. Its cosy vibe, slick service and affordable French classics executed to perfection make it well worth a visit. We’ll certainly be back.

Enjoy 10% off when booking with code “SASSY” into the remark box upon checking out.

Le Colvert, 321 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, 9548 6555, Instagram: @lecolverthk, lecolverthk.com