LE 39V: Delicious Dinner With A Spectacular View

A romantic spot, breathtaking views and a dining experience to rival the best

District: West Kowloon, Hong Kong
Cuisine: French
How Much: Dishes range from $390 – $680
Best for: Special occasion dinners, date nights, formal gatherings
Must order: The Veal Chop, Grand-Marnier Soufflé, all the cheese!

There aren’t a lot of things that will take your breath away, but seeing our fair city from the 101^st floor of the ICC building is one way to get that feeling. We had the pleasure – and believe me, it was a dining experience to match its Michelin stars – of trying out the new restaurant LE 39V, and we were treated like royalty from beginning to end.

I have to begin with the service. The manager, Julien Boulay, was on hand to make sure our every need was met. He knew exactly which wines to pair with each dish, and we were never disappointed. He gave us some insight as to what the dishes were, and explained to us how each was prepared. You could tell he not only loved what he did, he worked hard to hone his craft.

The waitstaff was super attentive and dedicated as well. Constantly taking care of our needs, our water (and wine!) glasses were always filled, and clean cutlery and dishes were always provided.

But let’s get to the good part: the food. No surprise, almost everything we tasted was delicious. To start Executive Chef Nicolas Raynal prepared an amuse bouche made with melon that was light, cool, refreshing and a great way to start the meal.

We followed up with a Niçoise Style Red Mullet ($470), which was lovely, crisp on the outside but flaky inside, seasoned well and accompanied by fresh tomatoes and olives. We also had the Kristal Gold Maison Kaviari with Smoked Eel ($470), which was slightly salty, but one that will easily satisfy the caviar lovers out there.

I know lots of people in Hong Kong love anything with truffle (count me as one of them!), so the lip-smacking Oven Grilled Macaroni And Cheese With Black Truffle ($420), which had just enough truffle to satisfy (but not too much to be overpowering) was a treat. It was very filling as well.

For mains, we were offered a Roasted Farmhouse Veal ($590) served with a colourful display of steamed vegetables, and this was definitely a stand-out dish. It was cooked well, arrived moist and flavourful, with just the right amount of sauce to accompany it. If you’re a monkfish fan, you may enjoy the Thick Monkfish with Shellfish ($590), however, I prefer a flakier, lighter fish (the big portion would definitely satisfy your hunger, nonetheless).

No visit to a Parisian resto would be complete without a selection of French cheeses, so we had to try all of them! When we were presented with a seasonal selection of goat’s milk, cow’s milk, sheep’s milk and blue cheeses ($390) to try, we honestly couldn’t decide which one we loved more. Mr.Boulay suggested the order in which we sample the cheeses, and again, he was spot on.  I would come here just for the cheese selection alone!

At this point we could barely move, but when we saw the desserts on offer, we forced ourselves to try them. Again, we were happy we did. Hands down, the Grand-Marnier Soufflé with verbena sorbet ($250) was by far the best I’ve ever had in HK. It arrived fluffy and warm, and Mr. Boulay cut into it and poured a delicious, creamy orange sauce that made it even more tasty (yet not too sweet). I also enjoyed a Mixed Fruit Salad with Grapefruit Sorbet ($220) served on a gelatin bottom that was accompanied by tangy Grapefruit Sorbet, and my dining partner had the Paris Brest, a cold, nutty, thick treat made with hazelnuts that mirrored a peanut butter whip. It was fantastic.

LE 39V is truly a dining experience to be had – the soft music playing in the background, the incredible view, the lighting – all made this one dinner we won’t soon forget.