22 January, 2015
Eat & Drink

ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge – fantastic food with a view of Central

22 January, 2015

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ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge has only been open for just over a month, but I noticed that it had already become a popular lunchtime spot when I stopped by recently. Located in a brand new building that’s tucked discreetly down On Lan Street, ON Dining really took me by surprise when I reached the top 29/F and stepped into the sleek, sophisticated lounge. Philippe Orrico, the acclaimed chef behind the already one Michelin-star Upper Modern Bistro in Sheung Wan (it’s only been open a year! Check out our review here), has teamed up with three of his long-time friends to create this second venture. With fantastic views of Central, this two-storey restaurant includes a lounge, terrace, bar and cheese room on the top floor and a sophisticated dining room with a private area below.

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The food at ON Dining is similar to the food at Upper Modern Bistro. Expect the same fresh, modern European food – but this time with a more Mediterranean twist.

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From the al a carte menu, I tried the 63°eggs with sautéed mushrooms, bisque and yuzu as a starter. The egg was absolutely delicious, breaking at the slightest touch and oozing rich, orange yolk. The little tidbits of lobster were so tender and juicy, and they were perfectly complemented by the flavourful seafood bisque. The mixture of mushrooms gave the dish a wholesome feel, with the sprinkle of truffle adding a seasonal. The added spinach greens were not over-cooked and only added to the freshness of the dish. A delightful, light starter that I would highly recommend!

on dining_truffle pancakeWe also tried the unique mushroom pancake with green salad and chicken jus from the lunch menu, which was rich and creamy thanks to the cheese running throughout. The generous slices of truffle on top packed a punch, and the crispiness of the actually pancake was on point. One word – yum!

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The roasted chicken with ‘boulghour’, sultanas and brown lemon jus was a lovely wintery dish that felt very comforting. This was a great example of how Philippe creates elegant dishes that are homey at the same time, using flavours that we all know and love with finesse.

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I decided to keep my lunch (relatively) light, and opted for the Atlantic cod from the lunch menu. Although the dish did have light ingredients, the generous portion of cod definitely filled me up! The cod was expertly cooked, the translucent pieces of fish sliding off with ease and the bisque (which was very similar, if not the same, as the eggs) was flavourful, complementing the fish.

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I was already quite full, but we had to try a little dessert. The Japanese strawberries with vanilla panna cotta was beautifully presented, and again was wonderfully light and fresh. The strawberries were bursting with sweetness and I love the tart bites of dehydrated strawberry sprinkled on top which added a great range of textures to the dish.

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I have to say that our waitress was outstanding. It’s rare to come across waiting staff in Hong Kong who can balance the perfect amount of friendliness and attentiveness whilst not being too over-bearing. She was brilliant at offering recommendations and considering the downstairs dining room was packed and there were only a couple of waiting staff, they managed to attend to everyone and go out of their way to make guests feel special. I would definitely say that this is some of the best service I’ve had in HK!

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Overall my experience at ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge was highly enjoyable. The staff are exceptional and the food delivers the signature fresh, modern style that Phillipe Orrico is now known for. I wasn’t able to sample the cocktails, but the groovy menus, which are stuck on the back of vintage vinyl records, look interesting… a cocktail would go down a treat on the cosy outdoor terrace! I’m also dying to go back and try some of the exquisite cheeses from the extensive selection. This is the perfect place if you’re looking for incredible food in a fine dining restaurant that also manages to have a relaxed feel. I would also recommend this for visitors, as the view is completely different and really makes you feel like you’re floating in the middle of the city. With starters from $168+ and mains from $298-$588, this is definitely for a treat or special occasion… although the lunch menu is set at a slightly less eye-watering $288 for two courses and $328 for three courses. Or just stick with the ‘lounge’ upstairs, where you can munch on more casual bites like lentil humus, marinated scallops and Greek salad (the lounge food costs between $58 and $188) – ooh and I can’t forget the awesome cheese boards!

ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge, 18 On Lan Street, Central, Hong Kong, 2174 8100, www.facebook.com/OnDiningKitchenwww.ontop.hk

 

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