brunch

THE DINER : Your hangover cure

You may have already read about my earlier post Brunch Spots in Hong Kong (click here), but I’ve got a new place to add to the list –THE DINER.  Newly opened on Arbuthnot Road, I love the place the moment I stepped into it – typical American diner setting – the red sofas, vintage jukebox, car plates, black and white floor tiles. Lovely.

The Diner serves breakfasts daily starting 8am and brunch on weekends from 8am to 2pm.  The menu offers all the comfort food you need to cure your hangover – blueberries buttermilk pancakes, eggs benedict, breakfast burrito, sundae, milkshakes, waffles, (they have something called FAT ELVIS WAFFLES topped with banana, bacon, maple syrup and peanut butter butter (!!) ).

They have kiddo milkshakes – the Malteaser one looked absolutely attractive! and they also have “hardshakes” if u need more alcohol, obviously.  For absolute cure they also have “Morning After Smoothie” which contains coconut water to help you restore your energy. If these do not interest you, filter coffee is bottomless.

We ordered the Eggs Florentine and the All-American:-

IMG_8205

IMG_8204

 

Very typical dishes but they are of good quality.  We actually thought they did the eggs better than The Flying Pan.

 

We just couldn’t resist the pancakes so we ordered the Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes.

photo-2

 

Three fluffy pancakes with LOADS of fresh blueberries.  Generous portion.  That being said, the pancakes at The Flying Pan are slightly better- maybe they have a better batter recipe. These are still good, just lacking a bit of the buttermilk flavour.  But overall we LOVE The Diner, it’s a great place to start a happy day and I left the place feeling satisfied and recharged.  Sometimes we just need some comfort food.

 

Apart from breakfast and brunch The Diner serves a la carte food until 11pm -their burgers look great!

P.S.  Diner style- they do not take reservations.

The Diner, G/F 4-8 Arbuthnot Road, Central, http://www.thediner.com.hk

Brunch spots in Hong Kong!

Hands up if you like lazy weekend brunches !

Sometimes getting up early on weekends isn’t that bad when you get treated to a nice cozy brunch.  Try out the below places for your next weekend brekkie fix!

1. Lily and Bloom

They call their weekend brunch ‘A Movable Feast’. Quite different from your usual brunch experience, buffet style dishes are brought to your table throughout the meal. Perfect for lazy people like us! They also have a separate Omelette Station where you get to choose your own toppings AND the TYPE OF EGG – be it Japanese eggs, Thai eggs, duck eggs, Free range eggs. Good value brunch!

Price : HK$295 + 10% , additional costs for free flow of Bellini

photo 4

5/F LKF Tower, Wyndham Street, Central | www.lily-bloom.com

2. The Flying Pan

My to-go place for diner style breakfast. Opens 24/7. Generous portion and option for bottomless coffee. Personal Favourite: Eggs Guacamole – a Mexican twist of the eggs Benedict with salsa and avocado. Also love their fluffy buttermilk pancakes which satisfy my random cravings for IHOP. Go to the Wanchai branch with more seats and shorter queue.

Price: HK$100ish per head

3/F 81-85 Lockhart Road, Wanchai ; 9 Old Bailey Street, Central | www.the-flying-pan.com

3. Madame Sixty Ate

Located in the J Senses building, the elevator opens up to a space with massive sunlight.  There are a la carte options as well as a breakfast menu for 2.  The honeycomb and coffee cream pancakes are devilicious.

Price : around HK$200 per head

photo 2

1st Floor, 60 Johnson Road, Wanchai | madamsixtyate.com.hk

4. Club Chow

Hidden in The Pemberton Club Chow is a cool chillax spot if you wish to stay away from the crowd.  For Saturday brunch they offer a self-service salad bar, with main course choices like crab cake benedict, seafood linguine, and for meat lovers, lamb chops or striploin.  Their desserts are great too – it was a hard time choosing between Panna Cotta and Creme Brulee!  Their setting can be easily adjusted to cater your group size and there is a private section which can accomodate around 20.

Price: HK$128 up (closed on sundays)

9/f The Pemberton, Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan | www.clubchow.com

5. St. Betty

Indulge in the view of Victoria Harbour while enjoying the delish dishes offered at St. Betty! Their menu ranges from Classic Eggs Benedict to Smoked Haddock Fishcakes and the yummy wagyu steak sandwich!  Also try their mocktails – Princess Tam Tam is a refreshing choice with carrot, orange, ginger and rosewater.

Price: around HK$250 per head.

photo 1

Shop 2705, Podium Level 2, IFC Mall, Finance Street, Central | www.stbetty.com 

6. Boqueria

All you can eat TAPAS!! And I can’t get enought of the paella and suckling pig! Upgrade the drink package to get access to the DIY Sangria Station (how cool is that), free flow cava and bloody marys. Perfect for hangover cures.

Price: HK$238, add $128 for the drinks package

7/F LKF Tower, Wyndham Street, Central | www.boqueria.com.hk

7. LUPA by Mario Batali

Italian buffet of chef’s selections, a secondi of your choice be it pizza or pasta and a selection of desserts, accompanied by live jazz music. Book a table on the terrace if you prefer an Al Fresco experience.

Price: $388, add $200 for free flow beverages.  Sundays only.

 3/F LHT Tower, 31 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong | http://www.luparestaurant.com/hongkong/home.cfm

8. Duddell’s 

Not a fan for eggs benedict or pancakes? Head to Duddell’s for unlimited dim sum served to your table with free flow champagne and Pimm’s cocktail.

Price: HK$580+10%, Non-alcoholic option at $480.

Level 3, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell’s Street, Central | duddells.co

9. Toro Steakhouse and Gastro Bar

New addition to the Civic Square of Elements, Toro provides a unique Latin American brunch. Appetizer buffet includes signature dishes like ceviche and blue crab causa, with Mexican dishes for main course like heuvos rancheros.

Price: HK$218 , optional main course add HK$40-50.

toro

Shop R008, Rooftop Garden, Civic Square, 3/F, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon | http://www.diningconcepts.com/toro/index.php

10. Oolaa

Generous portions for all your breakfast favourites – Breakfast Burrito, French Toast, Bagel etc., all reasonably priced.  No doubt it will remain a popular spot for breakfast.  Head there early!

Price: around HK$150

G/F, Bridges Street, CentreStage, Soho, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong | http://www.casteloconcepts.com/our-venues/oolaa

11. Le Dome de Cristal

The dome-shaped space of the ex “club 9” has now been taken by a champagne-themed restaurant.  Their weekend brunch provides an appetizer buffet, a 6-piece oyster platter and main course of your choice.  Make your experience perfect by adding $280 for the free flow of Louis Roederer champagne.

Price: HK$580, additional $280 for free flow champagne

3/F The Galleria, 9 Queen’s Road Central, Central | www.cristal-hk.com 

12. The Verandah at The Repulse Bay

Want a more lavish brunch? Make the trip to The Repulse Bay and indulge in the colonial charm.  The sunday brunch includes a quality appetizer buffet with unlimited freshly shucked oysters, alaska crab legs, foie gras station, pasta station.  It comes with a main course of your choice and desserts in buffet style. A lovely 3.5 hours pass by quickly with the entertainment of a Jazz band. The brunch is a quite pricey provided that it does not come with wine/ champagne.  It is certainly not a weekly choice but do treat yourself to The Verandah for special occasions. It gets fully booked every week so make sure you make one month before and request for a table by the window side.

Price: HK$638+10% (Sundays only)

photo 3

The Repulse Bay, 109 Repulse Bay Road | www.therepulsebay.com

 

 

Let me know your favourites too!