Food and Drink Awards: Best Restaurant 2011
8½ Otto e Mezzo
If we could name one restaurant that’s consistently wowed us since day one, it’d be this place. Led by master chef Umberto Bombana, Otto e Mezzo takes the glitz and glamour of high-end dining and builds in a solid backbone of precise Italian cooking. The handcrafted pastas are the stuff dreams are made of, whether we’re talking about plump, burrata-filled ravioli with tomatoes, or cavatelli blanketed in shellfish ragu and fresh sea urchin. It’s amazing – hell, the best pasta in the city. Bombana also does magical things with seasonal seafood, roasting fleshy langoustine and dressing it in a piquant mix of fresh herbs, citrus and capers. Throw in first-rate service, an extensive wine list and bespoke cocktails designed by an award-winning mixologist and there you have plenty of reasons to love this place too.
Shop 202, 2/F, Alexandra House, 18 Chater Rd, Central,
2537 8859; www.ottoemezzobombana.com. Daily noon-2.30pm & 6.30pm-10.30pm.
Runner up
Amber
Richard Ekkebus was close to walking away with two awards this year. After all, Amber keeps stepping up its game and we couldn’t be happier to have this restaurant in our own backyard.
7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen’s Rd Central,
2132 0066; www.amberhongkong.com. Daily 7am-10.30am, noon-2.30pm & 6.30pm-10.30pm.
Readers' Choice
Last year, we named Bloom our favourite new restaurant. This year, you’re showing them even more love by crowning it your top choice for 2011. 5/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham St, Central,
2810 6166; www.lily-bloom.com. Mon-Thu noon-3pm, 6pm-11pm, Fri noon-3pm, 6pm-2am, Sat 6pm-2am & Sun 11am-9pm.
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