There’s no denying the French are serious about their crêpes. And in Hong Kong, any crêpe establishment worth its salt is packed with Francophones, both young and old. On the upscale Landale Street in Wan Chai, O delice has the right surrounds. Wide open French doors lead you into a pleasantly light, wood-panel floored dining room that is dotted with cute Gallic paraphernalia — and, yes, there are definitely a few phrases in Français being tossed around.
They serve traditional wheat flour crêpes and galettes here and there’s an array of flavours ranging from sweet to savoury as well as a bunch of other options like salads and waffles. We opt for the Parma ham galette ($78) and when it arrives, it’s a delight to see the pancake fully covered with meat, definitely feeling like good value for the price. However, there are situations when you can have too much of a good thing and, unfortunately, a lot of Parma ham means a lot of salt. The thin crêpe would be perfect – however there isn’t enough carb to break down the saltiness of the meat in this creation.
Our caramel crêpe ($42) arrives criss-crossed with sweet syrup and should hit the spot. However, the quality of the caramel lacks dimension. It could do with a little sea salt – the classic recipe from Brittany, which has become really common as of late.
So, the crêpes at this new restaurant are not bad at all – however the flavours which accompany them fall short on our visit. But it’s still authentically French and, with more attention to detail, could soon be satisfying many a Gallic pancake craving. Lisa Cam
O delice Shop 9, 2 Landale St, Wan Chai, 2520 2311; odelice.hk. Dinner for two: $300.