The Central Business District of Hong Kong with its glowing skyscrapers stood amongst us as we emerged from the MTR passageway. The wind blew hard as we tried to cross the street. We entered Mandarin Oriental and sought the refuge of Café Causette for our evening rendezvous. The homey feel of the restaurant warmed us up as we were greeted graciously by a server.
Me and my travel buddies were splurging a bit after our not-so-easy challenge on our cheap food hunt in Hong Kong. It’s been a week and we’re craving for some comfort food. Café Causette is one of the ten dining options at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong (check here for discounted tours, transportation and activities in Hong Kong).
The café was almost filled but it never felt packed or cramped. The warm lights provided a cozy feel. It wasn’t too uptight rather it was informal and contemporary. The overall vibe was soothing as we kept on looking at the glass windows of the windy Hong Kong at dusk.
We scanned
the menu and were amazed on the great selections they offer. A wide variety of
Asian and Western dishes were listed. It was so extensive that choosing a single meal was a challenge. We then decided to order each from different
sections (taking note of the signature dishes) so as to experience a
gastronomic tour around the globe.
I scanned the
menu and paused on a specific item. I continued perusing and went back to it,
and did it again. After a minute or so, I finally requested for the Fish and
Chips; it was love at first sight. And the group ended up
having a crazy good mix of everything.
I first tried
the Singapore Curry Laksa and the creamy soup was tasty with hints of mild spiciness. The textures from
the prawns and balls blended perfectly well. The freshly-made noodles were tasty. My buddy loved it that he quirked that it was totally comparable to what they serve in Singapore.
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| Singapore Curry Laksa (HKD 228 | US$ 29.27) vermicelli noodle, prawn, fish ball, egg, bean curd |
I then grabbed a bite of the Fish whilst it’s
hot. I squeezed a little bit of lemon juice into it which gave it a zest. The tartare dip balanced all the flavors and textures of the Fish. I was so fixated with the fish that I almost forgot about its greatest ally, the chips. The
thick cuts of potatoes were fried in perfection. The crunchy crust was in perfect contrast with the soft inside. With a dash of a little salt, it was great that I almost finished it (forgetting about handing some to my buddies).
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| Fish and Chips (HKD 248 | US$ 31.84) battered cod, chips, tartare sauce |
I never liked
Hainan Chicken Rice so I was too biased to have it as my least favorite from
the bunch. But amazingly, it was cooked very well and there's no gamey taste to it.The Vegetable Spring Roll on the other hand was flavorful and full
of flavors. The chilli dipping sauce added an extra kick to it.
 |
| Hainan Chicken Rice (HKD 268 | US$ 34.41) baby pak choy, garlic, chilli sauce, rice |
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| Vegetable Spring Roll (HKD 26 | US$ 3.34 per piece) pastry, chili dipping sauce |
The Chicken, Lamb and Beef Satay were impeccably tender and the peanut sauce was the perfect complement to it. But the satay as is was good that with or without the sauce, it's really good.
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| Chicken, Beef and Lamb Satay (HKD 28 | US$ 3.60 per piece) skewer, spice, peanut sauce |
I loved the Pork
Pecorino Pizza. This handmade wood-fired pizza was seemingly simple yet it was bursting
with flavors. The Cheung Fun on the other hand was tender with its spicy and tasty sauce. It was oozing with flavors that it instantly became one of the crowd favorites.
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| Pork Pecorino Pizza (HKD 178 | US$ 22.85) pork sausage, chilli, sliced potato, buffalo mozzarella, oregano, pecorino and spring onion |
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| Cheung Fun (HKD 158 | US$ 20.29) beef, tenderloin, onion, black pepper |
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| Mandarin Cheesecake (HKD 88 | US$ 11.30) bleberry compote, cassis ice cream |
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| Homemade Ice Cream (HKD 48 | US$ 6.16 per scoop) |
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| Crispy Chocolate Devil Cake (HKD 88 | US$ 11.30) white rum, ice cream |
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| Bread and Butter Pudding (HKD 88 | US$ 11.30) custard cream, vanilla ice cream |
My favorite
part of our lovely dinner at Café Causette in Mandarin Oriental Hotel Hong Kong
was our fun and endless chats that was warmed up by the good food and company. We had dinner longer than usual 'coz it felt like we're at home lounging on a couch with some good home-cooked meals. Really felt like home.
Café Causette at Mandarin Hotel (book online)
5 Connaught
Road Central, Hong Kong
Contact
Number: (+852) 2522.0111
Open Hours:
Breakfast 6:30 am to 11:30 am
Lunch 11:30 am to 3:00 pm
Tea 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
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