[Shanghai Girl Eats Hong Kong] 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana
8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana | ottoemezzobombana.com | OpenRice
Address: Shop 202, 2/F, Alexandra House, 16-20 Chater Road, Central / 中環遮打道16-20號歷山大廈2樓202號舖
Date visited: 2017.03 for dinner
Price: HKD1,480+10% per person set menu; a la carte available
Will return: Definitely
8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana Hong Kong holds 3* Michelin Stars. The Shanghai one holds 2* Michelin Stars (see my posts on chef’s table and brunch) and there is also a branch in Macau. This place lives up to all the hype and more. If you have any hesitations about trying this place due to the price, let me dispel that because it is worth it.
We opted for the degustation menu for HKD1,480+10% per person, which seemed like a fair deal considering ordering a la carte would have done similar damage. It was a truly spectacular meal from start to finish. Every dish was thoughtful and intentional — no fluff here just to fill the courses. It was one incredible meal with impeccable service.
I had heard that getting a reservation here gets a little crazy sometimes and requires two weeks in advance to be seated inside the restaurant. Guests can also be seated in the lounge area outside the restaurant (basically the hallway, albeit a very nice one). My friend originally snatched a reservation for 2 in the lounge area with short notice but when we upped the reservation to 6 pax at the last minute, we were upgraded to a private room.
We started with a sampling of whipped taro with truffle, which was smooth and creamy.
The marinated tuna tartare with yuzu and tofu emulsion, Royal Oscietra caviar was made from melt-in-your-mouth fatty toro. This was the best tuna tartare I have had to date.
The soup course was a bisque comprised of royal langoustine with braised vegetables and sea urchin, scampi jus. Umami — check.
Homemade tagliolini with butter, parmesan and “melanosporum” black truffle fondue is the dish to have at 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana. Here is the naked pasta pre-truffle rain.
In typical 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana fashion, they shaved the truffles in front of us and trust me, they really pile it on here (and in Shanghai).
This is really one of the best pastas that (a lot of) money can buy.
One of my friends joked that he could never tell what dish I eat here because everything is always covered by a blanket of truffles. Very true statement.
For the meat course, we had a choice of short rib & beef tenderloin with whipped potato, red wine and plum sauce or baby lamb from Pyrenees with aromatic herbs, black olive, barley and vegetables. I chose the short rib & tenderloin duo — the short rib was pull apart tender and the tenderloin was pink and juicy.
Dessert was between the marinated wild strawberry with pistachio, vanilla cream and ricotta gelato or hazelnut and chocolate with hazelnut crunch, warm chocolate mousse and hazelnut gelato. Normally, I would go for the chocolate dessert but our server recommended strawberry, noting it was seasonal. Sweet, light and refreshing.
Lastly, we wrapped up the meal with some much-needed coffee and tea to digest, petit fours and warm cheese tarts.
