Price: $$$$$
Cravingness: ★★★★★
On 19 October, 2013, the first ever Cristal themed restaurant is opened at the Galleria on Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong! Le Dôme de Cristal is the latest fine dining restaurant and bar of Ambrosia Cuisines Group. Under the collaboration with Louis Roederer's Cristal Champagne, Le Dôme de Cristal is bringing one of the most authentic European cuisines with the pairing of prestigious Cristal Champagne to Hong Kong! I am expecting Le Dôme de Cristal to be the next upper class social playground.
The elegant Le Dôme de Cristal is designed by a renowned architect, Steve Leung to create a sense of luxury, exclusivity, vintage and prestige image, just like the exquisite Cristal. Walking up the spiral staircase to the entrance of the Le Dôme de Crista, we were immediately greeted by a glittering Cristal champagne displays with a huge golden frame.
In between the reception and the main dining room is a wine cellar showcasing Cristal champagne and hundreds of world class liquors. Framed right at the middle of each wine compartment was some vintage Cristal champagne. Highlighted above was a beautiful vintage Cristal Champagnes in a handcrafted golden frame, a very prestige bottle from a world limited edition of 200 bottles.
The restaurant is comprised of a main dining area for meals and an Oyster and Champagne Bar for cocktails and tapas, which both are domed under the same curved roof. White tables and large sofa seats are setup in the main dining room to create a fine dining scene. Few rotational seating by the window side are available for more intimate dining and also for the panoramic views of the cityscape.
The bar area is situated at the front of the the dining room where diners can enjoy drinks before diner. A huge mirror was hanged at the middle above the champagne/ oyster ice case to glance through the whole dining area as well as acting as a channel for checking people out LOL.
The outdoor terrace is the perfect spot for mingling in a relaxing atmosphere with candle lights reflecting at the pool. The outdoor terrace is spacious with lots of bar tables and stools as well as relaxing sofa. There is also a DJ stand in the middle of the bar that glows at night.
A good surprise we found at Le Dome de Cristal was the wine menu where a bottle of NV Louis Roederer is priced around HKD900. Even Cristal 2005 is priced at around HKD3000 a bottle! Compares to many restaurants and bars outside, it is a great bargain.
The menu is extensive with starters priced at HKD178 up, main at HKD398up and dessert at HKD148up. The degustation 7-course dinner menu is priced at HKD980, supplment HKD400/ HKD680 with wine pairing or deluxe wine pairing respectively. They also have great value 2-course lunch priced at HKD250-400, good for causal or business lunch.
The light gold coloured Louis Roederer brut premier NV was pair with the oysters to enhance the sweetness of them. The Louis Roederer brut premier NV was low sparkling, fruity with appropriate sourness.
The colourful salad was very fresh and tasted great with the balsamic vinegar. I particularly loved the yellow tomato which was very sweet in taste.
The old gold coloured Louis Roederer 2007 was more fruity and slighty more sour than the non vintage one. It was a good pair with the appetisers.
The carpaccio comprised of three elements that I love - yellowfin tuna, scallops & salmon roes. Out of the three, the scallop tasted the best and simply AMAZING. It was honey sweet and palate melting smooth!
Another decent dish topped with caviar, the Alaskan crab meat cake looked prestigious. With sweet crab meats and creamy sauce the crab cake is not to be missed!
This is one of the best duck foie gras I have ever had in my life. Terrine that I had was usually too heavy, but this dish was perfectly balanced with the fig chutney and the fresh figs served at the side. The terrine was perfectly made with a creamy and smoothing texture. The fig chutney jam in the middle was nicely paired to enhance the sweetness of the foie gras. LOVE!
The linguini was beloved too. It was made al dente and very savoury from the tangy and sweet sauce. The sauce was made with lobster oil, lobster broth and lobster butter that was made with the lobster head. The linguini was so good that I had another portion of it.
I am not a big fan of Rose but this Louis Roederer Cristal Rose was extremely lovely! The golden pinkish Rose was a very smoothing one with refine bubbles slowly rose up the glass. The robust Rose was fruity and in appropriate sourness. How can I even drink other brand's Rose after this bottle of Cristal Rose?
A bottle of Louis Roederer Brut Rose was brought over from the manager as a lovely treat for the whole table. To compare with the Cristal Rose, the deep gold coloured Brut Rose tasted stronger with a sweeter finishing but had less refine bubbles. I personally love the Cristal Rose more as it was much smoother to enjoy.
We already savour the yellowfin tuna and the Alaskan crab leg as appetiser but they twisted the cooking method and presented as main in another way. The yellowfin tuna was slow cooked in 42°C for 20 minutes then charcoal grilled to seared the rim to give a smokey aroma. The tuna was very tender and smooth, just like the sashimi we had in appetiser. The dish was served with lemon butter sauce, keeping the palate refreshed.
Presented in the most dramatic way, the Louis Roederer Cristal 2005 sat in a golden framed wine cooler with dry ice making it looked more prestige than ever.
The Louis Roederer Cristal 2005 was served with white wine glass to allow maximum flow of its lovely floral aroma. The vintage Cristal was creamy and smooth with a floral and toasted note to it. It really did taste amazing among all the glasses we had today.
The lamb loin was succulent with a nice char aroma but was too lean and lack of the gamey note that I love.
The charcoal grilled Canadian pork rack was very tender and juicy that we thought it was slow cooked. The pork rack was fragrant with caramel crust. Paired with apple and Rhybard chutney.
The molten chocolate cake (aka lava chocolate cake) was something to look forward to as it was wasabi flavoured. A piece of wasabi flavoured milk chocolate was placed on top of the hot chocolate cake, where it will later on melted on the domed shape chocolate cake. Some found the dessert a bit weird, but I personally love it. The wasabi taste went well with the chocolate and it was only mildly spicy.
This beautiful glittering jelly is made with champagne, green grapes and garnished with gold leaves and a diamond ring looking chocolate ring on top. The jelly cup was nicely fragrant with refreshing grape aroma, it also had a strongly sweet grape taste with a mild taste of champagne. This was the perfect dessert to finish the night.
An interesting molecular dessert dish with champagne infusion and explosive candies, garnished with white peach and golden leaves. I did not find this dessert particularly nice but I love the sweet white peach served at the side.
The elegant Le Dôme de Cristal is designed by a renowned architect, Steve Leung to create a sense of luxury, exclusivity, vintage and prestige image, just like the exquisite Cristal. Walking up the spiral staircase to the entrance of the Le Dôme de Crista, we were immediately greeted by a glittering Cristal champagne displays with a huge golden frame.
The restaurant is comprised of a main dining area for meals and an Oyster and Champagne Bar for cocktails and tapas, which both are domed under the same curved roof. White tables and large sofa seats are setup in the main dining room to create a fine dining scene. Few rotational seating by the window side are available for more intimate dining and also for the panoramic views of the cityscape.
 |
| Rotational Seating at the far back |
The outdoor terrace is the perfect spot for mingling in a relaxing atmosphere with candle lights reflecting at the pool. The outdoor terrace is spacious with lots of bar tables and stools as well as relaxing sofa. There is also a DJ stand in the middle of the bar that glows at night.
A good surprise we found at Le Dome de Cristal was the wine menu where a bottle of NV Louis Roederer is priced around HKD900. Even Cristal 2005 is priced at around HKD3000 a bottle! Compares to many restaurants and bars outside, it is a great bargain.
The menu is extensive with starters priced at HKD178 up, main at HKD398up and dessert at HKD148up. The degustation 7-course dinner menu is priced at HKD980, supplment HKD400/ HKD680 with wine pairing or deluxe wine pairing respectively. They also have great value 2-course lunch priced at HKD250-400, good for causal or business lunch.
 |
| The Blogger Tasting Menu |
4-Piece Oyster Platter
We had an oyster platter with four kinds of french oyster to start the brunch. From left to right we had Ostria Regal No.1, White Pearl No.1, Gillardeau No.1 and Ecaille d'Argent No.1. The Ostria Regal No. 1 (HKD88) is sweet and salty with a subtle metal note. It was the lightless flavoured oysters of all. The White Pearl No. 1 (HKD88 ) oyster carried some sweet juice and had very sweet meat with a smooth and delicate texture. The Gillardeau No. 1 (HKD88 ) was a bold flavoured oyster with sweet, fat and bouncy meat. The juice was slightly salty but not fishy at all. The Ecaille d'Argent No. 1 (HKD98 ) has the strongest flavour of all, it was meaty and rubbery, sweet with a metal note. |
| From left to right: Ostria Regal, White Pearl, Gillardeau and Ecaille d'Argent. |
Louis Roederer brut premier NV - HKD890/750ml
The light gold coloured Louis Roederer brut premier NV was pair with the oysters to enhance the sweetness of them. The Louis Roederer brut premier NV was low sparkling, fruity with appropriate sourness.
Organic Tomato Salad with White Anchovies & Pickled Garlic in 12 Year Aged Balsamic Vinegar - HKD178
The colourful salad was very fresh and tasted great with the balsamic vinegar. I particularly loved the yellow tomato which was very sweet in taste.
Louis Roederer Blanc de Blanca 2007 - HKD1980/750ml
The old gold coloured Louis Roederer 2007 was more fruity and slighty more sour than the non vintage one. It was a good pair with the appetisers.
Carpaccio of Yellowfin Tuna, Scallops & Salmon Roes in Sesame Dressing - HKD288
The carpaccio comprised of three elements that I love - yellowfin tuna, scallops & salmon roes. Out of the three, the scallop tasted the best and simply AMAZING. It was honey sweet and palate melting smooth!
Alaskan Crab Meat with Imperial Caviar in Du Barry Cream Sauce - HKD298
Another decent dish topped with caviar, the Alaskan crab meat cake looked prestigious. With sweet crab meats and creamy sauce the crab cake is not to be missed!
Terrine of Duck Foie Gras stuffed with Fig Chutney - HKD188
This is one of the best duck foie gras I have ever had in my life. Terrine that I had was usually too heavy, but this dish was perfectly balanced with the fig chutney and the fresh figs served at the side. The terrine was perfectly made with a creamy and smoothing texture. The fig chutney jam in the middle was nicely paired to enhance the sweetness of the foie gras. LOVE!
Linguine with Sicilian Red Shrimp & Imperial Caviar in Cherry Tomato Sauce - HKD398
The linguini was beloved too. It was made al dente and very savoury from the tangy and sweet sauce. The sauce was made with lobster oil, lobster broth and lobster butter that was made with the lobster head. The linguini was so good that I had another portion of it.
Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 2004 - HKD9800/750ml
I am not a big fan of Rose but this Louis Roederer Cristal Rose was extremely lovely! The golden pinkish Rose was a very smoothing one with refine bubbles slowly rose up the glass. The robust Rose was fruity and in appropriate sourness. How can I even drink other brand's Rose after this bottle of Cristal Rose?
Louis Roederer Brut Rose - HKD1390/750ml
A bottle of Louis Roederer Brut Rose was brought over from the manager as a lovely treat for the whole table. To compare with the Cristal Rose, the deep gold coloured Brut Rose tasted stronger with a sweeter finishing but had less refine bubbles. I personally love the Cristal Rose more as it was much smoother to enjoy.
 |
| Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 2004 (Left) & Louis Roederer Rose NV (Right) |
Charcoal Grilled Yellowfin Tuna & Alaskan Crab Leg with Fennel Salad - HKD528
We already savour the yellowfin tuna and the Alaskan crab leg as appetiser but they twisted the cooking method and presented as main in another way. The yellowfin tuna was slow cooked in 42°C for 20 minutes then charcoal grilled to seared the rim to give a smokey aroma. The tuna was very tender and smooth, just like the sashimi we had in appetiser. The dish was served with lemon butter sauce, keeping the palate refreshed.
Louis Roederer Cristal 2005 - HKD2950/750ml
Presented in the most dramatic way, the Louis Roederer Cristal 2005 sat in a golden framed wine cooler with dry ice making it looked more prestige than ever.
The Louis Roederer Cristal 2005 was served with white wine glass to allow maximum flow of its lovely floral aroma. The vintage Cristal was creamy and smooth with a floral and toasted note to it. It really did taste amazing among all the glasses we had today.
Slow Cooked Lamb Loin with Gratin Potato in Morels Cream Foam & Sleep Milk Yogurt - HKD588
The lamb loin was succulent with a nice char aroma but was too lean and lack of the gamey note that I love.
Charcoal Grilled Canadian Pork Rack with Apple & Rhybard Chutney in Red Currant Glaze - HKD458
The charcoal grilled Canadian pork rack was very tender and juicy that we thought it was slow cooked. The pork rack was fragrant with caramel crust. Paired with apple and Rhybard chutney.
Valrhona Chocolate Le Dome with Wasabi Filling Vanilla ice-cream and Sorbet - HKD158
The molten chocolate cake (aka lava chocolate cake) was something to look forward to as it was wasabi flavoured. A piece of wasabi flavoured milk chocolate was placed on top of the hot chocolate cake, where it will later on melted on the domed shape chocolate cake. Some found the dessert a bit weird, but I personally love it. The wasabi taste went well with the chocolate and it was only mildly spicy.
Gold Leaf Champagne Jelly with Fresh Grapes - HKD148
This beautiful glittering jelly is made with champagne, green grapes and garnished with gold leaves and a diamond ring looking chocolate ring on top. The jelly cup was nicely fragrant with refreshing grape aroma, it also had a strongly sweet grape taste with a mild taste of champagne. This was the perfect dessert to finish the night.
Champagne Caviar with White Peach Mousse Cake - HKD188
An interesting molecular dessert dish with champagne infusion and explosive candies, garnished with white peach and golden leaves. I did not find this dessert particularly nice but I love the sweet white peach served at the side.
Having loads of delicious Louis Roederer and Cristal champagne, everyone left with a satisfied(/drunk) smile! :)
A beautiful coaster was given at the end of the event. The design is a reminiscent the Louis Roederer vintage champagne at the wine cellar.
Rating
Food - ★★★★★
Service - ★★★★★
Ambience - ★★★★★
Overall - ★★★★★
Le Dôme de Cristal
3/F, The Galleria, 9 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, Central, Hong Kong
香港中環皇后大道中9號嘉軒廣場3樓
☏ 2116 4688
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat: 12pm - 2pm, 6pm - 10.30pm
Reservation Available?: Yes
Walk In Possible?: Yes
Website: http://www.cristal-hk.com/catalog/
Le dome de crystal Hong Kong , Luxury Restaurant -http://richieast.com/cristal-touch-finest-dining-experience-le-dome-de-cristal-hong-kong/
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