Price: $$$
Cravingness: ★★★☆☆1/2
I have a rather complex feelings on Harlan Goldstein's latest opening Comfort at where Strip House was once located. I mourn for the temporary closure of Strip House, but I am also elated to try a new casual dining experience created by Harlan! At Comfort, you do not need to care about the "smart casual" dress code or worry about the extravagance environment that urges you to behave. In Comfort, as it's name suggested, it is a restaurant aims to provide a causal environment to bring comfort ambiance and food to all diners.
Comfort is designed with a natural earthy tone to establish a relaxed European loft-style kind of restaurant. Wood is the main element in Comfort, chill R&B music is played at the background and there are plots of plant by the window to set up the mood for a relaxing atmosphere.
Food here is meant to share, and Harlan makes it clear to all guests by using an illuminating sign saying "food for friends" at the wall next to the entrance. The sign is pretty funky as it was put behind a gate. Also if you look up, you will also see this wicked lamp with mirrors. Pretty interesting right?
Menu at Comfort is simple but with adequate amount of choices. At comfort, all dishes are Harlan's personal favourites from his experience around the world that he would love to share. So if you ask him which dish would be his absolute favourite, he will reply ALL. Prices are reasonably priced with starters ranging from HKD78-178 and mains from HKD148-248.
A refreshing and colourful starter with tomato tartare, greens and crisps on an ocean blue plate. The tartare is made up of juicy tomato, basil, pine nuts and sweet shaved D.O.P. Pecorino Cheese.
A twist on the traditional beef tartare where anchovy is added for a savoury touch. The beef tartare was very juicy but slightly weak on the truffle taste.
Finger licking Chicken Wings, Sweet Soys, Chilli, Ginger and Spring onions - HKD$98
The finger licking chicken wings dish is a very common Chinese dish that any household in Hong Kong would make at home. The wings were cooked just right, but unfortunately it was quite weak in taste despite its dark look. I was expecting more chilliness, ginger spicy and soy sauce in them. If this is to cater to local taste bud, Harlan needs to know Hong Kongers love strong flavour. Also a side note on soy marinated wings, I love them to be over cooked at the point that the meat falls off the bones easily!
The dutch sausage looked quite dry in appearance but not quite so. The sausage was very smoky and savoury with a long lingering after taste on your palate!
The octopus was disappointingly quite tough in texture, but I do love the sweet, smooth and thick Saffron and potato puree at the bottom.
This was one tangy and spicy meatball dish. Meatball texture was excellent - it was meaty and tender. I think the existence of coriander made the dish very Mexican like which I like it a lot.
A marvelous dish with oil bursting and nicely marbled wagyu bresaola, crumbled gorgonzola, walnut and honey. I particularly love how they use honey on the wagyu bresaola and made it like a sweet treat.
The ribs, oh the ribs were sooooooo good! You can't be lady on this one, just use your hand to tear off the ribs off the bone! The ribs was evilly smoky and charred with an oil glaze. It carried the perfect balance of fat and meat which gave a great juicy and tender texture on every bite, and not to forget the slightly crispy charred surface. There are also some chewy soft bones attached on the bones! My favourite of the night.
I thought this is a fish dish but it was some chewy and bouncy cheesy cheese cakes set on a bed of finely shredded spinach. Interesting but not a wow dish.
I am not too much of a fan of any kind of salmon dish, but I still try them from time of time (Amber's one was FANTASTIC). This salmon dish to me is a bit overly cooked, it would be nicer if it is more medium-rare done. The sauce was quite strong and creamy but the crab taste was weak.
A nice solid beef brisket curry dish. The curry sauce was tangy but not spicy at all. Most of the beef tendons were soft but some were a bit chewy and stringy.
Great chicken dish that urged me to savour two big chunks apart from all the food I had tonight. The chicken was tender and moist for both the breast and leg parts, the skin was also made very crispy. Yum!
I was not too impressed with the waffles as it was quite ordinary in texture and taste. The orange jam and nutella ice-cream were paired quite nicely though.
The chocolate mousse was not as sweet as I thought and carried a great combination of texture and flavours from the moist cherries, crunchy honey comb and crispy popcorn. Not bad, I quite like this.
An interesting twist to the traditional apple crumble, Harlan creates his version with liquid nitrogen. This icy and chunky apple crumble was very nice and a must try in here!
Comfort is designed with a natural earthy tone to establish a relaxed European loft-style kind of restaurant. Wood is the main element in Comfort, chill R&B music is played at the background and there are plots of plant by the window to set up the mood for a relaxing atmosphere.
Menu at Comfort is simple but with adequate amount of choices. At comfort, all dishes are Harlan's personal favourites from his experience around the world that he would love to share. So if you ask him which dish would be his absolute favourite, he will reply ALL. Prices are reasonably priced with starters ranging from HKD78-178 and mains from HKD148-248.
Cocktail $88
Cocktails are made at the open cocktail bar near the entrance. The price is slightly cheaper than Strip House, a price which I would say is the market price for cocktails in Lan Kwai Fong. However I do reckon drinks at Harlan's restaurants are in general stronger than the bars in LKF, so it kind of justifies the price. Below was my lovely fruity glass with a cute ice ball floating on it.
Heirloom Tomato Tartare $88
A refreshing and colourful starter with tomato tartare, greens and crisps on an ocean blue plate. The tartare is made up of juicy tomato, basil, pine nuts and sweet shaved D.O.P. Pecorino Cheese.
Truffled Beef Tartare – $138
A twist on the traditional beef tartare where anchovy is added for a savoury touch. The beef tartare was very juicy but slightly weak on the truffle taste.
The finger licking chicken wings dish is a very common Chinese dish that any household in Hong Kong would make at home. The wings were cooked just right, but unfortunately it was quite weak in taste despite its dark look. I was expecting more chilliness, ginger spicy and soy sauce in them. If this is to cater to local taste bud, Harlan needs to know Hong Kongers love strong flavour. Also a side note on soy marinated wings, I love them to be over cooked at the point that the meat falls off the bones easily!
Frikandel, Mini Dutch Sausage, Curry Ketchup, Mayo &Chopped Onion - HKD78
The dutch sausage looked quite dry in appearance but not quite so. The sausage was very smoky and savoury with a long lingering after taste on your palate!
Grilled Octopus, Greek Saffron Potato Skordalia Sauce - HKD188
The octopus was disappointingly quite tough in texture, but I do love the sweet, smooth and thick Saffron and potato puree at the bottom.
Spanish Pork and 5J Ham Meatballs in A Coriander Tomato Sauce - HKD88
This was one tangy and spicy meatball dish. Meatball texture was excellent - it was meaty and tender. I think the existence of coriander made the dish very Mexican like which I like it a lot.
Wagyu Beef Bresaola, Gorgonzola, Walnut + Honey - HKD$178
A marvelous dish with oil bursting and nicely marbled wagyu bresaola, crumbled gorgonzola, walnut and honey. I particularly love how they use honey on the wagyu bresaola and made it like a sweet treat.
Slow Cook Spanish Duroc Ribs – $328
The ribs, oh the ribs were sooooooo good! You can't be lady on this one, just use your hand to tear off the ribs off the bone! The ribs was evilly smoky and charred with an oil glaze. It carried the perfect balance of fat and meat which gave a great juicy and tender texture on every bite, and not to forget the slightly crispy charred surface. There are also some chewy soft bones attached on the bones! My favourite of the night.
Lemon Herbed Halloumi cheese on Indian Spiced Spinach - HKD$88
I thought this is a fish dish but it was some chewy and bouncy cheesy cheese cakes set on a bed of finely shredded spinach. Interesting but not a wow dish.
Roasted Salmon Steak, Thai Yellow Egg Crab Curry, Crispy Garlic Bread $198
I am not too much of a fan of any kind of salmon dish, but I still try them from time of time (Amber's one was FANTASTIC). This salmon dish to me is a bit overly cooked, it would be nicer if it is more medium-rare done. The sauce was quite strong and creamy but the crab taste was weak.
“My Tai Tai’s” Beef Brisket Curry, Rice & Pickled Vegetables $158
A nice solid beef brisket curry dish. The curry sauce was tangy but not spicy at all. Most of the beef tendons were soft but some were a bit chewy and stringy.
Free Range Roasted Australian Yellow Chicken - HKD378
Great chicken dish that urged me to savour two big chunks apart from all the food I had tonight. The chicken was tender and moist for both the breast and leg parts, the skin was also made very crispy. Yum!
Waffles, Nutella Ice Cream, Orange Jam – $68
I was not too impressed with the waffles as it was quite ordinary in texture and taste. The orange jam and nutella ice-cream were paired quite nicely though.
Dark Chocolate Mousse, Amaretto Cherries, Honeycomb and Crispy Popcorn – $68
The chocolate mousse was not as sweet as I thought and carried a great combination of texture and flavours from the moist cherries, crunchy honey comb and crispy popcorn. Not bad, I quite like this.
Apple Crumble, Caramel and Vanilla Ice Cream - $68
An interesting twist to the traditional apple crumble, Harlan creates his version with liquid nitrogen. This icy and chunky apple crumble was very nice and a must try in here!
Rating
Food - ★★★☆☆
Service - ★★★★☆
Ambience - ★★★★☆
Overall - ★★★☆☆1/2
Harlan Goldstein's Comfort
Address (E) 5/F Grand Progress Building, 15-16 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong
Address (C) 香港中環蘭桂坊15-16號協興大廈5樓
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm. Closed on Sun
Reservation Available? Yes
Walk In Possible? Yes
Date of Dining: 7 Dec 2013
Bill in Total (Dinner inc alc) - HKD2298
Bill Per Person (Dinner inc. alc) - HKD$362
No comments:
Post a Comment