As the trend continues with modern French bistros that have set up shop in Hong Kong from France, Serge et Le phoque (Serge and the Seal) is one of my restaurant crushes in 2013 – the food here is a pristine 2* Michelin faultless (with chef Christophe Pelé, formerly of 2* La Bigarrade in Paris at the helm), the interiors simple with a less is more approach. Floor to ceiling windows floods the restaurant with natural light and offers a spectacle of the local Wanchai market, often with older generational folks peering in – a brilliant juxtaposition of locale that is charming and endearing.
Service is friendly, the menu is simple and straightforward, there’s cosy booth seating and then there’s the restroom outside at the car park next door. It is the food that shines here. It’s refreshing that dish after dish hits the spot – one of those meals where the table goes quiet because the food is worth every second of reflection to enjoy, from amuse bouche to mignardise.
We started with an onsen hen’s egg with white bait and a squid ink risotto with deliciously translucent calamar (I forget?), artisan butcher Hugo Desnoyer‘s quality cut and a red mullet with beet, ending with a pineapple sorbet and macha chocolate mousse.
The wine list is small but lovely, prices very fair and includes boutique wineries and des vins biologique (non sulphites wines).
Our 3 course degustation lunch for two came up to 1500HKD including a glass of champagne and a glass of red.
Shop B2, G/F., Tower 1, The Zenith, 3 Wanchai Road Wan Chai
Tel: +852 5465 2000
