208 DUECENTO OTTO

208 Duecento Otto is often credited with kick-starting

Sheung Wan's dining scene, and it is heartening to see standards have not slipped in the six years since its opening. The décor is unchanged, featuring two spacious floors adorned with dark wood furniture and blue and white tiled walls—a fitting match for the similarly rustic but refined menu of Italian classics. Both the appetisers and pasta mains have us happily scraping our plates clean; dishes such as poached organic egg with spicy ‘nduja and pecorino Romano, and butternut and pecorino ravioli with grated nutmeg and chestnut demonstrate a masterful command of rich hearty flavours, executed with a real flair and lightness of touch (although desserts are decent but unmemorable in comparison). The wine list unsurprisingly features a wide range of Italian bottles, with plenty of variety to please every palate; the well-priced cocktail selection starring Italian spirits also catches the eye. Service is fantastic from start to finish—friendly, warm, attentive and knowledgeable without being overbearing. With a convivial atmosphere, reasonable prices and dependably delicious Italian fare, 208 is exactly the kind of casual but consistently excellent restaurant that every neighbourhood deserves.