Taste Test:
Five fabulous feeds for newcomers
The Harbour Grand Kowloon G/F, One Harbourfront, Whampoa Garden
2996 8455 kowloon.harbourgrand.com The Harbour Grand’s Waterfront Bar & Terrace might come as a surprise recommendation as a must-do dining experience, but it presents a beautiful afternoon or evening of waterfront alfresco dining. This experience of dining right on the water and in the open air is, strangely, not common in our harbour-centric city.
The Harbour Grand Kowloon is located a short walk from Whampoa MTR Station. It’s an interesting position and worth a little day trip to explore a new area of Hong Kong for those who live on the Island. Just around the corner is the famous cruise-ship-shaped shopping centre at Whampoa Garden.
But before you explore the rest of the neighbourhood, sit outside and enjoy this unique view of Hong Kong. From your table, you’ll be able to look down towards the city one way, and over to Kai Tak (the old runway) the other.
The menu is heavy on seafood, so if that’s your thing, this is a great place for a long lunch. For those who aren’t such a fan of fish and the like, the choices are limited.
We started with the ahi tuna appetiser, an Insta-worthy stack of fresh tuna tartare, soft avocado and sweet mango served with tortilla chips. It’s a generous serving you could share. Next came another appetiser, shrimp and crab lump – it’s served with a tomato salsa that’s a real treat and was a standout of our whole meal. Both of these dishes pair perfectly with a crisp white.
For mains, one of the city’s favourite dishes is on offer here: lobster pizza. Our pizza came loaded with the meat of a whole lobster. Also available is a beautiful baked cod that comes straight from the oven with steamed vegetables nestled in the same paper package. While these are both worthy choices, my recommendation is the Jumbo Sea Scallops. The scallops are wrapped in pancetta and sit in a cream sauce.
If you’re staying for a long lunch, you must include dessert. The pineapple carpaccio with coconut ice cream is light and perfect for a sweet treat at the end of a big meal at this time of year. If you have a sweet tooth and you love cakes, the red wine ganache with raspberries and cream cheese icing might hit the spot.