NEW PUNJAB CLUB

Hospitality is an art—it’s one that can’t be taken too lightly, nor can it be learned too studiously. Sometimes, we’re not quite sure what’s worse: abysmal, sloppy service or that of the perfunctory sort, where you’re not sure if the staff are able to go beyond their carefully rehearsed lines. Neither of these are an issue at this latest showing by Black Sheep Restaurants, where the gloriously campy service (so reminiscent of that of Carbone, a previous Best Service award recipient) will set you in a good mood for days. The blend of heady confidence mixed with the right dash of humility means staff seem genuinely proud of what’s coming out from the kitchen—but not so proud that they’re unable to accept feedback when things don’t go as planned. The little things, such as offering something to nibble on while you wait for a tardy dining companion, or knowing that you might want a bit more with your are simple but

effective—and becoming all too rare in our hectic dining ecosystem.

New Punjab Club, 34 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong

RUNNER-UP Polished teamwork continues to be on display at Amber, which still manages to impress our panel of reviewers after all these years.