Eateries on Hong Kong Island

Fat Angelo's is an Italian restaurant just off the escalator. This double-fronted restaurant is well-signed and well-lit; I don’t think you’ll miss it. Internally, it has all the makings of a typical American diner, but the emphasis of the food is classically Italian.

To the right of the entrance was a long bar with a number of high stools and comfortable easy chairs behind then – the whole area was reminiscent of a '60s coffee house and had a comfortable, classy feel. The main dining room, an L-shaped affair, is to the left, and we were chaperoned to our table by the beaming receptionist. The place was packed, and so I was relieved that we’d booked. Piped rat-pack jazz music was playing, and the walls were covered with framed photographs of the singers and other Hollywood screen icons of the era. There was a great ambience to this place – the lighting being not too bright and the tables so arranged so that it gave an air of hushed conspiracy as diners huddled towards each other in animated conversation.

The tablecloths, however, were a bit naff, being brightly checked plastic. It meant that the tables could be quickly wiped down (probably just as well, because without too much effort, I can be a fairly messy eater), but they do lack style. Indeed, the space on the table was a bit restricted, and I was often in danger of knocking crockery off the end.

We ordered a bottle of Montepulcina, a perfectly adequate well-priced red wine and a good compliment to our chosen Italian dishes of lasagne and a chicken scaplopi. These two dishes were shared amongst the four of us, but these tasty portions weren’t large, and we were left feeling a bit peckish at the end. So the right thing to do was to reconsult the menu and order another main course. This time we opted for Grandma’s famous meatballs, and after a significant wait (an indication that these were being freshly prepared), a large plate loaded with meatballs drowning in a thick translucent sauce was delivered to our table. Now we were struggling, as this helping was huge, and the meatballs were strong on the spices and garlic but exceptionally tasty. My son and I tucked into the plate load whilst our partners watched at gluttony in the making. As a final show, we used the bread, which comes as standard with each dish, to mop up the sauce.

Service at Fat Angelo's was exceptionally efficient. The staff did not hover around the table but were never far away if you need assistance. They replenished our jug of water whenever necessary and manoeuvred items round the small table with amazing dexterity. They were bright, cheerful, and responsive and were able to give the all-important message that they were looking after our dining needs above all others.

So if you need a change from "Chinese", try Fat Angelo's!

We were at the Peak and wanted a snack rather than a full-blown meal, and we were pleased to settle upon the DeliFrance. As in many bistros, the menus were displayed on chalkboards around the entrance and above the food bar. Generally the sandwich fillings were prepared and "ready to go", but this was "an order and wait" café where no one stood on ceremony. There are now around 30 DeliFrances around Hong Kong, successfully established over fifteen years, confirming its popularity and insistance on quality.

My wife and son took the orders whilst his fiancée and I looked for a table. There was plenty of seating inside, but this did seem a bit cramped, and the outside patio was much more attractive. We found a table with a single chair, and whilst I pondered on the next move, a café employee appeared, asked "how many persons", and then went off in search of chairs. This task successfully completed, he wanted to check that we were happy with the table-and-chairs positioning before leaving us to wait on the meal.

Ordering the meal was an art in itself, because having selected the filling, it was necessary to choose from a wide range of breads on offer (wholemeal, granary, crunchy cobs, soft rolls, Italian, and French, to name but a few). Everything looked mouthwateringly inviting, and I changed my mind several times. I finally agreed a compromise – I’d split a French bread pizza and a Ciabacia with black-peppered crab. My wife readily agreed. But still I was left with the choice about which drink I preferred. DeliFrance had a great choice of coffees, chocolates, and teas, but the smell of coffee finally influenced my choice. There was a beautiful array of pastries and cakes and some hot snacks, including pasties and savoury tartlets, if you didn’t fancy a sandwich.

The queue at the food bar was "steady", with many people buying "food to go", but the staffing was more than up to the business, and the wait for service and food preparation was fairly short. When presented at table, it looked wonderful, and the taste was "spot-on". My son informed me that his chicken mango in French bread was very succulent – although he didn’t offer to give me a taste!

Sitting outside was a great way to detach yourself from the ant-like flow of people viewing the Peak. Although the patio area is somewhat confined and butts up to the café next door, it was pleasurable to watch the eagles circling above and enjoy the pure air at the top of Hong Kong.

DeliFrance does do a number of "set lunches" (around 30 HKD), including soup, a snack, main meal, and a Danish pastry, and in the mid-afternoon "set teas" at 20 HKD. We much preferred the exotic array of sandwich fillings.

The Phoenix is a small, inconspicuous restaurant on the steep slopes next to the escalator, above Caine Road and just before Mosque Street. We carried wine here, because last time my son ate here, it was unlicensed – not any more. It does not have a massive wine list, but it is adequate, and prices of beer and wine are not overpriced. However, they do still permit you to use your own wine but charge a corkage fee of around 100HKD per bottle (but not on Mondays and Tuesdays). I started the evening with a glass of Phoenix’s locally brewed IPA draft beer (a tasty pint, despite its anaemic appearance).

The Phoenix has made the best of the small restaurant by the use of cleverly placed mirrors and plain painted walls in simple pastel colours. The bar beckons as you enter, and we were politely shown to our seats. The smart mahogany dining chairs prove to be really comfortable and show off the well-laid-out tables with crisp linen serviettes, sturdy cutlery, and sparkling glasses. It looks classy before you even try the food! Choose your meal from the house menu, or select your preference from the daily changes on the blackboard. If there’s a large group of you, then you could opt for one of the Phoenix’s set menus.

All the food is cooked while you wait, so don’t be in a hurry here. This was not the kind of food you can share, so I opted for a lamb dish. It took around fifteen minutes to prepare, but when it arrived, it was exceptionally flavoursome. It was served in a nouvelle cuisine manner, and to be honest, I thought they were a bit mean on the portions. However, as I tucked into my plate of food, it was clear that this was a substantial main course, cooked to perfection with the right quantities for a man with a reasonable appetite.

We still had room for a pudding, a decent range and beautifully presented. I went for a chocolate pudding that was served with an ice cream made on the premises. Its flavour measured up to its appearance!

This is a small restaurant with a calm and restful ambience. Apparently, it won an award in 2003 for "The Canny Diner's Preferred Restaurant Award" and has only been in its present building since 2004 (previously it was on the Peak). If you want to dine late, then don’t go to the Phoenix, because it closes at 11pm, but you will need to book, as it is popular.

We had a very relaxed meal in this upmarket restaurant; it's understated and just right if you want to be able to chat over your meal without intrusive piped music. The only downside is that it's pricier than many of its competitors, but the food quality justifies the cost.

The Boathouse is a fascinating three-storied building taking its name for the appearance of the building. It’s painted bright blue (you won’t miss it with its large, simple wall plaque), and the sleek rounded corner on Stanley Main Street is protected by a continuous row of plant pots with bright, healthy plants. Long open windows look onto the streets, and potted plants on the broad external window ledges look, from the outside, perilously close to the edge. Indeed, without the balcony’s fencing, I speculated that they might fall. Dining takes place on all three floors, and each is divided into smaller, more intimate rooms. There are outside balconies, protected from the elements by striped canopies, and if you really fancy it, there are a small number of street tables. From our upstairs dining table, we had a great view of the sea, and just down the road (a pedestrian area) was the entrance to Stanley Market.

The tables were decked out with lemon tablecloths and linen serviettes, with strangely shaped, heavy stainless steel cutlery. The curvy handles felt cumbersome initially, but we soon got used to them when the meal arrived.

The boathouse offered a good wide choice on its menu, none of it Chinese. We opted for toasted pita bread with prawns and salad, mango salad served with a portion of "fat fries" and Mediterranean focaccia. The food looked extremely attractive, there was plenty of it, and it tasted great. Delivered with the meal was a selection of locally made salad dressings – mmm… these were really tasty. The restaurant had a superb selection of wines, beers, and soft drinks, but, as it was lunchtime, we stuck with a beer and soft drinks.

The service was extremely efficient and the staff pleasant and keen to respond to your needs. They are certainly used to serving Westerners. The diners were all Western, many ex-pats, so communication was not a problem.

Although we only had lunch here, my son has eaten at night and tells us that the full meals are really tasty and a good value for the money. The restaurant takes on a different feel as the sun sets and glimpses of reflections on the sea can be quite intriguing.

The downside, for the women, was that a visit to the toilet placed you in open view of any other visitors – the toilet doors were made of plain glass. This is not for the bashful or faint-hearted, so our advice is go before you dine and then cross your legs until you find a more private toilet!

Don’t be fooled by this place that looks downstairs to be a standard sandwich take-away. It’s not, and for a decent midday snack, it’s well worth a visit. Kosmo is one of a chain of eateries providing good healthy food, and I understand that the company is also based in U.S. and Australia. Eating "green" is internationally popular, and I wondered if we were looking at the new McDonalds!

First impressions are really important, and Kosmo has a clean and crisp appearance immediately suggestive of tasty, healthy food. The refrigerated counters hold the organic ingredients to make up your meal, and although some are already prepared, it’s more likely that you’ll see your meal taking shape before your very eyes. If you fancy an alcoholic drink with your lunch, then carry on walking, because Kosmo doesn’t do alcohol. What they have is a range of "healthy" alternatives. Some like Kosmo Fighter, Kosmo Surprise, and Kosmo Vitality, claiming to be healing juices; a range of superb-tasting fruit "smoothies" (Kosmo Bliss, Dream, and Harmony, to name but three); and energy giving "power smoothies" (Toner, Recovery, and Energiser). There are more healthy teas than I could ever imagine, a dozen coffees, and half a dozen iced brews, all with organically grown coffee. They all look superb, and we can vouch for the fruitiness of the "smoothies" and the tastiness of Kosmo Fighter (a blend of apple, ginger, lemon, and mango).

Although you can eat downstairs, it’s much better on the first floor. It was busy, but we found a place for four people and sat in comfortable chairs around a low wickerwork table. There was an internal veranda overlooking the main street, but this was full and obviously viewed as the prime dining area. Kosmo was decorated in crisp and unobtrusive colours, and it was a pleasure to sit, relax, and enjoy a tasty meal. There’s no piped music here, so you’re not competing with the musical taste of the restaurant’s staff.

The food is served in plastic containers, but if you’re eating on the premises, you can ask for a "proper" plate. As we were "mixing and matching" our meals, we had a plate and unceremoniously divided the separate dishes into even portions. To accompany the plate, we grabbed some biodegradable wooden cutlery off the counter. These do feel a bit peculiar to begin with, but they serve their requirement!

There’s no table service here, so anything you want, you need to make your way to the bar, but the servers are efficient and friendly, so you shouldn’t have to wait long. We ate Moroccan chicken in an egg-white wrap and chicken with a mixed leaf salad. The meat in both meals was superbly cooked, and the salad was fresh and crisp. We had no complaints about the quality or the quantity of the food, and the ambience of the place was great. Although busy, it was not cramped, and there was no pressure to move on.