Birthday Dinner with a View in Hong Kong

[waitimgodot]

My boyfriend and I are from San Francisco and are travelling to Hong Kong and Thailand for two weeks during his birthday. I am very familiar with Hong Kong but I've been struggling to find the perfect restaurant to take him for his birthday. He loves seafood and beautiful views - I thought that would be incredibly easy to find but after meticulously studying the chowhound boards, I'm still unsure of where to go. What I would prefer is a romantic dinner, Cantonese/Chinese food (we're in San Francisco so great French, Italian, Western is all very accessible here and in Napa), with amazing views of the HK night skyline. I've gathered a few places on top of all the hole-in-the-walls I'll be dragging him to. This is what I've seen as some popular places but not sure if there are other options or if it fits with what we are looking for:

Man Wah at the Mandarin Oriental
Ye Shanghai in TST
T'ang Court
Ming Court
Hu Tong

Open to new suggestions. I am also not sure how much each of these will cost so if someone can give me a general price range, that would be great as well. I will be okay spending about $100-200USD a person although this will depend on quality of the food, of course.

[kosmose7]

For HK restaurants with a view, you could refer to this:
http://www.theworlds50best.com/hong-k...

[PhilD]

A very useful link - thanks.

[PhilD]

When do you arrive? The new Ritz Carlton opens in May and that will have superb views drom its restaurants and big bragging rights as it is the highest hotel in the world. Expect the food to be good - interesting to see how it stacks up.

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Propert...

[waitimgodot]

Boo :( It looks like I'm going to miss it. We will be there in early April.

[PhilD]

Sorry my misinformation - it opens March 29th.

[waitimgodot]

I wonder how difficult it would be to get reservations for one of those restaurants for early April... Tin Lung Heen in particular...

[PhilD]

Worth a shot - we are going to have a go as well.

[Camw]

How did you guys go with getting a reservation? I've been trying for late April but haven't been able to get a response from the hotel email address - I assume someone would be checking it as they are taking room reservations, but maybe not restaurant ones yet?

[PhilD]

We eventually got a response but it was a "we will contact you in late March" - looks like we ned to hold tight until then.

[Camw]

Thanks Phil.

[Camw]

FYI, I received a response from the restaurant today confirming a booking in late April. It seems they are starting to take bookings.

[waitimgodot]

Interesting... I better e-mail them again - thanks for the info!

[PhilD]

Yes, they are following up on mails and we are in on Saturday 2nd April.

[waitimgodot]

What restaurant are you guys confirmed for?

[Camw]

I have a confirmation for Tin Lung Heen.

[PhilD]

The same.

[waitimgodot]

Just got a confirmation for next Tuesday! a little concerned this is a bit too early. Pictures have been released and they're not too impressive.. http://readhotelreviews.com/2011/03/2...

[PhilD]

I agree the pictures are not great, but neither is the standard of writing in the article, If I was the hotel I would ask the PR company for a refund at least they could find a blogger who could write and use a camera.

That said openings are always risky, we are booked in for a celebration so no choice on date, and have lots of out of town visitors so "bragging rights" are essential. The menu I received is short and interesting so I am looking forward to it despite the risk.

[Charles Yu]

Cannot wait to hear feedback about their HK$150 per plate Dim Sum dishes!

[PhilD]

Charles that is a bit disingenuous. There is nothing on the Dim Sum menu at $150, there is a shared dessert platter for $168 but that is for two and would appear to consist of a selection.

The next highest priced are $88 and are a Supreme shark’s fin dumpling with lobster soup, a Baked abalone and roasted goose puff, and a Double-boiled egg white and milk custard pudding with bird’s nest. All of which have expensive ingredients and preps. The average price is $48 or $50.

I will report back to see if it lives up to its peers.

[waitimgodot]

Mind sending a copy of that menu PhilD?

[PhilD]

No probs - send me a mail address in profile

[Charles Yu]

Interesting! Could there be ANOTHER Chinese restaurant in the ICC complex serving Dim Sum?! Info about this mega$ dim sum was furnished by a Credit Suisse guy working in the complex! Could it be a 'one shot' thing? I wonder?!

[PhilD]

I have both the Dim Sum and ALC menu that the restaurant sent to me this week and unless there is a longer menu available on the day there is no $150 dim sum, and to my knowledge they only have one Chinese restaurant. I suspect exaggeration and maybe hearsay as I suspect few have actually tried it.

[Charles Yu]

Most high end restaurants like Sun Tung Lok and Lung King Heen also have a 'Chef's Special and/or Menu of the day' to augment their regular menu. Be sure to look into that when you have your meal there. The 'mega$$$ hidden treasures' could be found in there?!! Irrespective, looking forward to your feedback!

[waitimgodot]

Thanks PhilD but I actually just received the menu via email from the restaurant. Only pricey items are the typical luxury dishes like abalone, bird's nest, shark fin, etc. Even their prix fixe dinner isn't too bad, $888 for mostly all luxury items. Looking forward to your reviews after Saturday!

[PhilD]

I will start a thread on the restaurant - http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/776163

[Charles Yu]

I would also add Hoi King Heen at the Intercontinental Grand Stanford as well as Yan Toh Heen inside the Intercontinental to your list! ( Both have great food and view )
Apart from Hu Tong and Man Wah, the others in your list do not have a view!

[waitimgodot]

Great - thanks Charles! I will check those out. and yes, after I did a little more research, turns out those other restaurants don't have views as well as Hoi King Heen. How does Yan Toh Heen compare to Man Wah?

[skylineR33]

Actually there is not much view at Hoi King Heen, it is in B2 of the hotel. Man Wah is a pretty old hotel restaurant. Yan Toh Heen is better, great food but view is not the greatest as it is on the ground floor of the hotel. Spoon there has a much better view as it is more in the center. However, it is not Chinese food.

You can also consider restaurants in isquare such as

"Nanhai no.1" on the 30th floor - great view !!!
"Ah Yat Harbour View" on the 26th floor
"Guo Fu Lou" on the 31st floor (chef is from Fook Lam Moon)

They are all good !

[Charles Yu]

Ah! i Square!! Totally forgot about this place! Great suggestion skylineR33!
Waitimgodot, there's also the 'controversial' Lung King Heen at the Fourseason!

[skylineR33]

Hey Charles, how about "Star of Canton" ? Your favorite place har gow place has a branch up on the 17th? floor of "The One", it got a nice view too...have you been there for dinner ?

[Charles Yu]

Wow! Great News! Thanks for the heads up skylineR33! Now, I don't have to travel all the way to Causeway Bay to try out the crispy Har Gau!
Havn't tried their dinner, but may do so because of the view!
Thanks again!

[waitimgodot]

I've booked a window table at Nanhai no 1 - looking forward to this meal! However, if I am able to get a seat at the new restaurant at the Ritz, I may have to cancel this reservation...

[skylineR33]

I am pretty sure you will have no problem getting a table at the new restaurant at the Ritz, it is not a 10 seater sushi eatery and usually restaurant get busy after they have attained certain reputation with good reviews.

[skylineR33]

Looks like you really love beautiful setting hotel restaurants or the like.

[waitimgodot]

Yes - it does seem like most of the restaurants with nice views are the ones in hotels. I don't mind paying the higher price, I just want a beautiful view with delicious food... and surprisingly, I'm having a really hard time picking just one!