An Italian-American restaurant towering nine stories above Hong Kong’s Soho district, boasting some of best veal and most supremely shaved white truffles around? Only in Hong Kong, as one says. Offering a glimpse into the flavourful history and culture of New York-Italian cuisine during the mid-20th century in China’s mega-metropolis, Carbone, an instantly evocative dining establishment and new talk-of-the-town, represents the first expansion of an already established New York original in Asia.
The bar at Carbone
Concealed within LKF Tower, eating at Carbone’s will thrust you into a world far away from its Central Hong Kong location as soon as your hostess guides you to your own nook within the cosy yet exuberantly attired restaurant area, a world wherein each element is composed and ultimately cooked just like mama used to make.
Grouping their menu into categories beginning with antipasti, zuppa e insalate, macaroni, pesci, carni, and contorni followed by portions meant for sharing, dishes are accompanied by a wide and fully-loaded range of cocktails on offer; it’s next to impossible make an Italian cuisine misstep here.
The select choice and recommendations of wines, such as five year old Tuscan Avvoltores, are also where it’s at thanks to founder’s Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick commitment to authenticity at the new addition to the Carbone brood, set up in collaboration with Hong Kong’s Black Sheep Restaurants.
Dessert is also rolled out the good old fashioned way on an authentic dessert tray to allow one to cherry-pick from cheesecakes, carrotcakes and tiramisu galore to their heart’s content. Service, by the way, extends way beyond this sweet hospitality, with your dedicated server doing all he or she can to establish a congenial diner – maestro relationship at every turn.
The restaurant area at Carbone
Dishes are well-designed to be shared with friends as the catalyst to an eventful night-out, with Glass’ top picks including Prosciutto and Melon, Caprese boasting Heirloom Tomatoes and Burrata that deserves to be set to music, King Crab alla Scampi, Veal Parmesan and Fettuccini layered with white truffle.
A selection of dishes at Carbone, including Mario’s Meatballs and Spicy Rigatoni Vodka Pasta
It’s really no surprise that the first Carbone of the orient has been so well put together in all respects, from the entrance bar area dressed in an art collection curated by dealer Vito Schnabel to the restaurant captain donning a tuxedo designed by Zac Posen, Carbone has a trained an eye on bringing the bona fide Italian-American dining experience of yesteryear to new consumers the world over, attracted to a city like Hong Kong.
Beyond the rich atmosphere keenly purveyed by staff, dish after dish of American-cum-Italianate excellence all results in a thoroughly entertaining dining experience fuelled conclusively by the delicious flurry of good eats, but really, they’ll have you at the Aperol spritz at the get-go.
by Liam Feltham
Images courtesy of Black Sheep Restaurants
Carbone LKF Tower,
33 Wyndham Street,
Hong Kong
Reservations: +852 2593 2593
Reservations@carbone.com.hk