I will be in Hong Kong in the middle of August and would like to eat at Felix. Do you need reservations for this restaurant? Is it possible to get reservations before I leave for Hong Kong?

Does anyone have any other suggestions for moderately priced food ($25-40/person) that is very good?

I've heard that August can be a rainy time for Hong Hong. Any truth to this? Any other advice is very appreciated?

Don't know about the middle of August, but why not make a reservation. I'm sure you can e-mail the Peninsula Hotel for a reservation. BTW, make sure you use the facilities!

felix is not moderate priced---i hope you know that....make sure that you visit the bathrooms!!!!, especially the mens urinals!!!!

we had two very good meals at Amaroni's Little Italy in Wanchai...italien of course but very good and reasonable...

the dim sum restaurant in the basement of the kowloon hotel is fabulous---hotel is right in back of the peninsula hotel and is owned by the Pen....

See the heading further down the page, "The one restaurant in Hong Kong..." for more suggestions, although some of those will blow that budget. Felix has a three-course set lunch for HK$340 (US$44) per person, including a glass of house wine. There's a four to six course dinner menu with wine for HK$650[nd]HK$950 (US$83[nd]US$122). You can pay a lot less by choosing your main courses carefully, however.

How about this for a different alternative: Da Ping Huo. 49 Hollywood Road, Central. Telephone (852) 2559-1317. Flat rate: HK$250 (US$32), open Tuesday to Saturday. Sittings at 6.30pm and 9pm. Reservations required, and best made two weeks in advance, although there are occasional last-minute cancallations. Near the junction of Hollywood Road and Graham Street find a black-clad waiter standing in the middle of the street holding a clipboard. Without his help you won!?t find this secretive restaurant, run by Sichuanese artist Wang Hai and his wife Wong Siu-king. The unmarked basement space has only six tables, and is decorated with the owner!?s works and shelves of books on Starck, Koons, and Bacon. Wong Siu-king supervises the cooking, and at the end of an excellent fiery nine-course banquet of Sichuan-style crab, eel, tofu, and more (you eat what you!?re given), emerges from the kitchen to show off her operatic training with a window-rattling vibrato which draws enthusiastic applause from replete diners.

This restaurant is a leftover from a recent fashion for illegal restaurants, too small to have proper licensing and sometimes in people's homes, whose locations were secret until diners were taken there after meeting a representative at a pre-arranged rendezvous. The deal was that you were an invited guest, who left a present (in cash). Da Ping Huo has gone legitimate, but as I said, still only has six tables.

Peter N-H
http://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html

I think Felix is great for lunch or dinner, the views are tremendous. As noted, it is quite expensive, even for Hong Kong, but definitely worth it for an occasion. Ask for a window seat. See my other recommendations below for more moderate restaurants.

It rains a great deal in Hong Kong all year, so August is really no different, although it is very, very hot and humid. Take is slow and drink lots of water. August is the peak month of typhoon season, so there is a chance you may be in one. This are rated on a scale of "signals" from 1-10 with 10 being the highest. (They don't go in strict numerical order, there is a Category 1,3,5,6,7,8,9,10 ). A signal 1 or 3 is really just a strong wind warning, but you may also have rain. A signal 5 or higher means very strong wind and heavy rain, and most business will be closed and the Star Ferries will not be running. A signal 8 is a very strong storm indeed, and you should not be out in one. You really should not be out in a 5 or higher storm, as things get blown around a lot. However from the safety of your hotel room, they are fun to watch. I lived in Hong Kong for 5 years and experienced many signal 5s, and few 8s and one signal 10. During the 10, my apartment building was swaying enough to wake me up and make water in glasses sway as well. I lived on the 31st floor, so it was not the most comforting experience. . .

Favorite, inexpensive restaurants include:

Chili Club - cheap and cheerful Thai food, 1/F, 88 Lockhart Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
TEL: 2527 2872

Café Deco - great views. Some expensive items on the menu, some good bargains. The menu is very extensive, Asian-fusion and western. Ask for a window table.
Peak Galleria, 118 Peak Rd., the Peak, Phone: 2849-5111

The food court in the Pacific Place shopping centre (near McDonalds). There is also a Pizza Hut and a KFC here, along with noodle shops. Good for lunch.

The basement food court (called "GrEAT&quot of the Seibu Dept store in Pacific Place.

Virtually any noodle shop along Queen's Road East or Lockhart Road.

Shek O Chinese and Thai Seafood Restaurant - good Thai and Chinese food in a fun atmosphere near Shek O beach, one of the nicest beaches in Hong Kong. Shek O Village, (main intersection, next to the bus stop) Phone: 2809-4426

Finally and I hate to say it, but McDonald's in Hong Kong is really inexpensive, cheaper than the US. A good choice in a pinch, especially for breakfast in order to avoid the hotel buffets.

If you email felix on [email protected] you can reserve a table in advance - and they told me that they currently have a 25% discount on all food and beverages because it's their 75th anniversary - they'll email a sample menu as well with prices set out on it)

A site I found useful as it recommended and reviewed different resturants each week is totallyhk.com but you might have to register with its sister site scmp.com

amandac

Call them up and make a reservation especially if you want to go on Fri or Sat. As for reasonably priced food, dim sum is probably your best bet and it shouldn't cost more than $25 per person. You can find it in most HK restaurant. Try the Maxim inside City Hall (which is next to the Star Ferry on Central side).

Is there a special reason to go to Felix? It's food is OK but not spectacular. For a truly extraordinary experience, try the chef's table at Gaddi's instead. That's the French restaurant inside the Peninsula and this special meal is served inside the kitchen. Very expensive though costing over $150+. The best part of Felix is the man's restroom and you can just head up for a peek without ordering.

Cicerone> Have you been out of HK for some time? Nowadays, the typhoon signals are 1,3,8 and 10. Don't think they use the other ones anymore as it cause too much confusion.

Do what we did: go to Felix for a drink, to see the washrooms, to see the view, and then leave. Several friends ate there recently and thought the food was highly overrated. It is a beautiful room. Reservations can be made in advance if you decide you want to eat there. You may want to contact the concierge of your hotel to have him make your reservations.

HK Traveller, I moved from HK about a year ago. I have been living and working in the area since 1986, when they did have signal 5 Typhoons, so I was going from memory. I should have looked at the web, they have site now that explains all the ratings.

Guess I should have mentioned rain warnings too: they rate the rain based on how fast it is falling. A black rain is pretty bad, lots of flooding. Tells you how much it rains there 'cuase they can actually classify it!