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The one restaurant in Hong Kong....

We'll have one night in Hong Kong. So where shall we eat? We'd prefer not to spend more than US$120 for two but we'd like a memorable meal. Could we do it at Felix or is that too expensive? Where else?

We spent about $120 at Vong's for an excellent meal. We ate reasonably and had a glass of wine. To make it memorable, you should have a table by the window. (But don't trust the waiter to take your picture.)

You can eat at Felix for the price quoted. The views (and, in my opinion, the food) are superior to Vong. But there's no shortage of choice for memorable meals in HK. Peter N-H http://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html

If you like really spicy sezchuan (sp?), we truly enjoyed a place called The Red Pepper (went back twice in a four day period). Not much for views, but the food is incredible, and the prices are extremely reasonable. Not in the class of the Felix at all, but go if you are wanting a spicy feast!

OK, after living in Hong Kong for 5 years, here would be my choices for one night, some with views and great food, some with just great food: 1. Felix (continental/fusion, fantastic views, Stark design, expensive) 2. Vong (eclectic fusion, great views, Mandarin Hotel, expensive) 3. Yu (Chinese seafood with great view, Intercontinental Hotel, Kowloon, expensive) 4. Talk of the Town (Asian fusion, modern, younger crowd, great views, Excelsior Hotel, Causeway Bay, moderate) 5 . Café Deco (Asian, continental, stunning views, Peak Galleria, the Peak, moderate, ask for window seat upstairs if possible) 6. Peak Café (Asian, continental, no views but charming old building, the Peak, moderate) 7. Chilli Club (Thai food, no décor, no views, but fantastic Thai food) 8. Tandoor (Indian, no views, live sitar music, in Lan Kwai Fong bar area) There are of course a myriad of other choices. Check the rants and raves page here on this site. Hope this is helpful.

FYI, The Peak Café closed more than a year ago. It now has a similar successor on the same site, called The Peak Lookout. The menu is expat Asian favourites plus food expats miss from home--fun for long-term residents, but perhaps nothing too special for visitors, although the location, in an old but heavily remodelled shelter for rickshawmen, and in the garden behind that, does have a lot going for it, and every dish the restaurant does, it does well. I had very good oysters there a little while ago. And since we're back on the subject, the key to happy eating at Felix is to choose a dish with one of chef Dee Ann Tsurumaki's sauces--she specialises in particularly intense creations which take her all day to make. Fish dishes are also strong. I've forgotten what the price is (you could find out from The Peninsula's Web site), but I'd highly recommend a meal at the chef's table in Gaddi's. It only seats four, and you'd need to book now. You're asked if there's anything you don't eat, but then are given dishes the chef (Philip Sedgwick) chooses, and personally explains to you. The table is right inside the vast kitchen, and your visit begins with a conducted tour before things get too busy. Sedgwick is personable and amusing, and takes time to come and chat during the meal. The food is French with adaptations from Sedgwick's time at various Michelin-starred restaurants around Europe. Certainly not an evening you'll forget. Another good choice would be the perenially popular M at the Fringe. A small, muted, and intimate restaurant in an odd, wedge-shaped space, its menu largely owner Michelle Garnaut's favourite dishes, and best known for melt-in-the-mouth salted roast lamb, and the world's fluffiest Pavlova, although there's much else which is excellent. The best Italian in Hong Kong also comes with views across to Kowloon side, and that's at Grissini in the Grand Hyatt. There's a cold, lemony angel hair pasta with tiny raw prawns which would be worth travelling for in its own right. Slightly careful menu choices needed to keep it to UD$120, perhaps. The food at Café Deco is pleasant enough, but not quite in the same league as the other restaurants being discussed. It's a good choice for desert and coffee after dining across the road at The Peak Lookout. Tandoor is pleasant enough, but the food is fairly straightforward, and not the stuff of memorable evenings, I think. Watch out for recommendations to eat the best possible Cantonese food--although that's the obvious choice for good dining in Hong Kong--since the best is also the plainest, and far plainer than anything you'll likely have tried at home, and thus may disappoint (although that's not really the food's fault). Peter N-H http://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html

Cafe Deco has an excellent website. I tried to make a reservation but it is closed for a private party the one night we have in Hong Kong. So I guess if we want a view, it probably should be Felix.

Yes, I like Cafe Deco.

another vote for the Red Pepper.