COCONUTS HOT SPOT – Those looking for a cosy French experience in Hong Kong can usually expect to see an extremely overpriced menu or, perhaps worse, a place packed with people.
Thanks to the MTR now extending all the way to Kennedy Town, however, there’s a lot more to explore in this wide-open oyster of the west.
Bistro du Vin is a small restaurant on Davis Street near the harbour side of Kennedy Town. The interior is compact but ambient, and, like a real bistro should be, intimate and a tad twee.
There are a few vintage decorations on the walls to French things up, and if you fancy going the whole hog and getting some wine to go with your atmosphere, they have an open cellar!
We kicked off with a few appetisers, as we hear is the custom. The Salade Niçoise (HKD100) came with a decent amount of anchovy and tuna, and the green capsicum was sweet and refreshing.
For a more heavy option, we also went for the Assiete of Hokkaido Sausages (HKD150), which were a greasy delight with cooked choucroute (French for sauerkraut) and bacon chunks.
A slight disappointment was the Home Salted Brandade (HKD100) – a piece of bruschetta topped with blended cod and potatoes, an egg and hollandaise sauce. The combination was a bit bland for me, but it would no doubt be a solid choice for someone looking for a lighter starter.
And here comes the highlight…
The rather crudely-named Cheesy Onion Soup (HKD90) was packed full of chunky onions, which were matched, just as they should be, with a strong, salty gravy and an inch-thick layer of Gruyere cheese. A must-try for cheese lovers (and the cheesy goodness just gets stronger as it goes on)!
Moving on to the mains, the Duck Leg Confit (HKD230) was well marinated, and the crispy pan-fried skin made the dish very satisfying.
The Lamb Shank (HKD230) was another winner of the night. The meat was succulent, tender and full of flavour, served in a rich tomato-based gravy.
And what’s better? A large serving! Even better than that? Somehow I landed a super a soft spot packed with the huge chunks of gooey garlic. Winning!
It’s a weird complaint I know, but the sauce in Coq du Vin (HKD230) was actually a little too winey. The chicken pieces were tender, but overall the dish didn’t work as well as the others.
Braised Beef Cheek in Red Wine Sauce (HKD260) came in a very rich wine-and-cheese based sauce, but this time the wine wasn’t too overpowering. It seems heavy dishes are really the forte here.
One does not simply leave a French restaurant without trying the desserts, so we ordered a Soufflé (HKD75), naturally. It came in a small casserole dish with vanilla ice cream (dotted with black vanilla pod) and almond flakes on the side.
The orange cognac in the dessert certainly brought up the flavour but, again, I think toning down the booze a little wouldn’t go amiss. But then what did we expect from a restaurant called Bistro du Vin?
Overall, this place definitely achieved what a bistro is supposed to – a cosy environment in which to enjoy good food, good drinks and good company.
And again, slightly cheaper (and far less crowded) than Soho…
Bistro du Vin, Shop D, 1 Davis Street, Kennedy Town, (+852) 2824 -3010.
