Aria stands out with its passionate chef and dynamic menu
We here at Honeycombers are constantly hunting for all the food gems across town such as the best Italian restaurants in Hong Kong. With numerous new restaurants opening recently, we visited Aria, an authentic Italian ristorante that gives you a luxurious dining experience.
A bit about Aria…
Helmed by Chef Andrea Zamboni who has over 20 years of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, Aria offers a unique twist to family-style Italian cuisine along with panoramic views in the heart of Central. The menu features Chef Zamboni’s unique family recipes and jet-fresh seasonal specialities, surprising loyal customers with different flavours each time.
Luxurious design? Check. Panoramic views? Check. Convenient location? Check. The moment you sit down on one of Aria’s velvet sofa, you know the dining experience will be superb. We love how natural light passes through the full-height glass windows, brightening the interior while providing uninterrupted city views. Not only do they provide an outdoor terrace where you can indulge in cigars, but there is also live music from Thursday to Saturday (which will resume after social distancing restrictions are lifted).
What about the food?
One thing special about Aria is that they blow your mind with new menus every time you visit. When we visited, we enjoyed a couple of daily specials, such as Tribute to Life. Adopting the concept of the food chain, this dish features green plankton sauce (the producer) and Baeri Caviar (the consumer). The mild sauce made with yoghurt, lime and cinnamon accompanied the sweetness of the potato perfectly.
While we were enjoying the Autumn Salad, another daily special loaded with tomatoes, Chef Zamboni came to us and said: “We have new menus regularly because I like to play around with different ingredients. Nothing can stop me from inventing new recipes!”
If you want to sample all the seasonal specialities, let Chef Zamboni mix and match everything for you ($2000 per person). Oysters, Linguini, parma pizza… dishes and dishes of delectable food will be served until you can’t eat anymore.
How’s the dessert?
Although their must-try Tiramisu was amazing, we found Mr White more unique. Never have we thought of putting white chocolate, fennel, burrata cheese and olive oil together. The sweetness of chocolate did not clash with the cheese– instead, the combination was flawless. Its flavour was so unique that we can still recall the sensation on our palate – take us back!.
Overall experience
Of course the delectable food and stunning environment deserve 100 marks, but what truly makes Aria stand out is Chef Zamboni. Just like the signature Tiramisu, a childhood treat of Chef Zamboni, each item on the menu has a story. As he explains the meaning of dishes, even the cooked veal on the plate comes into life. With his exceptional culinary skills and passion for gastronomy, Aria will remain as one of the best Italian restaurants in Hong Kong.
Aria, 24/F, California Tower, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2804 1116
