It's rare to find a restaurant in Hong Kong that gets music, service, food and cocktails spot on, but Komune in Wong Chuk Hang may just be it!
If I’m brutally honest, delicious food is only one part of the package that I’m looking for when I dine out in Hong Kong. Yes, I want the meal to bring me to foodgasm, but there is so much more to the experience. Beautiful design that puts a smile on my face and attentive and knowledgeable service also play into the overall effect, and let’s not forget the power of a good soundtrack. All this being said, when I stepped into the black and white elevators at Ovolo Southside in Wong Chuk Hang and heard Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean playing, I was quietly confident that the mood had been set for the hotel’s newly opened restaurant Komune.
Setting the scene at Komune
Stepping out of the lift, we arrived into a contemporary dining room with subtle nods to Hong Kong throughout. Gleaming green tiles and bold street art adorn the walls and are offset by warm wood to create a fresh looking space that connects to a beautiful outdoor terrace with views across the south of the Island.
In the bathrooms, a selection of MAC products can be found, just in case you need to retouch your makeup or feel like a spritz of perfume. We love that!
Creative cocktails
The team at Komune has partnered with international cocktail consultancy Cocktail Professor to create a drinks menu that pays homage to Hong Kong. Rock Island is an ode to Shek O: fruity and warm, while Longevity Tree Sap captures the flavours of the forest, and even comes served with a little tree burrowed into a block of ice. These drinks look fantastic and surprisingly taste just as good.
What about that food
The food at Komune is a blend of different cuisines from a number of destinations that Chef Alvaro Ramos has visited during his travels, and the menu is almost as colourful and varied as the wonderful tattoos that adorn Ramos’ (AKA Chef El Palanca) body. This is a punchy and eclectic menu, that is sure to satisfy all palates and dietary requirements.
Vegetarians, you need to eat the rainbow tacos which are packed full of cabbage and avocado with a jalapeno hit that makes you feel alive, especially when it is served with Kim Carnes’ Bette Davis Eyes to accompany. The deconstructed taco is another must try that involves potato foam and looks like a dessert: heavenly!
There’s loads here for lovers of sea delights too. The hamachi served in a Peruvian Tiradito style comes swimming in tiger’s milk and is topped off by beautiful edible flowers. Clams and chorizo are served with sake, while oysters are decadently bathed in a cava vinegar dressing. The L.A. style crab rolls are deliciously moreish and served with cucumber two ways – delicious.
If you’re feeling carnivorous, the Sichuan style slow-cooked short ribs pack a punch in all the right places, so I’m told by dining companion, and the portion size is enough to satisfy around four people.
But, the real showstopper is the liquid cheesecake, a dessert that includes both camembert and blue cheese and is served with a chili-infused dressing.
This is inventive cuisine at its best, and the plates made for sharing allow you to sample a range of dishes that will definitely hit the spot.
Komune, 64 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, p. 3460 8157, 黃竹坑黃竹坑道64號
