Hong Kong is bursting with Insta-worthy dishes and striking panoramas, yet few restaurants combine both as well as Harbourside Grill in Tsim Sha Tsui’s Ocean Terminal, which opened in 2020. We went along to discover its pleasures!
The Vibe
Perched on the tip of Ocean Terminal, Harbourside Grill’s adjoining restaurant and terrace offer incredible vistas and stunning sunsets over the Lamma Channel. And food to match! The menu by British-French Executive Chef Armand Sablon has a well-balanced choice of starters, lighter salads, vegetarian and fish dishes. But, as the restaurant name would suggest, the grill takes a starring role. And this is no ordinary grill! Imported from Spain, the Josper is a specialist oven that cooks meat at extremely high temperatures forming a delicious savoury crust while trapping in the flavour.
We visited on a Thursday evening and started with a cocktail on the terrace. Inside, the space is welcoming with a clever layout; all diners can enjoy the amazing views whether they’re in the half-moon booths facing the harbour or alongside the floor-to-ceiling windows.
What’s on the menu?
We opted for the five-course tasting menu ($888) with wine pairing ($288), which opened with an appetiser of Fine de Claire oysters garnished with pickled cucumber and gin granita. As we’re not oyster eaters, our attentive waitress happily swapped the dish for a delicious French bean and watercress salad from the à la carte menu.
The second course had surprising contrasts: creamy foie gras with a layer of earthy chicken terrine, garnished with smoked apple puree and morsels of smoked eel. Simply delicious! The sommelier paired it with a Mount Difficulty New Zealand Riesling, whose fruity notes cut through the rich flavours.
Next up were our mains. Delicate sea bass came served on a bed of crushed potatoes in a creamy lobster bisque, matched with a stellar Petit Chablis chardonnay. And the Angus beef fillet was unsurprisingly spot on – tender and flavoursome, and accompanied by an equally tender beef cheek, with a full-bodied Chianti to pair. Last, but certainly not least, the apple tarte tatin is, in a word, divine! Crispy, buttery puff pastry encases perfectly caramelised apples, with extra caramel sauce and ice cream to cut through the richness. An indulgent end to a fantastic meal.
The outdoor terrace here is possibly my favourite alfresco dining spot in Hong Kong. A separate menu of sharing options includes a cheese and charcuterie board ($348); there’s also a great value weekday set lunch from $228 (two courses) and a relaxed weekend lunch set for $488 (four courses).
Why we love it
Harbourside Grill suits every dining occasion, be it a splurge for a birthday or, in my case, dinner with a very special friend.
Book one of Harbourside Grill’s fab Christmas celebrations!
- 5-course Christmas Dinner: 24 & 25 December, 5.30-10pm ($888 per person)
- 5-course Christmas Lunch: 25 December, 12pm-2.30pm ($588)
- 5-course New Year’s Eve Tasting Menu: 31 December, 5.30-10pm ($1,288, including a glass of champagne)
Harbourside Grill restaurant is located at Shop OTE401, Level 4, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui | 2619 9100
This article first appeared in the Winter 2021 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
