The Press Room, 108 Hollywood Rd, Central, HK

http://www.thepressroom.com.hk/

Twas a beautiful night in downtown HK . . . cars were honking, birds were dying, and two Australian gals (me and my lovely friend, Shari) were hungry.

We’d both been told about a funky modern European restaurant, called The Press Room, which is quite the Honky Tonk town rage with consistent good reviews in the media. So we rang, we booked, we high-fived, and we jumped in a cab.

As you enter The Press Room you can’t help but feel pretty damn superior at being in such chic, yet laid-back surroundings (hence our nod to each other to confirm our own exceptional coolness).

Next up . . . *garcon!* . . . we ordered the very yummy 2005 Wairu River Sauvignon Blanc – a damn fine Kiwi wine, which confirms New Zealand is actually good for something.

On to the grub! After much debate, deliberation and discussion (Shari’s a lawyer after all), we decided to share an entrée and each get a main . . .

For our entrée we chose the lobster risotto and it was KICK ASS!! It was a significantly large serving for an entrée (golf clap), and the super-sacred chefs were unbelievably generous with the lobster (standing ovation).

Not only did it boast colossal chunks of lobster meat throughout the actual risotto, it also had a delightfully hefty claw and body plonked on top (which we first thought might just be decorative, yet quickly discovered was packed with ample goods!).

Lobster truly is the food of the Gods . . . and my new name is Lobstodite.

On to the mains . . . the lovely Shari ordered the Arctic Black Cod Bouillabaisse, served with prawns and scallops in a savoury tomato saffron broth:

She loved it (as did I when I snuck a little taste) and found it to be light, simple, and incredibly tasty.

Fatso ‘Lobstodite’ Jo ordered the poached Atlantic Salmon, which came with a dill-champagne sauce (mmm!), roasted vegetables, and was served on a bed of lobster and corn potatoes:

It. Was. Hot. Loved it! Could have smashed thirteen more servings of it, and kissed the chef seventeen times . . .

Outta ten?

Ambience: 7/10
The overall feel of the place was hip n happening, and I guess the only minor problem was the high ceilings, which caused a slight echo and made the place pretty loud.

However high ceilings are no match for two talkative Sydney broads, so all was good (we were, however, a little baffled by the weird ‘ornamental’ cages hanging from the ceiling . . . kinda left us wondering when they were going to “bring out the gimp” from Pulp Fiction??).

Service: 8/10
The waiters were fantastic – open, obliging and unobtrusive. They were the icing on the cake . . . the crack in your cocaine. Too far? Possibly (sorry Mum).

Food: 7½/10
The fish loved me tender, the vegies were al dente, and the risotto was suitably mooshy! I’d definitely buy the chef a beer.

Overall rating: 7½/10.
Worth the visit – be prepared to pay thru the nose (what the hell does that saying mean!?) when it comes to the vino, yet apparently that’s Hong Kong for you . . . coz I know everything about this place after 11 days *touches side of nose and winks* (again with the noses!).

Essentially, The Press Room was bitchin’, and we had a rad evening! Why am I speaking like Bill and Ted? I am not sure . . . perhaps coz we had an "excellent adventure"? Let's hope next time isn't a "bogus journey" . . .

Later!
xoxo