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The Hong Kong skyline is one of the best in the world, and it’s always a treat to see it from a new angle, especially when it’s accompanied by a luscious meal.
PANO is a new East-meets-West fine-dining restaurant in West Kowloon Cultural District. You may know Executive Chef Ken Lau from his stints at The Peninsula or from his other restaurant, Palco, in Wanchai. While I’d never tried Chef Lau’s cooking before this tasting, you can count me as a fan now.
If you’ve lived in Hong Kong for awhile, new openings with nice views are fairly common, as are places that serve beautifully plated cuisine. And having written for Foodie for a number of years now, I’ve had the privilege of trying some of our city’s greatest restaurants. Still, PANO stands out as offering some seriously delicious food.
Below are dishes from the eatery’s 10-course dinner menu ($1,188/person). They also offer a four-course lunch menu ($498/person).
Amuse-bouche
Seasonal vegetables
Roasted short-neck clam with caviar and garlic foam
Coconut fish maw, abalone and chicken bisque with slow-cooked chicken breast
Applewood-smoked organic broccoli royale with Hokkaido sea urchin
Deep-fried tilefish with scales in Sicilian sauce
Ma la pasta with clams
Homemade seasonal fruit sorbet
Miyazaki Wagyu beef two ways
Dried bean curd millefeuille
The amuse-bouche of Hokkaido scallop tartare with Thai spices and mascarpone foam in a beetroot cone was memorable, as was the butter-laden roasted short-neck clam with caviar and garlic foam.
The spaghetti with Sichuan spices and clams was incredibly silky and addictive, and the coconut and chicken bisque with fish maw, abalone and slow-cooked chicken breast was so comforting and another reminder that details matter at PANO; every single element was tender and flavourful.
For my main, I chose the Miyazaki Wagyu beef (+$198), which was one of the few dips in the meal for me. The meat was tougher than expected, and the overall dish felt too heavy when paired with the beef pastry.
Panorama mocktail
Verdict
Check out PANO the next time you’re visiting West Kowloon Cultural District. The food and vibe are perfect for a date night, though the ambience is slightly more casual than might be expected for the prices. They’ve also got great mocktails and cocktails – I highly recommend the Panorama ($108/$128). Grab one and hang out on the gorgeous patio before the weather gets too hot!
Unit 1F–1, 1/F, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, 24–26 Museum Drive, West Kowloon, 2361 9600
This write-up is based on a complimentary media tasting provided in exchange for an honest review and no monetary compensation. The opinions expressed here represent the author’s.
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