Sabatini Ristorante Italiano has a storied history, both here in Hong Kong and in Rome, where the restaurant – still running today in the Trastevere district – originated in 1958. The eatery’s founders, the Sabatini brothers themselves, brought the Italian restaurant to Hong Kong the early 90s, opening an outpost at The Royal Garden hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui that’s been treasured by locals and tourists alike ever since.
Late last year, Sabatini’s longed-for expansion to Hong Kong Island finally came to fruition with the launch of a second location at ifc mall in Central. The interior design of the very spacious ifc mall branch has been brought to the present with a bright, contemporary elegance. Complementing the floor-to-ceiling windows and lofty, arched ceilings are mesmerising harbour views.
Chef Marco Antonio Li Voti works the dining room with his innate Italian charm, welcoming diners and introducing his beautifully crafted dishes. The chef cut his chops in Hong Kong at Umberto Bombana’s now two-starred Octavium Italian restaurant, and he also fronts cannoli specialist Holy Cannoli in the city.
Driven by the seasons, chef Marco changes up Sabatini’s menu every few months. To start, we tried the blue lobster salad from the limited-time blue lobster and black truffle tasting menu (HKD1,958 pp). The revered blue lobster from Brittany is grilled just to the point of doneness, retaining a sweet succulence that we adore. The crustacean is gilded with an array of harmonising elements, including earthy beetroot, sharp horseradish, a summery catalana sauce made with red bell pepper, and briny Kristal caviar. Bravo, chef!
Next came our choice from Sabatini’s pasta and risotto selection. Hands down, the homemade bigoli in traditional Veneto-style duck ragù (HKD468) is one of the best pasta dishes we’ve had outside Italy. Bigoli – thicker than spaghetti, akin to udon in shape and size – is an ancient type of pasta that was created in the late 1800s by a farmer in Italy’s Veneto region, made here at Sabatini with a machine that is a dear personal possession of chef Marco. Like most Italian recipes, the ragù includes simple, humble ingredients (in this case, just duck, carrot, and onion) that pack a lot of flavour.
The sauce, with a deep savouriness that we lapped up, features local duck – and all parts of the duck too, from the breast, to the thigh, to the skin. The bigoli weaves its way around every last bit of the luscious ragù.
Sabatini’s tiramisu (HKD188), served tableside from a massive bowl, is a popular dessert option, but for a change of pace, we went for the sensational Amalfi lemon tart (HKD188). The tart delivers a bright and tangy lemon curd atop an ultra-crisp and buttery biscuit base. On the side, there’s a serving of lemon-scented whipped cream for dolloping to your heart’s content.
Shout-out to the petits fours that bring every meal at the Italian restaurant to a close – flaky palmiers with a tinge of espresso, Sabatini-branded chocolates, and biscotti, the ultimate in espresso-dunking.
Our verdict of Sabatini ifc
For over three decades, Sabatini has remained one of Hong Kong’s most cherished Italian restaurants for good reason. The winning formula of decor, service, and cuisine are simply immaculate. At this new and much more contemporary location at ifc mall, chef Marco introduces a youthful freshness to the traditional Italian dishes that continue to dazzle diners year after year.
Along with its iconic status in the city, a meal at Sabatini comes with a costly bill; several of the pasta dishes are priced at over HKD500, raising eyebrows for many.
Sabatini Ristorante Italiano, Shop 4008, 4/F, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street, Central, 2610 0080, book here
| Order this: New Zealand scampi carpaccio, veal tripe parmigiana style, bigoli with duck ragù, cavatelli with Sicilian red prawn, baked blue lobster with risotto, Amalfi lemon tart Menu: Sabatini ifc à-la-carte menu Price for two: HK1,800–2,200 | Atmosphere: elegant and serene. The nightly (Tuesday–Saturday) live performances seal the deal for sophistication. Perfect for: pristine Italian cuisine with history, ideal for both romancing a special someone or schmoozing over a business deal |
This review is intended to offer an individual perspective on the dining experience and should not be considered as a definitive judgement of the restaurant’s overall quality or reputation. The views expressed in this review are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions of Foodie.
