We fondly remember our first visit to a La Petite Maison (LPM) restaurant; this was nearly two decades ago in London, where the brand was founded in 2007. It was a special dining experience then, and it’s just as special today in Hong Kong.
Now with 10 outposts around the world, the LPM chain has become well known globally for its trademark Mediterranean sophistication, channelling the sun-kissed vibrance of the French Riviera. The Hong Kong branch of LPM opened in mid-2018, and this summer, after six years on the scene, the chic location underwent a facelift, debuting colourful hand-painted murals and an inviting terrace inspired by the Med.
We recently revisited LPM to check out the refreshed space and try the newly introduced weekday business lunch menu (HKD398 for 3 courses; HKD498 for 4 courses). Several items on the lunch menu are also available à la carte, and we’ll state these prices where applicable.
As always at LPM, diners are greeted at the table by two tomatoes on the vine, a lemon, a bottle of olive oil, and a serrated knife for slicing the fruit and veg right on the pristine white tablecloth (if you’re not mess-averse, that is) – a gesture that continues to charm.
Then it’s time to choose a starter (or two, depending on how many courses you select) from the tempting variety on offer, ranging from the cauliflower salad with almond and caraway dressing and amberjack carpaccio with green apple dressing to the heartier snails with garlic butter and parsley (+HKD128 for lunch or HKD248 à la carte) and beef tartare with smoked bone marrow mayonnaise (+HKD128 for lunch or HKD258 à la carte).
If we had to pick a favourite starter, the surprising winner would be the cauliflower salad, which features cauliflower prepared three ways – raw, roasted, and puréed – each with a different flavour profile and texture, elevating this humble vegetable. The punchy dressing, laced with caraway, elderflower, and rice vinegar, is punctuated by toasted almond slices and plump, sweet raisins.
For a more classic starter, LPM’s escargots remain some of the best in town – perfectly tender, buttery, and garlicky. Soaking up the juices with some of the restaurant’s house-made baguette is a given.
The main course choices for lunch are also wonderfully diverse and change regularly. With their distinct autumn feels, we chose the pumpkin risotto and pan-fried red bream fillet with apple remoulade.
The pumpkin risotto is a recommended plant-based option that delivers comforting richness without the need for meat. Indulgently creamy, the natural sweetness of the pumpkin is nicely complemented by the pure umami of what is undoubtedly a boatload of Parmesan cheese added to the mix.
We also enjoyed the bream with its mild, tender flesh and crispy, well-seasoned skin. The apple remoulade appeared more yoghurt based than a traditional remoulade that’s normally heavy on the mayo, but in this case, we appreciated its airy, herby lightness.
LPM’s potato gratin (HKD108) side dish deserves a singular mention. This casserole likely encompasses at least half your recommended daily calorie intake, but these creamy, paper-thin potatoes are unsurpassed when it comes to decadence (the best bit is the golden crust).
For dessert, the French toast with spice ice cream (HKD128 à la carte) is an iconic LPM dish for good reason, a heavenly slice of thick, caramelised brioche with a wobbly, custardy centre. Equally delicious in our books, the vanilla cheesecake with berry compote (HKD128 à la carte) ranks as one of our favourite cheesecakes in town, smooth, rich, and holding just the right balance of tang and sweet.
Our verdict of La Petite Maison
Offering an unbeatable ambience and menus showcasing the finest fresh flavours of the Mediterranean, we return again and again to La Petite Maison to savour the brand’s well-executed French-meets-Italian cuisine. More than half a decade after landing in Hong Kong, we appreciate that LPM is not content to rest on its laurels, continually introducing new dishes and experiences. This new business lunch menu is well worth the weekday splurge.
La Petite Maison (LPM), Shop 1, 1/F, H Queen’s, 23–29 Stanley Street, Central, 2887 1113, book here
| Order this: cauliflower salad, escargots, beef tartare, burrata, warm prawns, marinated baby chicken, baked whole sea bream, pain perdu, vanilla cheesecake Menu: La Petite Maison business lunch and à-la-carte menus Price for two: HKD800–1,000 (lunch); HKD1,200–1,600 (dinner) | Atmosphere: effortlessly chic in white, transporting us to a beach club along the Côte d’Azur, with charming service to match Perfect for: leisurely business lunches to seal the deal and romantic dinners à deux |
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.
