Billed as Wan Chai’s first French brasserie by its founders, Chouchou lands in the neighbourhood with strong competition flanked on all sides.
The choice is abundant: Italian trattorias, steakhouses, salty cha chaan tengs, Thai and Filipino food, and a few Michelin-starred restaurants to count for.
But if anything is to go by their opening weekend, a sell-out at that, this restaurant is expected to make some noise. Alas, this is the second restaurant opening from the group behind Babette.
Dinner kicks off in a space once occupied by Cafe Bau (now located in 1881 Heritage). The interior has remained the same, with minor touch-ups to boost the restaurant’s Frenchness.
I began by picking the oeufs mayonnaise (HKD98) which offers three halved Japanese boiled eggs with a delicious salty mayonnaise dollop and an added hit of umami with the bottarga dusting.
Onto the next starter came the foie gras au torchon (HKD258), a slightly expensive dish yet it delivers on strong flavours which makes up for the price point.
The foie gras is served with two slices of warm brioche and pear chutney. Paired with the chutney, the abundantly buttery, salty, and goose-heavy flavour is one to remember. There is a consistent texture to each swipe of the pâté-like starter, making it good for sharing.
For my small dinner, I picked the tournedos rossini (HKD458) for my main meal. The beef tenderloin is topped with pan-seared foie gras, which remarkably holds a firm texture, and placed above a thin slice of croûton bread. Drizzled below is a black truffle jus for a salty hit.
The fusion of all these elements makes for a robust bite. The additions of the foie gras and the truffle jus raise the salty profile without overpowering the meaty flesh.
To top it all off, I dug into the tarte tatin (HKD128) for dessert. I was very impressed with how the caramelised sliced apples retained their bite, as the apple skin turns into a candy of sorts with a chewy texture and sweet smack. The vanilla ice cream equally paired well with the soft tart.
Our verdict of Chouchou
Much more is to be expected from this new French restaurant serving a menu with all the classics. Given that finding a table at Babette is hard and the food I enjoyed was great, go now before it becomes hard to snag a table.
Chouchou, Shop 8, 1/F, J Residence, 60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, 8432 6216, book here
| Order this: oeufs mayonnaise, foie gras au torchon, tournedos rossini Menu: à-la-carte menu Price for two: HKD500-HKD750 | Atmosphere: party-like with a soundtrack of jovial conversation that fills the room Perfect for: date-night dinner |
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.
