Hong Kong Restaurant Week Review: Armani Aqua 3-Course Menu

The 10th Edition of Hong Kong's Restaurant Week has arrived with a 10-day long tasting event that started on the 26th of February and runs until the 6th of March. Patrons will have the opportunity to preview one of the special tasting menus, among which includes the Popsy Modern Kitchen, Quest by Que, Isono and Issaya Siamese Club. We were fortunate enough to check out Armani/Aqua and enjoyed a 3-course dinner menu at a price of HKD$398.

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When we entered Armani / Aqua, this marvelous hallway (below) first caught our eyes with its mirrors, banquettes and oriental elements. Armani / Aqua is not a fusion restaurant per se. Half of its cuisine is Japanese and the other half is Italian, making for a unique and incredible experience. There is a sushi bar in the restaurant and the menu features a smattering of dishes using fresh Japanese imported ingredients and fine Italian techniques.

Armani Aqua

Photo credit: Armani Aqua

First up was a true Japanese special: handmade seafood balls stuffed with crunchy veggies, cilantro, super-tender squid sashimi, and a creamy celeriac puree to top things off. It was like a collection of flavours and textures from the ocean.

Armani Aqua Aburi Ika Seafood Balls with Celeriac Puree

Aburi Ika
Handmade fresh seafood ball with celeriac puree

The chef recommended the Wagyu beef. It was cooked perfectly (medium-rare) and was so juicy that it melted on our tongues. The ornamental crispy sweet potato strips and shiitake red wine sauce were the highlights worth mentioning.

Armani Aqua Cedar Beef Wagyu Sweet Potato Strips

Cedar beef
“Slow-cooked Wagyu beef and oyster blade” with a shiitake red wine sauce

Our tasting menu was extended to include two exceptional desserts - coconut mousse and tiramisu.

The aesthetic presentation of the coconut mousse was very impressive - it was love at first sight. It consisted of a rich coconut mousse with a white chocolate infusion set inside a semi-sweet chocolate shell and paired with lovely citrus snow flakes and yuzu flavoured balls that popped with a caviar like texture. This beautiful piece of edible art certainly hit the spot. Likewise, the tiramisu is made equally perfect due to its sinful mascarpone custard that's layered with coffee-dipped sponges.

Armani Aqua, Cool Baby Coco Coconut, Sake Mousse