Excellent Italian @ 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, Hong Kong

Hubby's generous uncle and aunt took us out for a belated celebration for hubby's birthday at 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana. It is the only Italian restaurant outside of Italy to have received 3 stars from the Michelin Guide, and it is indeed not short on accolades. The experience was every bit as I hoped for: a cool, classy interior with excellent, impeccable service to match the flavourful, delicious food. Highly recommended for special occasions (or regular dining if you can afford it!). The menu contained a degustation course as well as a-la-carte. The seasonal specialty was Australian black winter truffle, coincidentally grown in Perth, where we're all from! Red meat dominated the menu, but there were some seafood options too. Portion sizes were generous, and we were all bursting at the seams from just eating the three courses (to be honest, I was already full after my starter!).

Beautiful polished decor:

Bottomless carbs! Excellent breads, sticks and crackers:

Amuse bouche was a chilled melon soup with prosciutto to whet our appetites:

Hubby started the meal with Cavatelli with shellfish ragout and sea urchin (HK$380). Seafood pasta as perfect as it can be:

My Burrata Cheese Ravioli with black olive and eggplant sauce, cherry tomato and basil (HK$260) was really good and so filling!:

One of the main courses is Veal Chop "Milanese" Style - large crispy breaded veal chop, ratte potato, Sicilian tomato and oregano salad (HK$470 for one, HK$940 for two). Pictured is two portions being cut up and divided for hubby and uncle-in-law:

Uncle-in-law and hubby were full, and agreed that one portion would have been plenty to share between them two. And the uncle had skipped on the starter course!

Not a big red meat eater, I opted for the Brittany Blue Lobster (HK$560) for my main course. It was delicious, and such a decadent seafood choice:

Hubby indulged in one of the restaurant's specialty desserts, Grand Cru Chocolate in 5 Styles, and it was so good! His dessert was split into two, to allow for a birthday message. Brulee and fondant on this plate...

... and cream, crumble and ice cream in this bowl:

I'd heard great things about the Black Truffle Ice Cream, and it certainly didn't disappoint! Look at the generous shavings of fresh black winter truffle!

Complimentary petit fours to finish off. Regardless of how full I already am, I cannot resist petit fours!

An excellent meal!

8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana
Shop 202
2nd Floor, Alexandra House
16-20 Chater Road
Central, Hong Kong
Tel. +85 2 2537 8859