Rating: ★★★★☆
Address: 29-30/F, Hotel Lkf by Rhombus, 33 Wyndham Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central 中環蘭桂坊雲咸街33號隆堡蘭桂坊酒店29-30樓
Telephone: 3518 9330
https://www.facebook.com/AzureLKF
我平時都喜歡和朋友到Azure飲酒聊天，因為地方舒適，
I would call Azure one of the most exciting places to have a drink in this city, if me and my friends don’t come here so much already. Situated in Hotel LKF by Rhombus, Azure is a glitzy and elaborate space that spans the top two floors of the hotel and can accommodate up to 70 diners. Overlooking the magnificent city view, this restaurant and bar is a popular haunt for businessmen, party-goers and travellers and has been named ‘Visitors’ Choice Dining Awards 2013’ by CityLife Magazine, rated ‘10 out of 10’ for Food in 2010 by Asia Tatler’s Regional Best Restaurants Guide and ranked No. 7 in ‘The World’s 20 Best Sky Bars 2008’ by The Sunday Times.
I have been invited to try Azure‘s March Menu, a 4-course set dinner priced at $568 which includes one glass of Italian DO wine. You can opt for free flow wine for 2 hours at an additional $98, and there is 15% off the total bill if you hold an HSBC credit card. Azure is also currently doing a Semi-Buffet Lunch promotion, with an appetiser and dessert buffet, a seafood platter and a main course at HK$338 for 2 persons.
(1) Azure is a refined establishment, with the assured staff gliding past the tables, offering help when needed. A bread basket made its way to our table, and the soft, warm bread was complemented by a piece of beautiful tricolour butter of garlic, sundried tomatoes and herbs flavours. The amuse bouche was small cubes of salmon covered in herbs.
(2) Even though the 4-course menu includes a glass of red or white wine, I also ordered a glass of Marks Myers ($120), a signature cocktail invented by Azure‘s bartenders using Myers Dark rum, Midori, Creme de Fraise and Skyy vodka. The alcohol was definitely detectable, but the fresh taste of strawberries made it very easy to drink.
(3) Our appetiser was the Crab Meat Pomelo Salad. The Australian crabmeat was nicely chilled and startlingly fresh, and the mango balls and mixed greens added gorgeous summery flavours to the dish.
(4) The kitchen then sent out a Roasted Sweet Corn Soup with jalapeno relish and oyster, which was a real winner for me. The soup was thick and soothingly hot, and the sweetness of the roasted corn was sublime.
(5) There is a Terrace BBQ Grill section on the à la carte menu which is available year-round, and we ordered a Wagyu Beef Tenderloin (8oz, $688) to share. Imported from Wales, the medium-rare Wagyu beef was well grilled and had a gorgeous bite, and the meat in the middle was juicy and pink. Discerning diners would be happy to find that there were 2 types of salts to choose from: smoked sea salt or regular sea salt. For me, the Dijon mustard or béarnaise sauce did the trick.
Meats from the Terrace BBQ Grill section came with two sides. The fantastic punch of garlic in the garlic mash got my taste buds excited and the grilled Italian veggies had a beautiful natural taste.
(6) Having conquered the piece of steak between the two of us, I was a bit full for my own main course, but it worked out well because the Braised Lamb Shank was rather petite. Delicate strands of lamb shank sat atop a bed of chanterelle mushroom mash potato. On the side was an assembly of wilted baby spinach and butter glazed cherry tomatoes, brimming with freshly conceived flavours.
(7) The last course was the Vanilla Marquise with Apricot Sorbet. The apricot sorbet added a fruity note, and together with the vanilla cream and marinated apricot, they formed a medley of well balanced flavours.
(8) Somehow there was still room in my stomach for the restaurant’s petit fours! The macaron, in a vanilla flavour, was a bit too hard, but apparently their signature rose macaron is delicious.
(9) Having stuffed myself with so much food, I finished off with a cup of Mövenpick coffee, which was quite aromatic.
A DJ arrives at Azure every night at 11pm, and you could enjoy your drink downstairs where the pool table is, upstairs in the main dining room, or out on the patio for a breath of fresh air.
While I would like to consider myself a regular customer, I never knew that Azure has a rooftop area until the staff decided to take me on a tour of the entire restaurant! This large outdoor space can fit up to 200 people, but is only open on the weekends.
If you want more privacy, a secluded VIP table can be reserved, and the minimum charge may be waived during the week if the restaurant is not too busy.
Conclusion: Even though the portions were not gigantic, the dishes at Azure have been prepared with care and precision. Embraced by the glistening night view, dining at Azure was an opulent experience.
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