Rating: ★★★★★

Address: 3/F, 18 On Lan Street, Central 中環安蘭街18號3樓

Telephone: 2728 0178

https://www.arcane.hk

I haven’t given a 5-star rating on my blog for a while, but Arcane is one of the most memorable restaurants I have tried this year and certainly deserves this top rating from me.

This elegant eatery is opened by Shane Osborn, who is the first Australian chef to achieve two Michelin stars in London at his restaurant Pied-a-Terre. I visited Osborn’s Michelin one-starred London restaurant L’Autre Pied a few years ago, so I am rather curious about his first Hong Kong venture.

Located in the new dining destination on On Lan Street, the decor of Arcane is discreet and comfortable, and is luxurious without being uptight – crisp white linen and fine silverware is balanced with the restaurant’s oak flooring, which makes the place seem more homely. There is also a lovely terrace which is designed like an English tropical garden.  The menu’s offerings are modern European dishes, prepared with seasonal produce from Europe and Japan.

Some sourdough and salted butter is brought to us, and the bread is impressively airy.

(1) For appetisers, we first order a delicate dish of Japanese tomato with peppered goat’s cheese, pesto, pine nuts and sherry vinegar dressing ($228). The tomato is exquisitely sweet and juicy, and all the flavours in this dish are perfectly balanced.

(2) The hamachi carpaccio with salad of jicama and fennel, sesame seeds, soy and ginger dressing ($238) is a symphony of delectable flavours. The hamachi is remarkably fresh, and the jicama and sesame seeds add exciting textures to the dish. The flavours are refined and completely compatible.  

(3) The marinated Hokkaido scallops with Jerusalem artichokes, black truffle and samphire ($268) is a bundle of happiness. The scallops are tender and soft, and the artichokes and black truffle help elevate the dish. 

(4) Egg lovers beware, as the soft poached Taiyouran egg, broccolini, fried garlic, shimeiji mushrooms, lemon pepper emulsion and brioche crumbs ($198) will surely win you over. The raw-middled egg is ultra tasty, and the flavours of this dish are complex and delectable.

(5) For mains, we share the sautéed potato gnocchi, fresh black truffle, cep purée, roast leek, mushroom ragout and Parmesan ($358), which is extravagantly delicious. The gnocchi boasts just the right texture and has an attractive outer crispiness.

(6) Lastly, we try the sawara mackerel with tea smoked aubergine, red peppers, yarika squid and toasted almonds ($428). The mackerel is expertly pan-fried and is gorgeously crispy on the top and juicy at the bottom, and the tea smoked aubergine is beautifully prepared.

Even though we love all of the dishes we ordered, we have brought a cake to this belated birthday gathering and are unable to try out the restaurant’s desserts. It is quite rare in Hong Kong these days to find a new restaurant with such level of finesse and precision in its cuisine – I am definitely recommending this as one of the top restaurants of the year and I cannot wait to come back!