Rating: ★★★★☆

Address: 2-3/F, 38 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central 中環擺花街38號2-3樓

Telephone: 2808 0752

https://thetartine.com

Just a little fun fact – did you know that the French population increased around 10 times just within the past few years? As the economy at the moment is not great, many Europeans have moved to Asia in the past few years in search of career opportunities. This immigration trend has been gradually shaping the Hong Kong landscape, and with an increased French population here, we also find more French restaurants opening up in town.

Tartine, a French gourmet all-day dining restaurant, is the first F&B outlet by Art de Vivre Group, which is founded by Arthur de Villepin, son of the former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. Spanning two floors, Tartine is a casual yet luxurious space. The decor is simplistic and elegant, and there is a small but charming al fresco dining area on the upper floor.

The menu focuses on tartines made with fresh thick-crusted sourdough and the best seasonal ingredients, which are authentic and nourishing. Chef Philippe Orrico, founder of Upper Modern Bistro, ON Dining and Picnic on Forbes, is the Chef Consultant of Tartine. 

(1) We start our lunch with the pork rillette ($68), which has a well adjusted flavour and is very satisfying.

(2) The next dish that arrives is the black truffle sandwich ($138). This is a popular dish that can be seen at many restaurants in Hong Kong, and it is well executed here, with light and airy bread and a decent black truffle taste.

(3) The Bigeye tuna tartar ($98) is tasty and refreshing.

(4) The lobster & homemade Béchamel tartine ($138) is one of Tartine’s signature dishes, and the lobster is tender and fresh, while the Béchamel sauce adds a fabulous richness. It is served with a lobster bisque, which you can either drink or pour onto the tartine.

(5) The “croque monsieur” tartine ($108) is very comforting – the chunks of Paris ham is a fantastic match with the Béchamel sauce.

(6) If you prefer something less creamy, you can go for the goat cheese & roasted figs tartine ($98), which is topped with Parma ham and seasoned with aged balsamic vinegar and honey. The sweetness from the honey and figs complements the Parma ham beautifully, and the goat cheese adds a kick.

(7) We are very full already, but who can resist this Nutella spread on brioche ($58)? This is not too sweet at all, and the brioche is gorgeously crispy and flaky. I love this and will definitely try to make it at home! 

(8) The mixed berries & Mascarpone tartine ($68) looks elegant and tastes wonderful too – the tartness of the berries helps cut through the deliciously rich Mascarpone. 

This is certainly French casual dining at its best – premium ingredients are used and the dishes are all meticulously executed and utterly comforting. However, we feel that there is too much bread in one meal and there should be less or no bread in the appetisers and desserts. Scandinavia, for example, is famous for its smörgås, i.e. open sandwiches, and at the restaurants specialising in open sandwiches, the appetisers or desserts usually don’t contain any bread (see my review of Orangeriet in Copenhagen). Hopefully, the kitchen will adjust the menu slightly and we would love to come back for more of their delectable tartines!