We’ve noticed a trend in Hong Kong restaurants that’s very different from Boston. Restaurants virtually never change their menus. Instead, concepts survive until they are no longer popular, and the restaurant groups tear down the concepts and build a new one. Instead of focusing on chefs who create new menus and dishes, Hong Kong restaurant groups create and knock down concepts according to the whim of the exacting and fickle Hong Kong diner.
If a restaurant survives long term, then you know it is doing something right and has a long lasting formula that works.
Divino Patio is one of those places. Though I often wish restaurants would change up their menus more often, I am beginning to appreciate why Hong Kongers might want a restaurant to keep the same menu.
Diners want to order their favorite dishes at certain restaurants. In Hong Kong, there are so many restaurants, if I wanted a different dish, I could just go to another restaurant. Therefore, restaurants tend to stick with what they are good at, and just keep on making the same dishes over and over again, save a few seasonal dishes or specials once in awhile.
Divino Patio offers some delicious classics that they do consistently well: beautiful pastas, refreshing salads, and a surprisingly good value and excellent steak. Combine that with a nice outdoor patio and a good wine list, you’ve got yourself a winner that even I don’t want them to change.
Below is a just a sample of some of the dishes we like to get.
Healthy and Classic Salads
Arugula (Rocket) salad with parmesan cheese and lemon vinaigrette is our go-to (because we both love arugula), though we’ve gotten bigger crazier salads like the Insalatone Dello Chef (Composed Salad) HKD 188, is a meal unto itself, and includes mesclun greens, roast chicken, buffalo mozzarella, avocado, kalamata olives, asparagus, a farm egg, parma ham riserva, and parmesan shavings (phew!).
Excellent Pastas + Pizzas
Pastas is where Divino Patio really shines. We are never disappointed with the pastas. The texture is usually a beautiful al dente, and they offer both fresh homemade pastas and excellent dried pastas from Italy. When in seasons, truffles graze the menu, both black and white truffles. We enjoyed a lovely ricotta gnocchi with Alba white truffles (yummmmm . . .)
We don’t usually get pizza, but they make solid individual size pizzas.
Healthy Fish Dishes
I generally try to eat healthy, even when I am eating out. Divino Patio has a fair share of healthy fish dishes, such as this Italian sea bass fillet in porcini crust with celeriac puree, baby carrots, port wine sauce (HKD 288).
Steak Frites
The first time we ordered the steak at Divino Patio we were floored at how delicious it was considering the price. Now we regularly order Lava Grilled Ribeye Steak (336g HKD 338). Currently it is an Australian M2 270-day grain fed Ranger’s Valley steak and comes with a garden salad and a choice of sides. We usually get French fries with black truffle mayo or sautéed spinach if we’re feeling healthy, but you can also get mashed potatoes, pan roasted fingerling potatoes, or sautéed mushrooms with garlic & parsley.
We usually skip dessert, but they make a really tasty Tiramisu that’s served in a little jar.
General Thoughts – Divino Patio Hong Kong
Divino Patio is one of our go-to places when we just want to relax underneath the Hong Kong sky while eating well-prepared classic Italian food and sipping on a glass of lovely Tignanello wine (or whatever other great Italian wines they have in their cellar).
Despite me usually wishing restaurants would change up their menu more, I would also be sad if Divino Patio took away some of our favorite dishes, such as their sausage pappardelle, fresh pasta dishes, or the lava grilled steak frites. Perhaps I am starting to finally understand the local culture, and even assimilating a bit?
Divino Patio Hong Kong
DiVino Patio – Ristorante Bar Pizzeria
Shop 11, 1/F, BRIM28
No. 28 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Info +852 2877 3552
Leave a Reply