Wineshark HK Restaurant Review - Vivant

This small casual French bistro is located on Lyndhurst Terrace in Central. Unlike most restaurants nowadays which are located upstairs in commercial buildings, this one is actually on the street level. We are seated at the window side, with the passers-by on the road as our dining companions in this Saturday evening.

The restaurant is quite small, with an open kitchen and intimate bar seating, and able to accommodate up to 20 guests. The staff is very helpful, coming to explain the menu to us and also introduces some of the signature dishes. We decide to order two bites, two entrees, and two mains per his recommendation.

The first starter we have is Potato Millefeuille Smoked Haddock Rillette ($88). It is a popular dish that got featured on social media frequently, with the golden-brown layered potato pastry fluffy and not greasy. On top is a rillette made from smoked haddock, with the original recipe featuring eel. Plus plenty of finely chopped chives, the smoky and savoury taste matches with the millefeuille perfectly and no wonder it is so highly acclaimed.

The second starter is Filipino Chicken Skewers ($78). The chef in fact comes from Philippines, and he uses his hometown recipe to marinate the chicken thigh meat, before grilling over charcoal.  On the side is a calamansi to add some sweet citrus notes to freshen the skewers. Very good in flavours, the chicken has also got a nice bouncy texture and I am tempted to immediately order another round because of how good they are.

Coming to the entrée, we start with Seared Scallops in Sake Beurre Blanc & Pomme Duchesse ($208). Beautifully presented, the scallops are placed on its shell with the ring of baked potato puree on the side. Nicely seared, the scallops have a caramelized surface while keeping moist inside, balanced with the butter sauce which has got nice lemon acidity. The pomme duchesse is soft and rich in buttermilk, and also very delicious.

The second entrée is Crab Meat Gnocchi ($228). The potato pasta has a good bite, going well with the crab meat paste, with a rich taste reminding me of Malay cuisine. The savoury and spicy notes is appetizing, imparting deep flavours to the lighter taste gnocchi to balance. It is a dish that may be too filling on its own but perfect for sharing.

For the main, we have chosen Veal Sweetbread & Chicken Vol-au-Vent ($498). The texture and taste of the glazed veal sweetbread is surprisingly similar to chicken, no wonder the staff said some customers are confused and saying the dish only has chicken. Together with a delicious, rich black truffle sauce, this is another must try in my opinion.

Not on the menu is Roasted Pigeon ($428). Cooked to medium rare, the chef has carved it into pieces to make it easier to eat. The pigeon is tender and seasoned well, with some lentil beans prepared together with the jus, both highly flavourful. There are some vegetables on the side to provide a balanced diet as well.

Another highlight of this bistro is their focus on natural wine. Instead of a wine list, the sommelier actually brings a number of bottles to our table for sampling. The wines are from diverse and unfamiliar countries or regions, full of characters, and pair well with the food too. I end up having three glasses, with my preference actually being Monsoon Valley Signature White from Thailand Hua Hin.

The bill on the night is $2,244. Service is good, and the food is also tasty. The only issue for me is that the restaurant is very hot, as they have to open the window halfway through our dinner in order to allow the smoke in the kitchen to dissipate. As I have been sweating profusely, the staff did come to sincerely apologize. I would like to return again, but probably at cooler weather when air-con is not really necessary.