Wineshark Mystery Restaurant - Carmela

It was almost 6.5 years ago that I visited Francis in Wanchai, having a good impression on its cuisine, so hearing that they now have a sister restaurant recently opened in Sheung Wan, today on the second day of the Chinese New Year holiday, we come to Nan Fung Tower, to try out its South Mediterranean cuisine. 

Instead of the door opening out to Wing Wo Street, the access is through the lobby of Nan Fung Tower. Inside the space is nearly decorated, having warm lighting, different types of earthen jars and urns on display on the wall, creating a subtle touch of the region for customers. With most people out seeing fireworks, it is relatively quiet.

We start with Hummus with Green Zhug ($70). The creamy spread has a nice nutty taste, having chickpeas and rich garlic flavours integrating well with lemon acidity. The vibrant green zhug sauce has a hint of spiciness and finishes with some chopped mint to add to the enjoyment of the hummus.  

To go with the hummus, we also order Garlic and Sage Fougasse ($50). The traditional flatbread is made leaf-shaped, with a rich olive oil dough, flavoured with garlic and sage. The taste is good, but I think it is a bit too greasy for me. Perhaps having some pita bread to pair with the hummus would be a better choice?

Next comes House Smoked Sardines ($178). The sardines are very fresh and have shiny silvery skin, smoked briefly to infuse the flesh with nice aromas. Serving on the plate, the sardines were drizzled with a generous amount of olive oil and scattered with an abundance of chives. Very delicious and not fishy. 

Then we have Linguine with Seared Tuna ($198). The pasta is prepared with tomato and chili paste, with a nice balance of acidity, sweetness, and spiciness. The texture of the linguine is al dente, and the tuna are seared slightly on the surface, leaving the flesh still raw, and cut into cubes to mix with the pasta. Another nice dish.

For the main course we pick Pork Chop Schnitzel ($240). The pork chop has been hammered thin before coating with breadcrumbs and deep-fried. There are lemon wedges so we can add a bit of lemon juice to reduce the heaviness. On the sides are some pickled cucumber and Caesar cabbage as well.

For the side dish, we have House Salad ($128). The portion is big, with a mix of lettuce, tomato, avocado, cucumber, feta, and olives. Good for sharing for 2-3 people, the different textures of the vegetables, the balance of acidity of the tomatoes and saltiness from the feta, and the combination of flavours highlight both healthy and delicious.

Since we are quite full, for dessert we go for something light. Opting for Gelato & Sorbet ($35 each), I have a Raspberry Sorbet while my wife go for Vanilla Gelato. The sorbet is a bit too icy for me but having nice sourness of the raspberry is refreshing and reduces the heaviness in the stomach for the meal. 

Service is good, with the staff attentive, pleasant, and eager to help. They can do a bit more explanation on the food, however. The bill on the night was $1,445 with two glasses of wine which is quite reasonable. Considering the overall dining experience, food quality, and service, I would rate this restaurant a Good 73 points. It is worth trying.