In the heart of Hong Kong’s Central district lies La Petite Maison, the first Asia outpost of the popular London restaurant that has already expanded to Miami, Istanbul, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. It’s a welcome escape from the busy crowds of Queens Road Central, with a bright, white dining room adorned with framed art pieces throughout the walls and marked with splashes of color from the fresh fruit around the restaurant. The tomatoes “decorating” the tables were so fresh that diners are even encouraged to eat them straight off the table.
That attention to high quality ingredients is apparent in the menu helmed by Chef Raphael Duntoye. The majority of the southern French and Mediterranean dishes are quite simple, but wonderfully executed to deliver spot-on flavor profiles. La Petite Maison also breaks from traditional French cuisine by serving dishes family style, an ideal way to enjoy their vast menu of small plates and large format dishes.
I got to preview the restaurant before its official opening on September 10th thanks to friends at #legend, and it was truly a legendary feast. La Petite Maison particularly excels in their seafood preparations, including one of my favorite iterations of tuna tartare with wonton crisps, quail egg, and caviar, and thin slices of octopus that were melded together to form salami-like discs. Another favorite paired prawns with grilled aubergine, mozzarella, and a pistou of basil and garlic for a homey yet refined dish.
We also loved their versions of classic French dishes like their famous escargot with garlic butter and one of the best potatoes au gratin I’ve ever had, with cheesy, creamy coins of potato hiding under a crispy, golden crust.
Larger format dishes are subject to limited availability, so while we weren’t able to try their namesake whole roasted black leg chicken, we were able to enjoy the rack of lamb, with tender lamb chops sitting on a bed of spiced couscous.
To end our meal, we tried the entire menu of deliciously decadent desserts. I’m not a huge sweet tooth, but I found my spoon continuing to dive into every single item without hesitation or guilt. The rich chocolate mousse and caramelized French toast with a milky, spongy center brought on the most moans across the table, but every dessert is truly worth ordering.
To keep up with such a wide menu of well-executed dishes, you need a big kitchen, and La Petite Maison’s Hong Kong branch easily has one of the largest I’ve ever seen in this cramped city. For the Hong Kong opening, the kitchen is also staffed by chefs flown in from London and Dubai to ensure consistency, so if you want the best experience, I’d recommend getting to the restaurant before they depart on Christmas Eve.
Must-order: bluefin tuna tartare, thinly sliced octopus, grilled aubergine, escargot, potatoes gratin, rack of lamb (limited availability), chocolate mousse, French toast
Also worth ordering: burrata, yellowtail carpaccio, warm prawns in olive oil, pan fried dover sole, chicken with lemon confit, cheesecake, creme brulee, apple tart
