Regional French Food and Wine at Retail Prices at A.O.C Eat & Drink

A quaint gastronomic experience…

District: Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Cuisine: Modern French
How much: Starters from $78, mains from $168, dessert from $68
The Best For: A casual date night
Must Order: The Burgundy style Confit Beef Paleron

If you’re looking for fresh French fare, A.O.C eat & drink, founded by the team behind Le Bistro Winebeast, is worth checking out. This cosy spot is located minutes away from the busy Queen’s Road East but manages to offer the secluded vibe that’s often hard to find in our city. With an open setting and a laid-back feel, it’s an ideal spot for a casual date night or a quick bite with the family!

Stéphane Guillas, Head Chef of A.O.C. has come straight from Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe to create a classic menu with his own personal touches. The options are presented almost like French street food, split into Small Bites & Nibbles, From The Sea, Butcher’s Corner and Cheese & Sweets. The menus are inspired by dishes the chef himself would crave after a day of fishing off the coast of Brittany, where he comes from, so the dishes change every season, based around the freshest ingredients available.

If you’re keen for a fresh catch, the Sea bass was a table hit. The delicate flavours of the fish were complimented by a mashed potato base and a creamy watercress sauce. Oh, and oyster lovers are in luck! As a special summer promotion, you can get a selection of Irish, Cancale, and Tsars Kaya oysters (two of each!), plus two glasses of wine for $198.

The favourite dish of the evening was, undoubtably, the Confit Beef Paleron, in the signature Burgundy style. The meat was cooked to absolute perfection, and the cut was so tender it almost fell apart on the plate. With a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a strong, warm scent of red wine, this was a dish I’d happily order again…

For dessert, the Vacherin cake with Chantilly cream (I’ll order anything and everything with Speculoos), was a lovely, light end to the meal. The Paris-Brest, French choux pastry was another menu favourite, with the praline cream offering a slightly more indulgent taste for the sweet-toothed. As a sugar alternative, opt for the the cheese platter from Frères Marchand.

A.O.C’s all-day menu caters to everything from small bites to happy hours for those mamas-only nights!

A.O.C eat & drink, 15 McGregor Street Hong Kong; 2479 6833; www.wine-beast.com/aoc