Assaggio Trattoria Italiana in The Art Centre is a very famous Italian restaurant in Wan Chai. However, for me, I think the food quality is not worth to try. I like visiting those less popular restaurants because you will have surprises sometimes. Most importantly, it is easier to book and you can dine for longer time.
I just read some comments on openrice and some writers recommended Antipasto in Wan Chai. I know that this restaurant has a branch in Soho, Central but that one is smaller than Wan Chai one. So I decided to visit wan chai branch for my best friend’s birthday.
The restaurant is not near to the MTR station, you need to walk about 10 mins from the mtr station. It is opposite to Novotel hotel.
One more reminder is that this restaurant closes in the afternoon and opens again at 6pm. So please don’t try to book a table in the afternoon. =)
Actually the restaurant is not big, tables are closed to each other. However, the atmosphere is good, all tables have a vase with a bottle of wine, of coz it is not free. You can open the wine if you wanna have a drink. Couples can have their anniversary dinner here because of this good atmosphere.
The price of the dishes is not expensive, around $110-300 with variety of choices.
We have ordered:
1.Stuffed Portobello Mushroom
2.Antipasto misto
3.Pasta Antipasto
4.Ribs
5.Hot chocolate pudding
Stuffed Portobello Mushroom is impressing!!! The mushroom is very big and juicy. The toppings (goat cheese, tomato dices and pesto) are also very delicious. Cheese is soft and creamy. The taste and texture is complicated. It seems a little bit expensive because $110 2 pieces only but I think it is really worth to try.
Then, we tried the
Antipasto Misto. This is the signature dish but I think it is too much for 2 persons to finish the platter. The platter has 3 kinds of ham: smoked salmon, Parma ham and salami together with baked tomato and baked red chili with cheese. For me this dish is kinda salty because it is not served with melon. Each Smoked salmon is not a thin slide; you will feel soo satisfied when you finish it. =) The baked red chilli and tomato are very juicy too. A lot of juice will come out when you bite it. So fresh!! Each ham has 3 slides so it is better to share the dish with 3 persons.
After finishing all the appetizers, it’s time to try main dishes!!
Rib was not surpising. I think it was over-cooked because I could see some of the meat was burned. However, I like the pasta –
Pasta antipasto very much!! Another signature dish of the restaurant!! Maybe I love creamy food very much!!! Hehe. The salmon was cut into big pieces and each of them just like a cube. The salmon is crispy but it is very soft inside!!! The sauce is creamy again and it is excellent with a very delicious and smooth sauce!! It matches with fettuccine very much because fettuccine is thicker.
The highlight of the night of coz was the dessert time. However, the restaurant ruined my plan!!! Because they forgot my request - birthday wordings on the hot chocolate pudding!!! When I reminded them they said they had not marked it down. So they asked me the wordings again in front of my birthday boy. Oh!!!! No more surprise!!!
The chocolate pudding was just standard quality.
Overall, i know that i have ordered too many dishes this time. I will order fewer dishes next time i visit. =) The food portion is not small and it is good to share with friends. And most importantly, most of the dishes are made of cheese and cream so you will feel full easily. I may overestimate the capacity of my tummy LOL!! it is a good Italian restaurant I have tried! Even they forget my request, the service was good and the owner was socialized and friendly. We told him we will return because the food is really excellent. =) My friend was also very satisfied. Surprise sometimes is not everything, right? =)
