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In our Taste Test feature on French restaurants, we try three of Hong Kong’s best French bistros and – unsurprisingly for one of the world’s great cuisines – walk away satisfied from all of them! First up, we sample the fare at Bouchon Bistro Français restaurant.
The vibe
Approaching Bouchon Bistro Français, the softly lit restaurant interior is so welcoming it totally draws us in. The dining room buzzes with the after-work crowd clinking chilled glasses of bubbles and larger goblets of deep red. Steaming Moules Marinière, crispy frites and chargrilled steaks adorn the tables.
What’s on the menu?
Starters and salads
This promises to be a great night, especially with the vigilant Dinesh and his busy bees buzzing around the tables. The menu has plenty of classics without being overwhelming. Onion soup, oysters, baked camembert and impressive charcuterie are among the hors d’oeuvres, along with Coquilles Saint-Jacques – pan-seared scallops with cauliflower puree and smoked crispy bacon.
However, the Assiette de Foie Gras ($168) got our vote, a combo of heavenly rich foie gras terrine and seared foie gras, with a toasted baguette and fig confit. We also couldn’t resist a half dozen Escargots de Bourgogne ($108) – it had to be done!
On a cool January night, even the salads were tempting. We ordered the Marachière ($118) a generous serving of tangy, creamy warm goat cheese with crispy croutons and a mesclun mix. The flavours and textures were wonderful, though we would have preferred the cheese without the drizzle of honey on top. Other salads include the Lyonnaise, with crispy lardons and a poached egg, and the Périgourdine, featuring smoked duck breast, duck gizzard, foie gras and walnuts.
Mains
To the mains and the Fish of the Day ($268) – a succulent crispy-skin sea bass – arrived on a sizzling plate and truly hit the spot, served with flaky almond green beans and a bubbling caper butter sauce. We also had the Entrecôte Ribeye ($338) – nicely chargrilled medium rare, with perfectly crisp frites and a rich creamy béarnaise – and Agneau Rôti ($338), a chunky rack of four juicy lamb chops with roasted fingerling potatoes. We were in full-on savoury mode so we ordered a side dish of Tartiflette ($88) to remind us of wonderful skiing trips. Potato, bacon, reblochon…say no more.
Other mains include the classic trio of bouillabaisse, boeuf bourguignon and duck confit.
Desserts
Also on our radar for next time are the wonderful cheese selection and tempting desserts like mixed berries crème brûlée and mousse au chocolat with sea salt caramel.
Why we loved it
Bouchon Bistro Français is a magical night out. There’s a great variety of French cuisine and temptation across the menu; the restaurant atmosphere is cosy yet vibrant; and the bistro staff ensure all guests have a lovely evening. Merci bien, Bouchon!
Bouchon Bistro Français
49 Elgin Street, Central
2525 9300 | reservations@bouchon.com.hk
sandshospitality.com
This article first appeared in the Spring 2023 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
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