HK’s Continental unveils new look

Swire Restaurant’s flagship brasserie, The Continental in Hong Kong’s Pacific Place has reopened with a new executive chef on board and a six-course tasting menu.

Boasting a colour scheme of emerald green and chestnut brown, The Continental has also incorporated semi private dining areas and a larger lounge area.

Thankfully it has still kept its large and sunny patio area  – complete with a DJ booth – and a moveable bar that now offers a larger drinks list with more wines by the glass and perhaps for the more adventurous business lunchers, an array of Absinthe cocktails. 

Timothée Becqueriaux, operations manager has remained to supervise the bar with some new alcoholic creations.

“We are looking for a warmer feel in the restaurant, and as much as we loved the aesthetics of our previous look, we made it warmer to mirror the energy of the team,” said Vikash Vaswani, Continental’s restaurant manager.

“There are a few new elements added, including the lounge extended from the bar near the entrance and more intimate seating in the dining room.”

The unveiling also comes with the appointment of a new executive chef, Joey Sergentakis, formerly of Café Gray – another eatery in the Swire Group portfolio.

Sergentakis has created a regularly changing six course tasting menu which champions the best in seasonal produce. This summer’s theme honours the humble tomato with current delights of crab salad with avocado and tomato gazpacho, poached Icelandic cod in tomato dashi, oven roasted cherry tomatoes and Hanwoo Korean beef with charred tomato.

Up for grabs (so to speak) is also a bounteous 1kg of roast Brittany Blue lobster served with lobster risotto and tarragon gratin and Sergentakis’ signature Rouget à la bouillabaisse with mussels, langoustines, crab and clams.

“I am trying to source the best seasonal products then see where they take me,” he said.

The Swire Group’s other restaurants in Hong Kong include, Café Gray in the Upper House hotel in Pacific Place, Plat du Jour also in Pacific Place, Public in Taikoo Shing and Mr & Mrs Fox in Causeway Bay.