Second Draft in Little Tai Hang

Are you looking for a good and relaxing gastropub in Hong Kong with plenty of beer selections? Well then, you should definitely try out Second Draft. This gastropub offers plenty of beers, food that are good paired with the beers.

This blog contains information about the restaurant, the food, the beer, the service and ambiance. 

ABOUT SECOND DRAFT

Second Draft is a gastropub located in Little Tai Hang in Causeway Bay. This place has been open since 2016. Yes! It's pretty new and Second Draft has already received a lot of positive feedback and has been awarded "Best New Restaurant" by Hong Kong Tatler in 2017. 

Second Draft offers the best taste of beers and good food pairing with beers. They serve premium local craft beers on tap. The place looks retro and with a high ceiling and a hall of beers for drinkers to chose from. 

LOCATION

Second Draft is located in Little Tai Hang in Causeway Bay. Tai Hang area is starting to raise more attraction and more and more new aspiring restaurants are opening in this area. This could be the next it place to be. 

ADDRESS: 98 Tung Lo Wan Road, Tai Hang, Hong Kong

HOW TO GET THERE

The most convenient way to go to Second Draft is by taking the MTR and drop off at Tin Hau Station - Exit B. It takes about 7 minutes walk from the train station to Second Draft.

Why Tin Hau though? Although Second Draft is in Causeway Bay but getting off at Tin Hau Station would be much closer than dropping off from Causeway Bay Station.

Left -Second Draft signage

Right - Little Tai Hang signage. Apologise for the tree.

 

AMBIENCE

Second Draft looks modern with a high ceiling inside the gastropub located in the luxurious Little Tai Hang. This gastropub certainly make customers feel like home and will most likely leave the place happy. The place looks peaceful, not very crowded and I guess it's another good thing that Second Draft is not situated in a busy and very commercial area such as Central or Tsim Sha Tsui. The place itself make me feel like I want to stay there for a long time. The place looks quite spacious and the bar looks great, with all the tap craft beers and beer signage menu on the top of the bar area. 

Beer menu on the wall

BEER

In Second Draft, there are a lot of beer selections starting from 3.0% up to 9.0%, being the highest alcohol percentage. There are around 7 types of beers in Second Draft - Ale (Pale, India Red, Oaked Rye, Session and Scotch Ales), Stout (Imperial and Sweet Stouts), IPA (Imperial, Red, Black and Session IPA), Gose (Salted Lime), Saison (Dry and Brett Saisons), Mead and Wheat (American and Blueberry Wheats). Most of the craft beers are local from Young Master Brewery and HEROES brewery.

Beer lovers can also pick their beer sizes ranging in 3 sizes (200ml, 330ml, and 450 ml). Second Draft also allows customers to have a taste of their craft beers in a shot glass before ordering a whole glass.I got to say, where can you really find this in Hong Kong as there are not many places that offer this kind of hospitality. 

BEER RECOMMENDATIONS

In Second Draft, there is a list of beer favourites. I have personally tried these beers and I came up with my top 5 picks.

• Rye On Wood by Young Master - Oaked Rye Ale containing 6.0% alcohol 

This is probably every gentlemen's top pick. It has caramel taste and it is very mouthful. 

• Hangry Donut by HEROES - American Wheat containing 5.1% alcohol

Hangry stands for Hungry + Angry. This beer is definitely something that would fill you up a bit when you enter the place "hangry". 

• Cha Cha Teng Gose by Young Master - Salted Lime Gose containing 4.5% alcohol

Also known as CCT, it is a light beer with sour taste. I like this beer simply because of its simplicity and it doesn't make me feel full after having more than 2 glasses of it. 

• Hygges Bro by HEROES - Session IPA containing 5% alcohol

This beer tastes a little bit bitter but just the type of bitter that every ladies would enjoy and wouldn't mind having another round of Hygges Bro beer. 

• Vanilla Stout by Sankt Gallen - Sweet Stout with Vanilla containing 6.4% alcohol

This beer is very refreshing and not too heavy in the belly. However, the alcohol percentage is a bit high. It kind of taste like coffee too because of the vanilla flavours. 

OTHER BEVERAGES

Aside from beers, there are other beverage options that Second Draft serves. The bartenders can make a pretty good cup of coffee, some cocktails and fruit juices for people who don't drink alcoholic drinks or if you are detoxifying. 

COFFEE

There are 5 different types of coffees that Second Draft serves. Espresso would be the basic ones, followed by Hand Craft Coffee, Ice Drip Coffee, Nitro Cold Brew and Coffee Mocktail. 

SODA

There are some sodas and non-alcoholic drinks are available in Second Draft, such as CoAqua coconut water, tonic, ginger beer, ginger ale, lemonade and Cuban iced tea.

WINES & COCKTAILS

Wines are also available in Second Draft. They serve Sparkling wines, Red & White wines, Rose and Orange wines. There are a few cocktails for drinkers to try out. The 2 famous cocktails are Chen Pei Negroni and Siu Yeh Sour. 

FOOD

The food menu looks pretty appetizing and the taste is just perfect to pair with the beers. It is a mix of Hong Kong culture with some international touch, hence it is a fusion cuisine. The food is carefully selected with vegetarians and meat options included. Second Draft caters to both healthy and big eaters as they offer plenty of dietary and satisfying food choices. 

BAR SNACKS & BITES

There is a good selection of bar snacks and bites for hungry eaters to try. Here are some recommendations for bar snacks and bites.

• Edamole made and mixed with Edamame and Guacamole to be dipped with some crispy chips. 
• Ink Croquettes - fried Oysters with Squid Ink.
• Hong Kong style French Toast with Foie Gras butter and syrup on top of the toast.
• There are 2 delicious chicken dishes that are to die for, Jer Jer Buffalo Wings - yellow Chicken wings with Buffalo sauce and Blue Cheese and Fried Chicken cooked with roasted garlic.
• Beetroot & Avocado serves with vinegar and candied sesame walnut.
• One of Second Draft's signature dish - Tai Hang Fries with cumin and dried chili. 

Beetroot Avocado with Walnuts

Squid Ink Oysters

Tai Hang Fries

MAINS AND MEATS

The main dishes are something what hungry eaters would want to have along with beers. The main dishes are good for sharing and here are my recommendations.

• Coffee Risotto with sesame seed and coffee powder. This is a unique dish and something I have not tried before.
• Mushroom & Asparagus with assorted Mushrooms, grilled Asparagus serves with sweet soy sauce and Onsen Egg on top.
• Fried Chicken Sandwich - yellow Chicken, mayo, pickled ginger and coleslaw all mixed together in the bun.
• Hanger Steak with black pepper oil and it is always serves as rare.
• Second Draft's signature main dish - Flower Crab Pasta serves with butter sauce, thick Shanghainese noodles and egg yolk.
• The biggest dish in the menu - Chiella (serves in Pork Leg or Lobster, depends on availability). There is only 2 portions serves per day and it takes about 45 minutes to prepare the delicious dish. The Chiella dish also comes with crispy Shanghainese vegetable rice. 

Flower Crab Pasta

Coffee Risotto

Hanger Steak

Grilled Asparagus with Assorted Mushrooms & Onsen Egg

Fried Chicken Sandwich

Chiella (Pork Leg) with Shanghainese Rice

SERVICE

The service in Second Draft is nice and the staffs are very friendly. They would also provide a good recommendation from the menu, in case customers are unsure of what to order. It is very casual, which is less intimidating and more relaxing. The orders come pretty fast and I really appreciate it when the staffs explain the dishes well. I hear that most of the regular customers who come to this place are there not only for the food and beer but also because of the hospitality that the staffs have provided. 

Overall my experience at Second Draft has been great. I would recommend this place to people and for those who are seeking for a nice gastropub in Hong Kong. I have been coming back to this place from time to time and I will continue to do so. The venue makes me feel at home and it is definitely a place to unwind with some nice food and beers.

Yours Truly,

Michelle Chan

TokyoLima (A Nikkei Cuisine)

TokyloLima is a newly opened restaurant just early this year (2017). This place is the restaurant that diners should try as it is serving Nikkei cuisine that originated from Peru for over a 100 years ago when around 7,000 Japanese workers moved to Peru to work and eventually made Peru as their permanent home and after some years, the food collaboration started. It is a mix and match of Japanese and Peruvian cooking style. The service from the staff is also something to look forward. I would say they are trained well and are knowledgeable about the food that they are serving.

TokyoLIma is part of a growing restaurant group, the PIRATA group. It is located in the heart of Central in Hong Kong, and it opens during dinner, happy hour and brunch during the weekends and public holidays. Reservations are highly recommended as this place gets full very quickly, even during the weekdays. 

PS: I made a late dinner booking at 9:15 pm for my best friend's early birthday celebration, although the initial booking that I chose was at 8:45 pm, however, they are quite full even for a Monday night. Therefore, reservations are highly recommended so book your table as early as possible!

FOOD

I enjoyed all the meals that are served over onto our table. I have no particular favourite, as they all tasted delicious. It is hard to choose which of the dishes are my favourites. I am very impressed with the way the plates are decorated and how they are cooked. It is the first time that I have tried Nikkei cuisine, and it did not disappoint me at all. I will come back to TokyoLima and try the rest of the dishes on their menu. I would recommend the Portobello Sticks and the Ki-mo-chi Fried Chicken dishes. It is super yummy!

Left - Ki-mo-chi Fried Chicken with a bit of spicy flavour

Right - Maguro & Avcado Sushi plate with chill mayo sauce on the side

Left - Tuna & Watermelon Tartare with mint, citrus sauce and sweet potato chips

Right - La Causa, this is one of Chef Arturo's signature dish. Prawn Tempura with beetroot and avocado

Skewers - Portobello & Nasu

Grilled Lobster Acevichada with chill butter

Chocolate and Lemon dessert for the lovely birthday girl

 

DRINKS

TokyoLima has a mix of Tokyo and South America cocktails on their menu. I am fascinated with the decorations of the cocktails. It looks very fancy and something worth to take a picture. TokyoLima also serves Sake, and they got a variety choice of Sake flavour. If you like whiskey, I would recommend the Inca Sour.

TokyoLima Cocktails - Lady Marmalade and Negroni in a vintage box

 

SERVICE

The service was excellent. The staff are amiable and accommodating. In case you are unsure of what to order, you may ask for the staff's recommendation, and the team will be more than happy to serve you. I am pleased and satisfied with the service. Also note that TokyoLima does not charge 10% service charge, just like the other restaurants operated by the PIRATA group.

Just like any other PIRATA group, TokyoLima does not have 10% service charge, which means all tips goes to the hardworking staff.

 

AMBIENCE

The ambience is very intimate and relaxing. The restaurant offers a vibe of Japanese and Peruvian atmosphere. The bar area and the dining area are separated, and you may take a glimpse of the kitchen as it is an open kitchen area. The staff are all wearing Japanese robes. I would guess that they're wearing a Yukata robe, which is quite alluring. Overall, the restaurant felt lively and filled with hungry diners that made the restaurant the "it" place to be.

PRICE

The price range will be an average of HK$200-400 per person for some mouthful and worthy of food and drinks. It is quite affordable, considering that the portions are quite big as it is good for sharing. 

LOCATION

TOKYOLIMA

Address: G/F, 18-20 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong

Contact: +852 2811 1152

Email: info@tokyolima.hk

* Reservations are highly recommended*

Yours Truly, 

Michelle Chan

Djapa - Japanese & Brazilian Food Collab

Djapa is the first fusion Japanese-Brazilian restaurant and whisky bar in Hong Kong. It was just recently opened late last year, September 2016. Djapa offers a selection of their Signature Robata, Rice and Seafood Appetizer. In case you are not familiar with Robata, it is a type of charcoal grill used in Japanese cooking. 

FOOD

The staff have recommended plenty of dishes, and they all tasted delicious. The signature robata, seafood appetisers and the rice dishes are something that I would highly recommend to try. These dishes tasted very nice, and the Robata is not too oily or too dry, it was at a perfect temperature. The appetisers are very flavourful with beautiful plating. The rice dishes are tasty. I almost thought that I was not eating rice at all. Although the portion is quite small, I would say it is a fair price and with a decent amount of portions.

LEFT: I love Djapa's table setting. It looks so artistic and one of a kind.

RIGHT: Djapa's Signature Robata with 3 different sauces (sweet, savoury and spicy)

Kobe - Chunk Roll A5

Ohmi - Rib Eye A5

TOP - Hokkaido Scallop with Apple Textures and Kinome

BOTTOM - Salmon Mikan with Mandarin and Yuzu

TOP LEFT - Pork and Beef Feijoda with Beans and Orange

TOP RIGHT - Brazilian Corn with Djapa's butter

BOTTOM LEFT - Coconut Rice with Coriander and Garlic

BOTTOM RIGHT - Seafood Rice with Baby Shrimp, Nori and Sesame

 SERVICE

The service at Djapa was excellent, and the staff are friendly and efficient. The wait staff have introduced plenty of dishes and the ones that are recommended to try, and that did not disappoint me as the food are all delicious. 

AMBIENCE

The restaurant looks artistic, full of painting, graffiti on the wall and an artsy vibe. It is also a relaxing place and spacious. Djapa have two floors with an outdoor space. It is the kind of place I want to be.

 

Overall, the experience was excellent, and I will surely come back and even recommend this place to people. Djapa brings something new in town!

LOCATION

DJAPA (HONG KONG)

Shop G18-20, G/F Lee Tung Avenue

200 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai

Tel no. +852 2617 2900

Email: djapa@lecomtoir.hk

Yours Truly,

Michelle Chan

Weekend Brunch at Upper Modern Bistro (Sheung Wan, Hong Kong)

I have always wanted to have brunch alone in a beautiful/ casual restaurant for ages, and finally, I found a time to make this happen. I decided to have it at Upper Modern Bistro, located in Sheung Wan. I chose to sit in their coffee table because it is relaxing and it is suitable for single diners (like me).

I picked their Weekend Brunch menu, which costs HK$398 with Starters, Main Course, Dessert, one glass of Champagne and Tea or Coffee included. Although UMB requires a minimum of 2 persons typically to take their brunch menu, the Chef is kind enough to give me an exception and allows me to have the brunch menu. 

HOW TO GET THERE

It is in Upper Station Street (end of Hollywood road) in Sheung Wan. It is a 10-minute walk from Sheung Wan MTR station. Take note that it is required to walk upstairs the high slopes to get to the restaurant. Alternatively, you may take a taxi or grab an Uber to get there conveniently.

Making a reservation is highly recommended, especially during the weekends and festive dates.

Upper Brunch Starters

Oyster, Foie Gras Creme Brulee, Crab Meat Bruschetta, Burratina with cherry tomatoes & balsamic white dressing, Salmon Gravlax and Marinated Beef Carpaccio

Main Course

Salmon Teriyaki with beetroot puree, roasted beetroots & raspberry

Dessert

Upper Pastries Selection - Mango Mousse, Fruits (strawberries, blackberries & raspberries) and Pineapple Tart

FOOD

The starters were overwhelming in terms of the taste, portions and various food selections. From the starters, I can already say that I am already satisfied. For the main course, I have picked the Salmon Teriyaki. I would highly recommend this dish as the texture of the fish is cooked perfectly (not too soft and not too hard) and the beetroot puree fits with the salmon as well. The dessert selection is pretty lovely too, most notably the pineapple tart!

SERVICE

The service was very efficient and attentive.

AMBIENCE

The interior and concept of the restaurant are relaxing, and their coffee tables are perfect for having a lovely brunch and suitable for single diners too!

SPENDING

HK$398 (Brunch set) + 10% service charge

= HK$438 per person

Overall, my brunch experience was great and unforgettable. I would highly recommend you to have brunch at UMB as their food were delicious and the service is also exceptional. I can't wait to come back to UMB and have another excellent dining experience.

CONTACT

UPPER MODERN BISTRO

Address: 6-14 G/F Elegance Court, Upper Station Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Tel no: +852 2517 0977

Website: www.upper-bistro.com

Email: info@upper-bistro

Yours Truly, 

Michelle Chan

Discover "No. 9" (To Kwa Wan, Hong Kong)

NO. 9 

No. 9 restaurant is in To Kwa Wan, Kowloon. It is reachable by bus or through taxi/ uber/ private cars. How did I discover this restaurant? Since I live in To Kwa Wan and one day I happen to walk by Ma Tau Kok area and saw this unique looking restaurant. It is rare to find a western cuisine around To Kwa Wan area, and this has caught my attention.

No. 9 has a relaxing vibe with modern wooden type interior style with posters on the wall. It serves western styled burgers, pasta, salads, steak, soups, lamb rack, lobster and many more others.

LOCATION

NO. 9

Shop 9, G/F Metropolitan Rise, 28 Ma Tau Kok Road, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon

Opening hours: Monday-Sunday (12:00pm-11:00pm)

They have outdoor seating as well. This place is super relaxing!

This is their food menu, they also have burger selections (not in the picture)

From Left - Sliced Wild Scottish Smoked Salmon HK$88

From Right - Pan-fried Scallops and Porcini Risotto HK$98

Angus Rib Eye Steak (12 oz) HK$248

Fruit Beer - Wittekerke Rose HK$68

FOOD

The food is cooked very well and up to standard. It is perfect to go for an excellent burger and pasta. I would recommend the dishes, Pan Fried Scallops Risotto, Linguine Carbonara and Devil's Beef Burger.

SERVICE

The service is quite excellent. The staff are attentive.

AMBIENCE

I love the interior of this restaurant. It has a relaxing and homey vibe.

SPENDING

Approximately HK$200-HK$300 per person

Overall, the dining experience was excellent. I am so happy that this restaurant is very near to my home. I don't have to go to Hong Kong Island side to get a nice piece of burger. I will come back for more good food.

Yours Truly,

Michelle Chan