Fresh Tastes
Dakota Prime (7/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham Street, Central, 2526 2366) opened recently with the expressed intention of becoming the first Michelin starred steakhouse in the city. An act of hubris, only time will tell. The Elaine Jaimison designed restaurant, comes from the man behind Privé, and features an etched black glass fronted bar area separated from the dining room by an intricate mirror screen. The white main dining room exudes a relaxed feel and features a vintage Verner Panton pendant chandelier that spirals to the floor, a live lobster tank and an oyster bar. The menu features ingredients from across the globe that just taunt the palate–USDA Meyers Natural Angus, A-5 Wagyu from Kagoshima and seafood from across the world’s oceans. Uniquely the kitchen has only an ice-cream freezer, so the ingredients are all freshly delivered. Dakota Prime serves lunch and dinner, and brunch on Sundays and while you can spend a lot of money there, you could also enjoy a very good three course steak dinner without drinks for around $500. Is it Michelin star worthy, we shall see - but it certainly will make other local restaurants sit up and take notice; which can only be good news for all of us.

Award winning Japanese interior designer Akira Gondo is behind the youthful, but sophisticated look of the newly opened Table 18 (UC1, APM, Millennium City 5, 418 Kwun Tong Road, Kowloon, 3148 9444).

His vision was to make the interiors look relaxing and happy. The restaurant features an open kitchen, salad buffet beside the open bar area. Enjoy the latest in live entertainment, sports or surf the net via wifi over dinner. Table 18 looks to emphasize the use of fresh ingredients and the making of homemade pastas and spaghetti. Recommended dishes include the baked escargot on portobello mushroom butter sauce ($58), swiss cheese and pork sausage ($56), spaghetti with spicy Italian sausage tomato sauce ($62), wild mushroom ravioli on tomato and basil sauce ($65) and pinnochio, a dessert with an almond and fruit muille fuille with ice cream ($35). Sounds delicious? Equally appetizing are the drinks, including strawberry swirl and frozen road which are priced at $38, and $29 during happy hours. (+10% service charge for all items)

Foodies in TST have another reason to cheer – joining the area’s posse of eateries is Singaporean bakery Breadtalk (G18, Silvercord, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2111 1841). Apart from some of its signature items, this branch will serve new ones like curry dozo ($7.5), apple king ($6.5), and spicy ju-icy ($8). Toast Box, (3520 1220) from the same group is a café adjoining Breadtalk which just opened its first local branch and serves coffee and snacks in the Nanyang Singaporean style. Traditional kaya toast set ($26), noodles/macaroni with luncheon meat and egg set ($26) and nanyang delights like Singapore Laksa set ($38).

A new branch of the popular sandwich chain Subway (Shop B, G/F, 24-38 Ashley Road Kowloon, 2377 0861) has just opened in TST. Look out for special opening offer coupons and you could be enjoying free subs and salads. The biggest Subway yet stays open to 2:30am so drop in for a 6-inch or foot-long submarine.

The owners of North California cuisine restaurant Bacar and wine bar and restaurant Enoteca on Elgin street launch their latest venture – Cicada (G/F, 4 Shelley Street, SoHo, Central, 2521 5088). It serves a contemporary selection of over 50 Asian-inspired tapas delights using ingredients from India, Nepal, South East Asia, Korea, China and Japan. These include Malay Beef Satay ($78), Tandoori Salmon and Paneer Filo Rolls ($68), to name a few (additional 10% service charge applies). A selection of 25 wines served by the glass and Asian inspired signature cocktails are also available to accompany the food.