Consummate European cuisine and classic cocktails at newly opened Central restaurant & lounge
January 8th, 2015
Update February 1st, 2019 – ON Dining has closed
Adding a new chapter to the impressive resume of locally based French chef Philippe Orrico, ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge brings to downtown Hong Kong an exciting and ambitious new dining and cocktail lounge concept. Set in the upper two levels of a newly completed Ginza-style retail and lifestyle development in Central’s On Lan Street, guests can dine or socialise in stylish surroundings whilst taking in spectacular views over the business district skyline and nearby harbour. Having opened his first solo restaurant just over a year ago – the Michelin-starred Upper Modern Bistro – Philippe’s new restaurant entices with an engaging interactive dining experience, grounded on contemporary European comfort cuisine, and complemented by a sophisticated yet relaxed upstairs lounge serving a carefully curated list of boutique and organic wines, boutique champagnes, artisanal cheese, and classic cocktails.
Joining founder Philippe in a serendipitous collaboration for the launch of ON are three friends and prominent talents in the Hong Kong restaurant scene. Jeremy Evrard, former director of restaurants at the Four Seasons Hong Kong, comes on board as General Manger; while Sommelier and Operations Manager Nicolas Deneux is well known locally for his role heading up restaurant operations at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. And at the ON Lounge, cocktail and vermouth maestro Giancarlo Mancino has created a cocktail program focused on his hallmark polished renditions of classic cocktails – at ON Lounge created exclusively with craft spirits and ingredients.
Inspired by the glamorous luxury yachts of the 1950’s French Riviera, the decor of ON exudes a chic retro-nautical aesthetic with extensive use of natural timber, bronze trims, sleek lines and a palette of crisp whites and turquoise. An internal red-carpeted staircase connects the upper level Lounge with the Kitchen level below – evoking the yachting equivalent of moving down from a deck lounge into a below deck dining room.
At the Kitchen, well-executed classic French cooking of familiar dishes are rendered simply, yet enhanced with the added “theatre” of table side service and plating. Standout selections from the menu include Wild Sea bass, sautéed organic vegetables, scallops slices ; and to share – Beef rib eye, roasted potatoes with rosemary, black olives. While up on the Lounge level, a menu of Mediterranean influenced bar bites includes dips, mezze platter, hot and cold plates, and artisanal cheeses. Highlighting the classic cocktails of Giancarlo Mancino is the signature ONEGRONI – an exceptional combination of two craft gins and his eponymous Mancino Vermouth Rosso Amaranto – made in single small batches – and uniquely aged overnight in a traditional Italian clay wine pitcher.
ON Dining Kitchen & Lounge opens Monday to Saturday for both lunch and dinner. Immediately popular with discerning Hong Kong diners, table reservations are strongly recommended for both lunch and dinner at the Kitchen. Details of upcoming events and menu highlights are featured on the ON Facebook Page.
