Theo Mistral, an Italian kitchen founded by British celebrity Chef Theo Randall, presents casual, fresh, homestyle Italian food in the basement of the InterContinental Grand Stanford hotel in TST East. The creative, family-style restaurant has launched an array of concepts such as its Taste of Italy Sunday brunch, a four-course seasonal vegan menu adapting fresh produce from Italy and a curated private dining concept – a big Italian feast.
The private dining room menu ($1,488/person; 8–12 people; to include 3 bottles of Bottega wine) is a solid deal versus other private dining concepts in the city, definitely worth it for the quantity and quality of food you and your crew will be feasting on.
I severely underestimated the phrase “big Italian feast” and should’ve saved my stomach space till dinnertime. Placed on a custom-made wooden board is a huge spread of Italian food consisting of three rounds – starters, mains and desserts. The first round features fresh seafood on ice, pizza, pasta and a selection of cheese, meat, roasted veggies and salads.
The highlight of the mains was a Fiorentina steak cooked perfectly to medium rare and sliced tableside, along with plates of lamb rack and guinea fowl, plus an array of sides including roasted root vegetables, mashed potato and sautéed mushrooms and spinach.
By dessert, I was at tipping point, with just enough room for some sweets. The dessert selection includes tarts, cakes, tiramisu, doughnuts, cheesecake and fresh berries.
Our table particularly enjoyed the Amalfi tarts, incorporating lemons from the south of Italy, which had a fresh, sour and citrusy burst that wasn’t masked by too much sugar.
Verdict
I’d recommend Theo Mistral for its private dining concept. The kitchen executed all the dishes in a timely manner while beautifully resetting the table with each new course. This would be a great feast either for work events or as a gathering for family and friends. The food is exceptionally fresh and well cooked, taking us on a journey exploring authentic Italian cuisine.
B2/F, InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, 78 Mody Road, TST East, 2731 2870
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