Restaurant review: LucAle

There have been so many great restaurants opening lately. My ‘restaurants to try’ list is growing by the day. I break the list into three sections, from one to three dollar signs, and sometimes it feels like the three dollar sign list is growing the fastest. Maybe it’s because these restaurants get the most press and accolades so we notice them more? While these restaurants are certainly worth trying, who doesn’t want to find a reasonably priced gem!

So I was looking forward to trying LucAle, an laid back Italian restaurant named after founding chefs Luca De Berardinis (previously of Operetta) and Alessandro Angelini (previously of Angelini at the Kowloon Shangri-La). If you’re used to dining in malls, hotels, or glossy new buildings, Sai Ying Pun’s vibe seems really fresh. I walked from the MTR, up and down a few hilly streets, before seeing a spotlight for LucAle that indicated it’s location in a small alley beside Potatohead. It’s got a great cozy feel, perfect for dates or small groups.

This Spring, the chefs have come up with some new dishes.

The restaurant is known for their creamy burrata. For spring, there’s Burrata con Gamberi ($278) which features red Sicilian prawns, melon, avocado and green apple. It’s a stunning dish, bright, fresh and allows the delicate sweetness of the prawns to shine.

Another new dish is the Tonno Fresco Siciliano ($268), where fresh Sicilian tuna is paired with avocado cream, soy sauce and an Italian lemon dressing. Love when lighter dishes come with so much flavour.

Other new menu items include the Raviolo Gigante con Ricotta (an extra-large ricotta-stuffed raviolo with mascarpone and egg yolk in a black truffle and grean pea sauce that was sadly sold out during our visit), a Fettuccine Pomodoro Fresco (with fresh tomato and lobster sauce), and a Seppioline Italiane Al Forno (Italian baby cuttlefish with potato cream and earthy black truffle).

Two out of three in our table had never tried LucAle before so we also ordered some of the restaurant’s best sellers.

The Pala Di Salumi Misti LucAle platter ($260, feeds 2) was massive and of great quality.

The Tartara Di Scottona ($188) was served with egg, potato waffle, horseradish mayo and puffed rice but these accompaniments didn’t overpower the delicate, earthy flavour of the Scottona beef.

Our table loved the homeyness of the Strozzapreti Fatti In Casa Al Ragù ($168), a homemade twisted pasta with sausage ragu, mushroom and spinach.

A more sophisticated yet still homey pasta is the Chitarrino Al Tartufo Nero ($198) which comes with “Pienza” pecorino cheese, walnut breadcrumbs, and black truffle.

For dessert, we opted to share the Tiramisù Di LucAle ($88) which came with a chocolate crust and roasted hazelnuts. This was so delicious. And with its cute presentation and elevated twist, this may be my favourite tiramisu in town.

Verdict

Fans of LucAle will enjoy a return visit for the spring dishes. New visitors will surely love the vibe and high quality Italian cooking. I can’t wait to return and enjoy a cozy meal with loved ones.

Shop A, 100 Third St, Sai Ying Pun, 3611 1842