Restaurant Review : Hakkasan

When Lewis and I went to Shanghai, China in 2014, limited time prevented us from dining at Hakkasan.  

(Please read about that trip by using this link: http://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2014/11/our-trip-to-china-part-iii-shanghai.html)

Lewis comforted me; they had a location in Manhattan.  

We just dined there, and I'll tell you all about it!

     First, I will explain that the name refers to the Hakka ethnicity of Chinese people who derived from the Han Dynasty.  They settled in the southern provinces of Guandong, Fujian, Sichuan, Hunan, and Guangxi, and they populated large parts of Taiwan.  They speak in a unique dialect.  

     It is a cavernous Cantonese restaurant, but decorative dividing walls add intimacy within the seating sections (without obstructing the DJ's music).  Small translucent vases are illuminated and positioned randomly, to give your eye something to wander about and notice (see below).

     Applause goes to the management for stocking their restroom with Molten Brown soap and hand lotion!  At $30 per bottle, it leaves your hands smelling delightful.  The lotion was appreciated on such a windy winter's night.

     Our sweet-hearted friend, Doshka, made all the arrangements.  She knew that it was recently Lewis' birthday and it was almost our sixth-year anniversary, so she chose Hakkasan to make those occasions extra-special.  She was friends with the best waiter, Danny, and she worked with the reservationist to ensure that we sat in his section (amongst his VIP clients).  

     We ordered drinks at the bar, and Doshka knew all the bartenders and the sommelier.  

A spiffy bar with illuminated countertop, it makes drinks and drinkers look sublime.

     I ordered the Spanish Old-fashioned, with a hand-pressed ice ball.  My palate enjoyed the chocolate bitters to complement the 30yr sherry and Foro Amaro.  Then, I tried the Gold Emperor (served up)--a drink exclusive to this West 43rd Street location: dark spiced rum, ginger, lemon juice, agave, pineapple juice, freshly grated cinnamon.

     We were impressed that the Dining Room manager, Arnold, personally made sure that our table was satisfied, and he gave us quite a bit of his time throughout our meal.  A very nice experience.  At one point, our busser politely interrupted our chatter because he recognized the Le Labo fragrance that Lewis wore, and he wanted to give a compliment.  How nice, and what a talented sense of smell!

      Appetizers included assorted Dim Sum, then some pan-fried dumplings.  The skins of each were perfect!  Such flavor, and filled to brim!

Lewis was especially enamored with a whole plate of piquant Prawn & Foie Gras appetizers--all for him! (for his birthday)

Our table afforded a view into their glass-enclosed kitchen.

     Dinner entrees arrived in crisp fashion, along with our side dishes of Chinese pea shoots (in garlic sauce) [always a favorite of ours] and noodles.

Clockwise, Lewis loved his zesty Prawns in Lilly Bulb/almond sauce.  Doshka enjoyed Sweet & Sour Pork with pomegranate.  I devoured deliciously-spicy, wok-fried Lamb tenderloin with Szechuan peppercorn sauce.  

     So that she could celebrate Lewis' birthday, Doshka secretly ordered a dessert from their Lunar New Year menu.  Crafted to resemble a bird's nest, it's so pretty.  It was Lewis' SECOND "egg" birthday dessert!  You can see the first one here: http://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2017/02/restaurant-review-aquavit.html.  Two eggs during Lunar New Year MUST be a sign of prosperous good fortune!  :-)

Chocolate shell, filled with Panna Cotta "egg" and custard "yolk", resting on a nest with marshmallows, mandarin slices and droplets of orange sauce.  Amazing!

As we departed, we admired the wall of "New Year Wishes", left by guests.  Danny gave us each a ribbon to write our wish on.  Some of the wishes were inspiring and reminded us of the good people in the world.  A lovely way to finish the meal.  It was an entirely wonderful treat!

     We were grateful to Doshka (and gratitude is ideal during a New Year holiday).  She was happy to do it because she still recalls the Walking Tour that we gave her in Astoria, NYC.  It was a drippy day, yet our detailed exuberance kept her energized and she never regretted the one-hour subway ride to get there from Brooklyn.  *To see the type of Walking Tour that we gave her, please use this link:   https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2015/06/walking-tour-streets-food-architecture.html