Joël Robuchon — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

Dining at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Hong Kong is always a memorable experience, and this visit was no different in terms of food quality and presentation. Every dish was beautifully arranged with great attention to detail, and the flavours were refined, balanced, and inventive — exactly what you would expect from a restaurant of this calibre. From the amuse-bouche to dessert, each course showcased precision and artistry, delivering a genuine culinary experience.

However, our seating arrangement had a minor downside. We were seated at the far end of the counter, which was quite quiet and somewhat separated from the main buzz of the dining area. Part of the appeal of sitting at the counter in Robuchon is being able to watch the chefs at work and enjoy the lively interaction between the kitchen and guests. Unfortunately, from our position, we couldn’t see much of what was happening behind the counter, which diminished a bit of that signature "L’Atelier" experience.

One pleasant surprise was the wine prices. The selection is broad, and the prices are notably reasonable — perhaps the most affordable among fine dining restaurants in Hong Kong. It’s uncommon to find such a thoughtful and fairly priced wine list at this level of restaurant, which definitely enhances the overall value and enjoyment of the meal.

The service was generally fine and efficient, though there is room for improvement in terms of warmth and attentiveness. The staff were polite and professional, but at times, the interaction felt slightly formal and distant. A touch more friendliness and engagement would have made the experience even more memorable and personal.

Overall, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon continues to deliver on its promise of exceptional cuisine and elegant dining. The food was exquisite, the wine list impressive, and the atmosphere refined — though I would recommend requesting a more central seat at the counter for a fuller experience. Despite a few minor service and seating issues, it remains one of the top dining destinations in Hong Kong for those who appreciate fine...

I recently booked a lunch at this restaurant to celebrate my dad's birthday, and I must say I was extremely disappointed. The lunch set didn't include a steak option, so we decided to order the A4 Wagyu beef from the à la carte menu for him, along with two set lunches. Unfortunately, the food did not meet our expectations considering the price we paid, especially the Cod and A4 Wagyu beef which were overly oily.

To make matters worse, they placed the "Happy Birthday to my Dad" chocolate on my mother's dessert. It was surprising and unacceptable. The waiter only moved the dessert to my mother's place after my dad had already blown out the candles. This arrangement was handled poorly and felt mean-spirited. I believe it would have been better if the waiter had informed me in advance or simply done nothing, instead of this awkward and amusing arrangement.

We specifically chose not to have the set lunch because there were no suitable options, yet the A4 Wagyu course turned out to be even more expensive than the five-course set lunch. It's truly baffling that a Michelin-starred restaurant would offer such a disappointing experience. Why the waiter didn't inform me in advance if they even cannot offer a piece of cake? It falls short of the restaurant's reputation and the high price we paid for the lunch (over $5300 for three people). Additionally, considering it was a special occasion, it would have been nice if the restaurant had offered a complimentary cake with our order.

Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this restaurant to any of my friends. For a similar price range, I would suggest trying 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA instead, as they consistently provide much better quality of food and service. In fact, during our visit there, they even arranged a separate birthday cake for my mother, which was a thoughtful gesture amidst an overall enjoyable...

Our last day spent in Hong Kong and we decided to treat ourselves to one stellar meal here.

The restaurant itself is located in one of those ultra luxurious malls and the restaurant was no different.

What I really loved about this place is the open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare each delicate and complex dish as they take you on an adventure in your mouth.

There are different textures, flavours, temperature, and colours that will excite as many of your senses as you want.

How good is this place? The friggin bread basket is an amazing assortment of different types of savoury (and a few sweet) breads to start your meal. It’s so good that I had to stop myself from filling up from the delicious bread and rich butter.

We opted for the $598 HKD prix lunch menu which includes that bread basket, an amuse bouche, appetizer, soup, entree, dessert, and encore sweets at the end of the meal.

What I remember most from the meal was:

the le Dashi soup was so light and fragrant with a hint of heat and that piece of foie gras just provided that rich creaminess.

the la Caille (qual with foie gras and served with the famous mashed potatoes) was excellent. The quail was expertly deboned and then stuffed with more foie gras while those mashed potatoes were so rich, you might have a heart attack on the spot.

the le Caviar Imperial was an interesting melange of texture and flavour of lobster jelly with caviar pearls popping in your mouth.

The service was 5 stars, hands down. The server would gently place each dish in front of you and kindly explain in detail what you are about to consume. They make sure to take care of you and that your time is well spent with them there.

Overall, a great way to cap...