Jean-Pierre — Restaurant in Hong Kong

TLDR: this restaurant is a disappointment. Would not recommend. The service is unprofessional despite setting high expectations. Food is average to subpar.

Jean-Pierre is not an acceptable restaurant despite its reviews. Marketing itself as “a loveletter to the bistros of Paris”, it is not an experience I would recommend. The restaurant is not easy to travel to, as it is on Bridges Street and involves a walk up a long set of staircase. I was asked to wait for a table at the entrance bar area, which was dimly lit, with loud pop music at the volume of a Lan Kwai Fong bar, whereas a setting that is quite serious - table cloth, candles and furnished wooden chairs. Our conversation for the entire night was conducted via borderline shouting. We were eventually let in at 20:48 after I asked after it again. We could barely hear our designated wait staff’s introduction over the loud music.

The food was average to underaverage.

The duck was flavourful with a nice, robust sauce.

The beef cheek was tender, hearty and the carrots and onions were soft. The sauce was rich. A solid performance.

The rest of the food is distinctly subpar - the escargots did not taste of anything and were extremely oily. No shell. The plating was strange - just a black plate with the escargots, and no shell.

The millefeuille was underaverage - with the cream filling and the raspberries, it was pleasant. The crust on its own is unattractive - very oily, salty, with a deep fried taste that is inedible on its own. My friend did not like the filling. The bread was quite hard - a French thing. The starter salad and the salami were fine.

The serve quality is unacceptable for a restaurant of this setting. They did offer to take photos, and had birthday celebration service, and refilled the water in a timely fashion. However the cutlery provided was inconsistent and at times inappropriate - my friend felt the spoon was not an acceptable choice of cutlery for the dessert. We asked for a knife for the duck, as well as dessert forks multiple times. Wait staff is unattentive and would require waving for their attention to be drawn. Restaurant is likely overbooked and not prepared for this volume of customers.

Market positioning is highly unclear - I cannot tell if they want to appeal to a younger, vibrant and casual audience, a young audience at a more formal occasion like ours, or a serious dining restaurant with this combination. It is not cheap either. I have no reason to recommend this restaurant whatsoever. There is better food and service quality out there at this price point. Would not return.

Also the sliding door to the entrance has a protruding metal bar that's easily a trip...

Jean pierre critic!!

Where to begin? My journey commenced with a phone call to secure a reservation but first to enquire about the dress code. When inquiring about the dress code, I found myself in an endless loop of miscommunication. "So, you want a table?" " No I want to know the dress code if any? " the staff member repeatedly asked, despite my insistence on clarifying the dress code first. It was as if the very notion of attire was lost in translation.

Moving on to the culinary offerings, we opted for the pâté de volaille, which arrived in the form of a mousse. Allow me to clarify: a pâté and a mousse are distinctly different entities. This mismatch was disappointing, though it was somewhat redeemed by the œuf mimosa, which, despite its simplicity, was smothered in an overwhelming layer of mayonnaise.

The salad featuring goat cheese was another letdown. I could easily replicate that dish at home, using higher-quality ingredients, at a fraction of the cost and with a presentation far superior. And honestly, how does one botch a basic salad dressing?

In our quest for a proper cheese experience, we ordered a cheese platter, only to discover that the sole offering was an 18-month-aged Comté. While Comté is delightful in its own right, one would expect a selection that reflects the richness and variety of artisanal French cheeses.

As for the steak, it was nothing short of catastrophic—tough, rubbery, and devoid of any juiciness. A far cry from the tender fare one expects from establishments that pride themselves on culinary excellence.

For those seeking authentic flavors and a more pleasing atmosphere, I recommend Lala. You might spend 15% more, but the satisfaction will be well worth it. A nod to our waiter, though—he was a standout, providing commendable service amidst the chaos.

Not...

Wow wow wow! This place is certainly one to watch out for! I am in love, that I went twice! Been waiting and waiting for them to open their doors and when they finally did I immediately booked a table. I don’t often splurge - this one is worth it!

You’re greeted with a warm welcome at the door, in front of you is a beautiful standing bar and a little on the right there is an outdoor area where you can enjoy your pre or post dinner drinks.

Speaking of drinks, they have a simple cocktail menu, simple cos they’re a small menu but honestly that’s all you need! Let me tell you the Cornichon Martini is a must! I love martinis and I have to say I found one that speaks perfectly to me. Perfectly balanced, that I had a few before dinner. This drink is 10/10!

Then off to the dining room we go! Oh, what a beautiful dining room, it’s elegant and made me feel like I’m transported to another time. As you settle in to your table, a very friendly server will greet you, and introduce the menu to you, guess what? Jean-Pierre is an actual person and this restaurant is his story! Isn’t that beautiful 😍. This place will be one for the book of good memories for me, this is where I had escargot for the first time, love it! I will tell you everything we’ve had but that will be a crime, as my words will not do justice. I highly recommend this place. Their team there, Jack (not sure if this is how you spell his name!) is amazing so is William. Oh also, the wines! I almost forgot, I suggests to pair your wine according to courses, you won’t regret it. Value for money is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Service ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Food ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cocktails...