Café 103 | The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong — Restaurant in Kowloon

I genuinely can't believe the reviews of this place after the experience I had here yesterday afternoon (15/12/2021). The entire thing was horrible, from start to finish, made even worse by the fact we had booked for a birthday for someone in our group.

First, we were sat at a table where the view was completely obstructed by a giant pillar, despite there being other empty tables available. Shortly after, a waitress dropped a cake onto the floor right in front of another table and picked it up with her bare hands. When our afternoon tea sets arrived, they had spelled the birthday guest's name wrong on the plate, and when we asked them nicely to correct it, the staff didn't apologise (or say anything), they just begrudgingly took it back to the kitchen.

Since there was no table space after the food had arrived, I propped one menu against the above-mentioned pillar, after which a waiter rushed over, snatched it back and inexplicably scolded me: "Don't do that. That is very dangerous."...What?

After two of us finished our coffees, the same insulting waiter told us we weren't allowed to change our drink selection, despite telling us at the beginning that we could drink anything. Then, when he returned, he was rude when our deaf guest misunderstood him, said we weren't allowed any more drinks, and proceeded to roll his eyes when we asked for water. For the other guests with tea, the staff promptly stopped filling their teapots with hot water with an hour left to spare, so they too ran out. Seriously, your policy is just one cup of anything for the entire 2-hour seating?!

And I haven't even gotten to the food yet. I am not a picky eater. But if there's ever an example of a restaurant clinging to its company's name to justify the extortionate prices - this is it. EVERYTHING - I mean EVERYTHING - was bad. And tiny. How do you take dishes with such few ingredients and make it taste worse than the sum of its parts? Rubbery lobster tart buried in cinnamon powder (why?), egg sandwich that neither tasted of egg nor bread, the most watery, vile cheesecake we'd all ever had (but I suppose the gold leaf on it was the value there), a black forest thing in a shot glass with a cherry on top that looked and tasted as if it had been sitting in a fridge for several weeks, and an array of other things that were so forgettable, I don't recall what they were. But you get the picture.

To add insult to injury, it was $468 each and they had the audacity to charge for service. YOU, the Ritz-Carlton, have a duty of care to uphold under the company name and you only delivered offensive staff, awful food, and a terrible impression of Hong Kong's standards when it comes to hospitality. Shame on you. None of us will ever be returning to anything under this brand's name again.

We highly recommend W group, Fortnum & Mason or literally anywhere...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Cafe 103 located in the renowned Ritz Carlton Hotel. While the food selection might not have been extensive, the freshness and deliciousness of the ingredients used truly made up for it. Moreover, the excellent and friendly service provided by the staff, particularly Yoga, Maria, and the manager, greatly enhanced our overall dining experience.

From the moment we entered the restaurant, we were greeted warmly by the staff and promptly shown to our table. Although we were slightly disappointed not to get the window seat we had hoped for, it did not hinder our enjoyment of the evening. The ambiance was cozy and inviting, with a well-thought-out interior design that added to the overall charm of Cafe 103.

As for the food, every dish we tried was a culinary delight. The limited menu ensured that each item was crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail. From the appetizers to the main course and desserts, it was evident that the chef's focus was on quality rather than quantity.

What truly set our dining experience apart, however, was the exceptional service provided by the staff. Yoga, Maria, and the manager went above and beyond to ensure that we had a memorable and enjoyable evening. Their attentiveness, knowledge, and friendliness made us feel like valued guests. They were always ready to answer any questions we had, suggest delightful combinations of dishes, and cater to our specific dietary preferences.

Despite not obtaining the window seat we had requested, the warm and wonderful experience we had at Cafe 103 more than made up for it. The delectable food, fresh ingredients, and impeccable service truly exceeded our expectations. We left the restaurant feeling thoroughly satisfied and grateful for the memorable dining experience we had.

I would highly recommend Cafe 103 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel to anyone seeking a delightful dining experience. Whether celebrating a special occasion, enjoying a romantic evening, or simply savoring delicious food in a pleasant atmosphere, Cafe 103 is sure to impress with its fresh ingredients, delightful flavors, and...

Expensive(HK$500) BUT stunning views and good food

At HK$500, Cafe 103 might just be one of the most expensive lunch buffets I’ve had (but not by a big margin though😊).

But the stunning views might justify the price. Food didn’t disappoint either 😋. Of course, in order to enjoy that view, it’s important to request for a table near the window...while making the reservations over phone 🤔 .

Important to note that Ritz/JW Marriot membership got me a 10% discount (gold level membership might get bigger discount)😊

Coming to the food....some of the STANDOUTS 👍🏻were: Oysters/Lobsters Fried Shrimp Rolls Mini Burgers Wok Fried Beef with pumpkin and Truffle sauce Indian Fish Curry BBQ Pork and Duck

The Oysters and Lobsters looked super fresh and they were the first things I pounced on 😃.

The FRIED SHRIMP ROLLS were really good! 😋. The outer layer was super crunchy, with the softer shrimp inside it. The Mini Burgers were also good, with the crunchy mini-buns and a beef patty that could’ve been somewhere between Medium and Well-done.😍 The WOK FRIED BEEF with PUMPKIN and TRUFFLE SAUCE was certainly worth multiple trips. The beef was soft and literally melted in the mouth.😋 The INDIAN FISH CURRY tasted great😍 but some people might want to add just a little bit extra salt. I think they made it that way to suit a the diverse taste-requirements of a large buffet crowd.👍🏻

The BBQ PORK and DUCK had a nice caramelized skin while juicy meat below it. I made sure to pick 1-2 pieces of them each time I got up.😃

The desserts section had a wide variety of cakes, pastries, fruit cups, chocolates, etc.😋

The service was also top class. The staff were attentive enough to suggest I pay with HSBC card as it would get me 10% discount🤯👍🏻....but then I revealed that I’m also a Ritz Carlton member (same membership number as JW Marriot).... so they suggested I don’t need HSBC card because the Ritz membership itself would get me same discount. ⭐️ So I was able to use my other banks card which had Asia Miles linked to them😍! Without the staff’s advice, I wouldn’t have known...