Maybe it is because my parents love the place so much that I, too, begin to love coming to this Hong Kong style western restaurant.
Sunning reminds my parents of the good old days when they lived in Hong Kong. Life was so much simpler then, they didn’t have 4 grown up children who think they know far better than their parents.
It was also in Sunning where mom and dad first met. Since then, they would dine so often at the restaurant, which at that time was still on Sunning Road, that until now, some 30 years later, the few remaining senior waiters still know them by name.
Nostalgia…
Here are their favorites, and now mine, too.
Escargot with Mashed Potatoes 法國田螺薯茸 – the snails are baked in butter, garlic and herbs. As you de-shell each of these babies, the tasty juices ooze out and seep into the bed of creamy mashed potato. Now tell me you do not want a taste of this.
Borscht 羅宋湯 - a hearty soup of tomatoes, cabbage, carrots and potatoes. It used to be tastier with very distinct beef flavor, now it tastes a little bit watered down. Not as good as before, but still okay.
Cream of Mushroom 白菌湯 – this soup is so 1970’s. You cannot get the same thing elsewhere nowadays. If you have a thing for heavy, cream based soup with slices of button mushrooms, then you must come to Sunning for this.
US Roast Beef 燒牛肉 – and it is HUGE! And delicious. Very tender and full of flavor, this is easily a favorite. Tastes way better than Lawry’s for a lot less wallet damage, too.
Rack of Lamb 燒羊架 – the lamb chops are grilled and then fried until the herb-flavored crust is golden crispy. Yum.
Chicken Mancini 芝士磨菇雞柳焗麵 – I can imagine this being the #1 favorite of any growing kid. Chicken, mushroom, bacon and spaghetti baked in a thick blanket of cheese. The result is super tasty, rich, cheesy and creamy pasta dish that can make even the most weight-conscious people ditch the South Beach.
Fresh Water King Prawn 大蝦餐 – buttery and garlicky goodness
Pan Fried Sole Fillet 煎龍脷柳 – I used to think sole fillets are boring, until I tried Sunning’s. Fried to a crisp perfection, with beautiful flavors of lemon and butter, this is love at first bite.
I cannot say this for many Hong Kong restaurants, but here at Sunning, coffee is very good. And it tastes even better with the free desserts that always come our way, courtesy of the forever smiling, ever accommodating, 30-something years with Sunning, Mr. Dicken Liu.
It is the beautiful memories, the fond remembrances, familiar faces and consistently good food that make Sunning, generation after generation, our family favorite.
Sunning Restaurant 新寧餐廳: Basement Level, Leighton Centre, 77 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. 銅鑼灣禮頓道77號禮頓中心地庫. Tel: +852-28902029 and +852-25763301
UPDATE: Sunning Restaurant has moved to a new location.
NEW ADDRESS: Shop B, 16/F, Lee Theatre Plaza, 99 Percival Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Tel: 2890 2029, 2576 3301
