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Chef Frank Lebiez of Metropolitain in Sai Ying Pun.

Favourite Hong Kong restaurants of Metropolitain chef Frank Lebiez

Frenchman likes brunch with a view, unfussy Asian fare for lunch and a classy joint for dinner. He also tells us where he gets his chocolate cake fix and about a ‘sexy and naughty’ Central hideaway

I like cooking classic traditional dishes. Nothing too fancy because 300 ingredients does not make your dish magnificent.

For breakfast, I like quiet and simple places with my wife. At home, I make eggs benedict, fresh juice and perhaps [serve] some croissants. However, I don’t have breakfast often; I mostly have brunch, where I’m pickier about the restaurants I go to. I love Jumbo Kingdom (Shum Wan Pier Drive, Wong Chuk Hang, Aberdeen, tel: 2553 9111). It serves bountiful food and free-flow drinks like champagne. By 4pm you are good to go. I love it there because there is massive terrace where you can enjoy the beautiful view.

Interior of Le Boudoir in Central.
For lunch, I like to stick with Asian cuisines because I always cook Western dishes, and I want to have something different when I go out to eat. I love Indonesian Restaurant 1968 (5/F The L Place, 139 Queens Road Central, Central, tel: 2577 9981). It’s nice and easy – nothing too fussy and it’s great to meet friends there.

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For dinner, I go toCafé Gray Deluxe (L49 The Upper House, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, tel: 3968 1106). It’s got great service and good food. I usually go there with friends. I fancy this place because it’s classy and casual and the staff are relaxed unlike fine dining, where you have to be reserved, talk quietly and not to laugh too loud. However, at Café Gray, you can feel like you’re at home.
Motorino Pizzeria on Shelley Street in Central.

I am a chocolate person, and I love ice cream as well. For a chocolate fix I go to Motorino (14 Shelley Street, Central, tel: 2801 6881) because it has the best chocolate cake. I indulge in the signature cake – a thick and fudgy torta, so it’s chocolate on chocolate on chocolate.

I also love Le Boudoir (65 Wyndham Street, Central, tel: 2530 3870). It has a sexy and naughty vibe and the staff are super friendly. Not to mention the superb cocktails and incredible music! It is just the perfect place in terms of size, people, service.

La Bastide St Antoine (48 Avenue Henri Dunant, 06130 Grasse, France, tel:+33 4 93 70 94 94) is where I trained to be a chef so I would love to go there when I go back to France. It is a lovely local fine-dining place that reminds me of the old days.

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