When government restrictions hit the bar scene, The Pontiac – the city’s most upscale dive bar – pivoted from beers and cocktails to coffee and sandwiches as a means to survive. What was once a temporary pop-up has now become permanent reality with the Ponty Café opening next door to its sister establishment.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Pontiac concept without the involvement of Beckaly Franks who has helped craft the menus alongside Ezra Star, now fully involved with the bar Mostly Harmless. The real star, though, is chef Rachel Wedlock, who has worked across the globe for various big name brands and pop-ups, most recently in Hong Kong at popular cafes like Winstons and Cupping Room. Out front, Saskia Lopes de Souza is a typically amiable and enabling Ponty host.

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The menu is small and focused. There are several types of biscuit to try, four small and four big plate options, plus a few sides and kids’ and dessert options. Although tempted by the healthier option of egg and avocado, we start with the sausage biscuit (HK$78) – a buttermilk biscuit (for the uninitiated, imagine a savoury scone) stuffed with a sage sausage patty, American cheddar, matchstick fries and Marmite mayonnaise. It’s like the best kind of hangover cure – meaty, a tad greasy, a tad salty and packed with carbs. In short, it’s delicious, even if the Marmite mayonnaise was anonymous.