Showing posts with label free food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free food. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

HH: IFC Deals

I think I always had the misconception that IFC is one of the most baller shopping malls alongside with Pacific Place and Elements, and that good deals would be non-existent. Anyway, I was wrong. IFC actually has fantastic ghetto places like McDonalds, TWO Café deCorals (not to be confused with Café Too at the Shangri-La - AYO!), and my favorite, Maxim fast food. Unlike Pacific Place where I used to work, IFC didn't boot McDonalds out of the mall to preserve its "classiness".

Other than these ghetto food spots, IFC also has a couple of awesome happy hour deals, which is extra awesome if you work here.

Gogyo: By day they are a ramen place, and by night... guess what they are? also a ramen place, but with a buy one get one free happy hour deal until 8pm. I'm not crazy about their cocktails so usually I go for their wine, sake or beer instead. The staff aren't the happiest people on earth but I like to go there since it's super dead at 5:30pm so it's not weird at all to bring a book there to read while waiting for my friends to get off work. Recently I also discovered that they do give out fried chicken skin to their "regular" customers so... that shall be a status I will obtain hopefully sometime in the near future. Can't find this place? because it's a bit hidden. It's on the same floor Tasty Congee, near Fuel and IFC One... and the Watson's Wine Cellar.

French Window: In terms of value, I think French Window and Gogyo come in quite even. French Window has a happy hour drinks menu that's around $40/drink also until 8pm. The vibe is less relaxed compared to Gogyo, get's packed by around 6:30-7pm, and is often booked by companies for private events. I've gone to Gogyo instead at least twice because of these private events (sneaking in didn't work). I've heard that their food is not bad either, but I usually just munch on their popcorn because I am cheap and usually have dinner plans after already.

Blue Bar @ Four Seasons: Is this a good deal? I would say that is quite a controversial subject. The drinks are not cheap, but are interesting and worth it in my opinion. However, as you know, I am cheap, so unless it's a life changing cocktail I wouldn't pay ~$200 for a drink. The only "life changing" cocktail I've had is from Sohofama, but that's based purely on my personal preference. Ok, so what's bringing me back to Blue Bar repeatedly? The FREE GOOD FOOD. I've seen them put xiao long bao, siu mai, satay, chicken wings, ox tongue, nachos and guacamole, sandwiches, assorted veggies with dip on the buffet. Unlike Taz, you don't have to sprint to get the good food. I can't tell if it's because the staff are extremely attentive in refilling, or if it's because the people who go to Blue Bar are too classy (sans me and my crew) to fight over free food. Anyway, it's a great deal and the atmosphere is nice so it does get packed early. You should be there by 5:30pm to grab a table. I've gone at 5:45pm before on a Thu/Fri and it was packed already... hotel guests! Oh yes speaking of hotel guests, they give out $500 vouchers for some guests so... I guess that's why they get packed so early? Anyway, if it's packed you can try leaving your name with them and head to another bar in the mean time. Otherwise what I did once was go to their poolside bar (crappy cocktails, no deals, awesome view) instead which looks amazing at night time. Wouldn't have found the place if Blue Bar wasn't packed that day!

Beer Bay: This actually isn't in IFC, but by the Discovery Bay pier. I've only been there once but they seem to have a variety of beer available at below $40. It's basically just a beer stand outdoors, so I can imagine it being too hot to hang out in during the summer. They have a skewer stand right next to it which I'm actually more curious about and hope to check out one day.

... oh and Happy Lunar New Year!


Monday, February 16, 2015

HH: Taz + Wagyu Lounge

Ever since I started working, I've preferred happy hour over regular late night drinking. There is something liberating about finally being off work and having a drink with your friends or colleagues, or in the rare case, yourself :) Plus, you are already out so there is no getting ready to go out factor. For me it's extremely tough to go out on Saturday nights because there simply just isn't enough "momentum". I'm either coming from home which means I got to change and take a 45 minute bus ride out, or I am coming from my sister's place which is still about 30 minutes away from Central. In the latter case I am also usually suffering from food coma since I like to stuff my face when I'm eating at my sisters. Fun fact, did you know that you eat more as you are dining with more people? The amount of food you eat is correlated to how many people you are eating with. In other words, if you would like to eat less, it's a good idea to dine solo.

Back to the topic, I'm trying to think of the place that got me excited about the idea of happy hour. It was either Taz or Wagyu Lounge, so why don't I just talk about them both today.

Taz (Tasmania Ballroom)
  • The deal is buy one get one free from their happy hour menu from 6-8pm. I usually get the Riesling which is around $100. Beers are around $70-80 I believe, so when you divide that by 2 I would say that's a pretty awesome deal. The best part about this deal is that is comes with FREE FOOD. Free good food. They have dimsum, sometimes sushi, and some other delicious items on the buffet that is totally worth going for. Added bonus: they have ping pong and pool tables if you're interested.
  • Location: In the LKF Hotel... second or third floor? anyway, not hard to figure out once you are in the elevator or on Wyndham Street
  • Downsides: given the awesome deal you can imagine that the place get's packed by around 7pm. Next "problem" is the crowd. I'm not a fan of hardcore bankers, and this place is usually in excess of this population. Also, you've got to be super quick to the ha gao and siu mai, otherwise it's usually all gone by the time they are on the buffet!
  • http://www.tazmaniaballroom.com/main.html#/philosophy

Wagyu Lounge
  • Last time I was there, the happy hour menu had drinks for around $30-40. Food menu was mostly below $50 for amazing mini burgers and hot wings. I like the vibe there since there is much less hardcore bankers there and the crowd is much more chillaxed than Taz.
  • Location: LG/F, Hollywood Commercial House, 3-5 Old Bailey Street, Central, Hong Kong (next to the Flying Pan)
  • Downside: Oh! there are quite a bit! First of, the deal is only until 7pm. Second of all, it's hella far for most people working near the Landmark area. It's far even for those in the IFC area. Third of all, they keep bumping up their prices! I get that rent prices are rising... but seriously...?
  • http://www.casteloconcepts.com/our-venues/wagyu-lounge/wagyu-lounge-hong-kong-menus?locations/hong-kong/wagyu-lounge-hong-kong/wagyu-lounge-hong-kong-menus