60-Minute Feasts: LPM Restaurant and Bar Central Lunch Review

Restaurant snapshot: LPM Restaurant & Bar imports a warm French Riviera atmosphere and exquisite French menu to Hong Kong, emulating the exuberant aura in the restaurants’ sister venues stretched across the Middle East, Cyprus, south USA, and London. Head Chef Maurizio Pace has been with the Central restaurant since its 2018 opening.

Vibe and venue: Beyond the thick red curtain, in place to shun bad qi, lies a dining room taking influence from Côte d’Azur, clad in white cloth, warm beiges and blues, tables topped in pristine white cloth, and waiters attentive to every need. For only a lunch or dinner, you do feel you have escaped Hong Kong and kept refuge in warm France. 

Value for time & money: Sampling the a la carte menu for lunch or dinner between your guests or a table of close ones will lead to an average spend of HK$700-800. The quality of a meal at LPM cannot be understated, with quick cooking times ensuring fresh bites. A lunch can be greatly enjoyed, not at the expense of eating into your work hours.

Menu highlights: The menu is divided into Hors D’Oeuvres, Les Plats and Desserts. Start the meal with sumptuous French Bean Salad with Foie Gras and Burrata, continue with Grilled Chilean Bass, Duck Confit with Orange and Endive, and finish off with Vanilla Crème Brûlée and my now favourite, French Toast.

What we tasted: We ordered the new summer tasting, available until September, including Grilled Friarielli Peppers, Wild Sea Bream Carpaccio, Beef Tartare, Homemade Mafaldine Pasta, Lamb Shoulder, Whole Grilled John Dory, Olive Oil Mash Potato, Vanilla Cheesecake with a Berry Compote, and French Toast with Spice Ice Cream.

Hits & misses: The beef tartar is a great hit, holding a raw smoky aroma from the bone marrow infusion in the cuts. The lamb shoulder was infused with parsley, which brings a complimentary sourness to the rich gamey flavour.

The midday must-have: The Whole Grilled John Dory, sold at market price, wowed the whole table. Cooked in a jos grill with an olive oil glaze with salt and pepper, the charcoal flavouring coats the tongue, holding an everlasting aroma that flavours the sweet fish chunks.

Final verdict: LPM shines as a premium option for French cuisine in Central. Yes, it’s priced at a premium and may be inaccessible for a daily option to dine, but a lunch meal is memorable for such simplicity yet strength in the fine French ingredients.

Location: LPM Restaurant & Bar, H Queen’s, 23-29 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong

Contact details: +852 2887 1113

This food review is based on a complimentary media tasting provided by LPM Restaurant and Bar in exchange for a truthful review and no compensation. The opinions expressed within represent the views of the author.   

Enjoyed this article? Check out our previous 60 Minute Feasts reviews here.