Delish Eats: The Ritz-Carlton Café Serves Classic French Flavours and Mood

Restaurant history: The Ritz-Carlton Café was unveiled in its namesake hotel brand when the resort opened in Macau in 2015, making way for a French infusion in the monolithic Galaxy Hotel mall. The French eatery excels in offering a cuisine beyond traditional Chinese, Italian and American flavours found in Cotai’s hotels, earning the Ritz-Carlton a mention in the 2023 Michelin Guide Macau.

What’s the vibe and venue like: Expect deluxe décor paired with classics familiar with French brasseries found in Europe’s culinary capital. Whilst the eatery takes its name as a café, the eatery is akin to an all-day dining restaurant, serving brunch, lunch, dinner, and late-night French snacks.

How much does it cost: Dining between two for an early dinner on a weekday came out to MOP1,806, without the cost of drinks. 

What is the menu about: Expect the classics as mentioned. Your choice of chilled seafood, meaty appetisers, sandwiches, grilled fish, and seared steaks is abundant. Keep your eyes out on the menu’s “The Ritz Carlton Café Gueridon Service” section, which shines for authentic sky and sea bites.

What did we order: Lobster Bisque, French Onion Soup, Beef Tartare, Ocean Beef Tenderloin 200 grams, Dover Sole Meuniere, Basque Burnt Cheesecake, and Thin Apple Tart.

French Onion Soup: Right off the bat, we head into French territory with a classic rendition of the onion soup that holds bold and meaty flavours. Stewed presumably for hours, the French soup oozes umami with onions sweating out their juices. Dip your Gruyere cheese bread on the side for added salt and texture.

Beef Tartare: To just call this dish simply beef tartare is an insult to the beauty that this meat appetiser deserves. Its elegant plating with adorning flowers, pickled ground vegetables, and cornichons pairs well with the nutty, creamy, and slightly sour beef cut. Truly luxurious.

Ocean Beef Tenderloin 200 grams: I had high hopes for this tenderloin cut, which was flown in from New Zealand, but was let down by the lack of char on its skin to bring out a caramelised crispy exterior. Its insides, however, were fruity to taste with a medium rare touch.

Dover Sole Meuniere: This fish dish impressed me. Served with a buttery beurre blanc, each bite of the Mediterranean fish was delicate and sweet. Pair with fried capers, and you bring out the fish's body with notes of sesame, brown sugar, and sea salt. Please order this!

Basque Burnt Cheesecake: To end my meal, I ordered the Basque-style burnt cheesecake to savour the creamy notes seen throughout the meal. The cheesecake was slightly thicker than my liking, but the burnt exterior brought out caramel notes, which were addictive.

What we liked: The beef tartare will be a memorable dish for me at the Café, serving a meaty bite with added sour aftertastes. The flavour hangs on your tongue for a while, treating you to waves of pleasure.

What we didn’t like: I wish the beef tenderloin held a better char on its body to bring out its crispy exterior and saltier notes to complement the medium rare fruitiness within.

What you should order: French Onion Soup, Beef Tartare, Foie Gras Mille Feuille, Dover Sole Meuniere, Confit de Canard, Crepes Suzettes

Location: The Ritz-Carlton Café, The Ritz-Carlton Macau, G/F, Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, Macau

Contact details: +853 8886 6712

This food review is based on a complimentary media tasting provided by the Ritz-Carlton 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 Delish Eats reviews here.