I found it kinda ironic that Grand Lisboa Hotel, the property that houses one of the biggest casino floors in the world under its roof, also features a few very good restaurants well-suited for families. After we had a great Italian feast at the friendly Casa Don Alfonso the night before, we visited The Kitchen right next door for lunch before we called an end to our quick Macau stay-cation.
I must say The Kitchen didn’t quite fit the typical profile of what people considered as a “Michelin-starred” restaurant – of course that doesn’t mean I don’t think they are worthy of it, just that only a few steakhouses/grill restaurants have managed to attain such status and they were one of them (in Hong Kong/Macau, there were only two – the other being The Beefbar) And while most other starred restaurants put emphasis on their chef and a compact menu, The Kitchen boosts its top quality ingredients with a wide range of dishes on offer.
We arrived at the restaurant at noon on Sunday afternoon and were seated inside the private room. For lunch service, a few different set menus were offered and there were also the a la carte menu serving a good range of dishes, from appetizer and soup, a beef-oriented meat section (but with other meats and seafood available as well), even a choice of sushi and sashimi dishes, plus desserts. Think of it more like a combination between a proper steakhouse and a hotel coffee shop. All the meat selection was also on display at the refrigerated cabinet near the entrance, with all kinds of cuts and from different countries, from US to Australia to Japan, and live seafood was kept in a fish tank towards the back of the restaurant, another set-up which is uncommon in a western restaurant setting but that's the way to guarantee the seafood was always the freshest.
We began with a trip to the salad bar, which was part of our set lunch menu. It’s not the longest buffet table I have seen, but the choices were adequate and everything was of top quality. I especially love the cold cut platter with many options, and I felt some vegetables were what I needed after a few sumptuous meals the day before.
Just as we were finishing up with our salad plate, our main course arrived. And I have to say, my beef tenderloin was perfect! It’s grilled to exact medium rare done with the slightly charred crust, well rested before being served, and the meat was tender and juicy. There’s a hint of smokiness from the grilling which worked well with the good meaty flavor from the USDA Prime beef. There’s also a choice of sauces and mustards which was brought to our table as our main courses were served.
I was also impressed with the sides that we shared. My favorites were the green asparagus, sautéed with a dash of butter, and the mashed potatoes. It’s not the super creamy and buttery type like the one upstairs but with decent texture. Dessert was another highlight – with a simple coffee jelly, caramel mousse and vanilla icecream in a beautiful presentation. It’s said to be the favorite sweet of the owner of the hotel and one that is always available on the menu from day one. I can totally see why.
While the food and cooking was of very good quality, we also enjoyed the more relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant and I thought it’s well-suited for families of all ages. There’s always something for everyone and it’s less uptight for those who just want something simple and delicious. I am glad we have finally tried this place.
More pictures can be found in my Flickr album:
www.flickr.com/photos/g4gary/albums/72157695224707020
(The meal was by invitation courtesy of Grand Lisboa Hotel Macau and was part of the media tour which included a stay in the hotel)
When? September 2 2018
Where? The Kitchen, 3/F, Grand Lisboa Hotel, Avenida de Lisboa, Macau
Menu Highlights? USDA Prime Beef Tenderloin with Black Pepper Sauce
Drinks?
Champagne Arlaux Premier Cru Brut Grande Cuvee NV
2012 Domain Michel Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet Clos de la Maltroie Premier Cru
2008 Chateau Gazin AOC Pomerol
Web:
www.grandlisboahotels.com/en/grandlisboa/dining/the-kitchen
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