May 8, 2008
The Adventures of SEVVA and The Pawn
Is it a bird? Is a plane? No, it’s SEVVA! And who’s that casting his intricate web across Wanchai and climbing to the top of the culinary tower? Spiderman? No, it’s The Pawn! Two new superheroes have hit the dining scene and they’re using their cutting edge powers to make the world a tastier place and provide joy and comfort to all mankind. It’s your turn to be rescued…
SEVVA (25/F Princes Building, Central, 2537 1388)
Super Power: Can melt even the iciest of queens into a fondant of pleasure with its captivating beauty and hypnotic allure
The Place: Here to transform the city’s dining scene, SEVVA is now open and dazzling every being that passes through its doors. Glamorous, chic and oozing with charm and delight, SEVVA is a home away from home serving up delectable traditional Asian cuisines intermixed with Western fine dining with hints from exotic far-flung corners of the world.
The Space: This prestigious penthouse location in the Prince’s Building offers breathtakingly unique 360-degree views of the city from ultra plush surroundings. Designed by Calvin Tsao, together with Bonnie Gokson and Team HC, SEVVA exudes sophistication, warmth and soul. Timeless in décor, the restaurant and bar areas combine masculine with feminine, everyday with flamboyant and the industrial with the refined. SEVVA presents four distinct areas: Harbour Side, Bank Side, Taste Bar, and a vast wrap-around Terrace - as well as a Cake Corner for take away treats. Like entertaining at home where guests can retire from one room to another, SEVVA entices people to move through the various spaces and moods to enjoy every alluring corner.
The Scene: The vibe is cultured yet hip and the crowd uber-stylish making this is one of the best places to people watch in town. Stunning 20th century international artwork from London’s Fine Art Gallery is displayed throughout the venue and guests can pour over a vast collection of coffee table books while listening to jazz, bossanova and even classical & baroque pieces.
The Cuisine: Placing importance on well-being, the kitchen has taken food back to basics and uses the finest ingredients to create rich flavours that leave a lasting impact on the palate. Enjoy all day dining at the casually glam Harbour Side, sophisticated gourmet faire at Bank Side, drinks and light bites at the cutting-edge Taste Bar and exquisite alfresco dining on the Terrace.
The Pawn (62 Johnston Road, Wanchai, 2866 3444)
Super Power: A magnificent magnetic force field, which attracts sophisticates from every corner of the city to this Wanchai establishment
The Place: Built on Wanchai’s Johnston Road in the late 1800’s, The Pawn occupies the space of one of the few remaining Chinese heritage buildings in Hong Kong. Once made up of historic tenement houses and the infamous Woo Cheong Pawn Shop, the iconic dining outlet now spans in excess of 14,000 square feet over three stories and bears the namesake of its illustrious past.
The Space: Designed by homegrown artist and film director Stanley Wong, the historic integrity of the building remains intact while the interior has been transformed into a comfortable and casual public house. After ascending the staircase from the street level, guests will enter The Living Room, a lounge and bar featuring comfy leather armchairs for relaxing, cosy nooks for intimate moments and fun outdoor terraces for kicking back with alfresco cocktails, beers, wines and British nibbles and cheeses late into the night. Up one more level is The Dining Room, where simple wooden chairs and tables allow the spotlight to focus on the restaurant’s main event, the food. After dinner, head up to The Roof Garden for cocktails with a view of the trams rolling through town in the same way they have throughout the building’s varied history.
The Scene: The vast space promises to be all things to all people and delivers. At any given time, one can witness literary types pontificating in big leather chairs in The Living Room, a few dudes playing foosball or chillin’ on the outdoor terrace or groups of old friends catching up over a fantastic meal in The Dining Room.
The Cuisine: Executive Chef David Tamlyn visits the local markets daily to create an ever-changing modern British menu, already renowned for its rotisseries of lamb, suckling pig and chicken as well as finger lickin’ good Fish & Chips. Guest’s can’t get enough of the Cauliflower Cheese Soup and Pumpkin and Sage Risotto with Twice Baked Goat's Cheese Souffle. Traditional English desserts like Eton Mess, Lemon Trifle and Sticky Toffee Pudding with Caramel Sauce and Ice Cream are a sweet ending that will ensure you’ll be back again very soon (even though you haven’t left your jewellery behind the counter!).
Citizens of Hong Kong, rest assured, with these new superheroes on our turf, a happy tummy and a good night sleep are a certainty.
