Ask for Alonzo Happy Valley (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

My friend Walrus from university is back in town for the summer. Since he’s staying in Happy Valley with his family during his time in Hong Kong, I figured I should make the trip over to see him rather than making him trek across the harbour to the Kowloon side.

Happy Valley has no shortage of dining options but Walrus warned me a week ago that he was only up for a light meal since he has scheduled for a medical check-up the next morning. That narrowed our choices down a bit but we were happy to land on Ask for Alonzo, a cozy neighborhood spot near his place serving up authentic Italian fare.

Beef carpaccio ($158) – The thinly sliced beef was topped with rocket leaves, parmesan powder and a drizzle of black truffle sauce. Not a bad start at all.

Penne alla vodka ($158) – I was curious to see how this would stack up against the one at Carbone. And guess what? While it didn’t quite hit the same highs, it came very very close to matching it at half the price.

The penne had really strong bite to it and I really liked the creamy, slightly gluey sauce with green peas, shrimp and mushrooms. There was a mild extra kick to it tying everything together nicely.

Alonzo’s signature tiramisu ($108) – They serve one of my favorite tiramisu in town here so naturally Walrus and I had to share one after the savory dishes. Once again, it didn’t disappoint. The mascarpone mousse was light and spot-on, working beautifully with the ladyfingers. I also like the fact that the touch of Marsala wasn’t over the top. Most restaurants in Hong Kong tended to over-do it.

This was a really nice and relaxing meal. It’s been over three years since I last saw my long-time friend from university, and it was great to catch up and hear about everything going on in his life back in Vancouver.

Man, it’s been over 12 years since I last went home (as he kept reminding me!), so maybe it’s finally time to plan a trip back this winter during my non-peak season.

Food Rating: 6.6/10

Price: $$$

Address: Shop 19, G/F, Hang Fung Mansion, 17-19 Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Causeway Bay

Tel: +852 2891-2236

Website: https://www.askforalonzo.com/

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 10:00pm (Mon - Fri), 8:00am - 10:00pm (Sat - Sun)