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“Momentai” is Cantonese for “No Problems” and Disney for “Hakuna Matata”. Upon entering the restaurant, you immediately realise why. Located on the picturesque Sai Kung waterfront, Momentai is a haven for both locals and city dwellers alike. Cha Siu Papers Times’ contributor Aakriti Batra stops by the urban escape to drink and dine on an evening out in Sai Kung.
Image courtesy of Aakriti Batra | Cha Siu Papers Times
Open-air dining
This al fresco bar-restaurant is clearly a weekend hotspot, with diners flitting in and out all afternoon. As soon as you sit down, you forget that you are still in Hong Kong, that it’s November (where has this year gone?) and that COVID-19 is still trying to ruin what semblance you have of a social life.
Image courtesy of Momentai
Momentai is renowned for its craft beer offering so I decided to go for 2Towns Flaship Cider’s “Easy Squeezy,” a tart raspberry and lemonade cider which was perfect for the unseasonably warm (32°C) November day. The tart flavour in every sip was refreshing and I am unashamed to say that I finished the pint in under twenty minutes.
Image courtesy of Aakriti Batra | Cha Siu Papers Times
We also tried the Peach Spritz, a Prosecco-based cocktail mixed with peach puree, which went down an Italian fizzy treat.
Image courtesy of Aakriti Batra | Cha Siu Papers Times
We started with the Greek salad, the House-smoked Chicken Wings and the Garlic Prawns. Straight away, I was struck by the huge portion sizes. The Greek salad was packed with flavour and feta cheese, neither of which I was complaining about. However, I would have liked to have seen the restaurant use Kalamata olives instead of plain black olives, as they would have added a kick to the salad. The sauce in the Garlic Prawns was particularly good, and tasted even better soaked into the baguette slices that were in the dish.
Image courtesy of Aakriti Batra | Cha Siu Papers Times
The classic pairing of buffalo flavoured House-smoked Chicken Wings with ranch dressing never fails to disappoint, and Momentai was no exception. The wings were served with celery sticks, which also made me feel healthier after wolfing down the starters.
Our next round of drinks consisted of a glass of the Jas des Vignes Provence Rosé and a Whitley Neill Blood Orange Gin and Tonic. They say to never judge a book by its cover but I almost always judge a rosé by its colour. The Jas des Vignes variety was a pale rosé which was had a subtle fruity taste. The Blood Orange Gin & Tonic was a zesty, crisp gin with a citrus burst and the orange and clove garnish really brought out its natural aromas.
Image courtesy of Aakriti Batra | Cha Siu Papers Times
Unbeknownst to us, the drinks were actually preparing us for the next massive round of food: the Momentai Burger with a side of potato wedges, the Cajun Chicken Quesadilla and ½ Rack House-smoked Ribs. My favourite dish of the evening was the succulent Momentai burger, which was cooked to perfection and had just the right amount of cheese.
Image courtesy of Aakriti Batra | Cha Siu Papers Times
The Cajun Chicken Quesadilla had plenty of Cajun spices incorporated into the chicken, but the tortillas themselves were not filled enough.
Finally, the ½ Rack House-smoked Ribs. As soon as they were put in front of us, I was stricken by the sheer grandeur of them. The barbeque sauce glistened off the ribs and the colour was a deep, reddish-brown. The ribs were juicy and tender and were demolished in a matter of minutes.
Image courtesy of Aakriti Batra | Cha Siu Papers Times
We scored the perfect table overlooking the stunning seaside, boats and eventual sunset which added to the ambience of the restaurant. After the meal we obviously (poorly) played a few rounds of pool and left Sai Kung. The beautiful view and the very relaxed beachy vibe was exactly what we needed to end the day off on the right note.
Momentai, Kiosk 1 Waterfront, Wai Man Rd, Sai Kung, Hong Kong, +852 2792 8991, momentai-la.com
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