Lian
{click for address + food photos}

Bringing street food dish into a posh ambiance requires sophistication. After all, who want to pay a hefty price on a dish we can find else where. This is where ambiance plays a major role and Lian delivers.

Located in the posh IFC (International Finance Center) in Central district, Lian is a Vietnamese and Thai restaurant. The main attraction is not just the food, but the modern décor that is worth visiting. With a dim dining room, the mood is set for a casual yet refined dining place.

The window side seats overseas the charming commercial building while the middle table that offers communal seating entices the eyes. In the middle of the communal table is an active water fall, charming I thought.

Dressed in black shirts, our waiter greets us with a smile. In Hong Kong, it has been raining so Vietnamese beef noodle soup (Pho) would be my order. Split into two bowls, the rich soup was on par.

The sweet tones from the cinnamon and star anise rocked my palate. Tender beef just paired well with velvety rice noodles. A fried doughnut added crunch along with thinly sliced scallions.

One major thing to notice is knife skills when dining out. Proper knife skills from master culinary education will result in a more tender slice of meat or simply better looking vegetable garnish.

We eat with our eyes first.

Arriving with a few loaves of crunchy French bread, the chicken curry was on par. The sweet and slightly spicy curry tones made the bread and sauce combination a winner.

Expect to pay about $20 per person just for mail courses. Call early to reserve a window seat.

{click for address + food photos}