third culture foodie: Wooloomooloo Steakhouse (Hong Kong)

In my opinion, New Year's Eve dinner, spent with your loved ones reminiscing about the ups and downs of the past year, should be a special and memorable one. After eating at the Wan Chai branch of the Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, I can safely say that my NYE '13 Dinner was both of these things, and I could not have asked for a better dining experience.

Firstly, upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately struck by the interior design and decorations. Thousands of balloons filled the ceiling and each table was provided with a colourful supply of crackers, hats, and various noise makers, perfect to set the celebratory atmosphere of NYE. The waitstaff were extremely attentive and happily brought us to our window-side table, which brings me to my next point: THE VIEW. Yes, had to state this in all caps. Located on the top floor of The Hennessy, Wooloomooloo has sweeping views of Happy Valley, Wan Chai, and The Harbour. With all the buildings beautifully lit for the holiday season, it was quite breathtaking even for a HK native like me. The rooftop was also open to dinner guests, if you wanted an even more impressive view of the city's skyline.

On NYE Wooloomooloo had a special set menu, from which I chose to have the ravioli soup, the lobster cocktail salad, the steak, and the chocolate and raspberry tart. And can I just say, every single one of these dishes was absolutely delicious.The meal - starting with the rich lobster salad, followed by the light soup, the juicy steak, and finishing with a sweet yet tangy dessert - struck a perfect balance. Unlike Isola, Wooloomooloo's impressive interiors and views were matched by incredible food.

This is definitely a restaurant that I would recommend if you want to celebrate a momentous occasion or want a truly special dining experience. For me, this was a great place to close a great year.

View from inside.