When I heard I was going to have sandwiches on a Saturday in Central, I was not excited – it really reminds me of my work day lunches, those soggy breads with boring fillings. Tartine, quite a contrary to that expectation, brings something completely different to the table.

Situated in a new building on Lyndhurst, the restaurant itself is a quiet hideout from the busy crowds with a terrace for alfresco dining. 

The setting is much like an upscale French bistro; the white marble furnishings contemporary and chic. With Chef Philippe Orrico being the menu consultant, the restaurant itself is owned by Art De Vivre Group. Art De Vivre Group owns a few brands, all with French influence and Asia presence, and is founded by Arthur de Villepin, son of former French Prime Minister.

Tartine, in French, refers to an open sandwich, quite simply a toasted piece of bread covered with toppings. At Tartine the restaurant, they focus on simple and fresh rye sourdough bread with premium quality toppings. The bulk of the all-day menu offers tartines of different toppings, with a small selection of appetizers, soups/salads and desserts. We were recommended the tartine platter so we could sample their best-selling flavors all at the same time. The platter came with 4 different tartines: Lobster & Lobster Bisque, Paris Ham & Bechamel, Goat Cheese & Roasted Figs, and Tomato & Burrata. Each tartine was cut into 6 smaller pieces for easier sharing. They offer a selection of cocktails and hot beverages but I opted for a cold-pressed juice.

My 2 favorites were the lobster and the roasted figs. The lobster & lobster bisque was quite literally what you could imagine from a hot creamy bowl of lobster bisque with bits of lobster meat and a piece of bread dipped in. But unlike a normal bowl of soup, the soup itself was condensed into the thick cream sauce, and the highlight was the generous chunks of lobster meat! On the other hand, the goat cheese and roasted fig tartine was a pleasant surprise. The savory parma ham went well with the roasted figs and aged balsamic as expected. But for someone who doesn’t normally like goat cheese, I thought the cheese and honey complemented the ham and figs exceptionally well. This tartine was a joy! And the good news is that each tartine, being an open sandwich, only comes with half the carbs count 😉

I like Tartine, because it offers something different to the busy sandwich joints in Central. Next time if I’m around the area, I wouldn’t mind spending the late afternoon there with a book, for a quick bite and a coffee (or a Martini even!).

Tartine
Address: 2-3/F, the Mood at Lyndhurst, 38-42 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2808 0752
Hours: 12pm – 11pm, Mon – Sat
Price: HKD 200 – 300
Best for: Relaxing and quiet brunch, simple good food with no frills
Favourite dish:  Goat cheese, parma ham and roasted figs tartine