Table Talk: Posto Pubblico

Italian Food To Make Your Smile

For a restaurant in Hong Kong to survive and thrive in one venue for six years, it must be doing something right. Posto Pubblico has been a fixture of the Elgin Street dining scene since it’s launch by Todd Darling and Vinny Lauria back in 2006, and it continues to deliver home-style Italian food in a casual atmosphere. The restaurant has had a face-lift inside, but retains its low key style.

We were recently invited to go and sample some of the old favourites along with the new additions to Posto’s recently revamped menu. It turned into a feast of rather epic proportions, but with one consistent theme – truly delicious food.

Whenever I go a tasting event, I have to remind myself it’s a marathon and not a sprint. This meal encapsulated that better than any other, with our table of seven indulging in five starters, two pizzas, three pastas, and three main courses plus sides and dessert.

First up the star of the show. I’m an absolute sucker for cheese, and burrata in particular. This homemade delight served simply with a stack of tomatoes, olive oil and basil was creamy, smooth and indulgently rich, just as burrata should be.

Homemade Burrata – HK$208

I was also really impressed with the Caesar salad (HK$88), particularly the pancetta which was crispy and perfectly salty. Just right to start a meal or accompany a pasta dish.

How many times have you gone out with friends and ordered an antipasti platter to share only to receive measly portions of tired looking cold cuts and dried cheese? The Posto antipasti platter includes roasted pumpkin and beetroot to complement the parma ham, prosciutto, salami, bresaola and best of all, more burrata. It would easily serve three or four people to share as a starter or accompaniment to after work drinks. The picture really doesn’t do it justice – blame the lighting!

Antipasti Platter (Large) – HK$188

When I go to an Italian restaurant outside of Italy I hardly ever order pasta. The rationale being that it is rarely anything special and more often than not, does not justify the price tag. However, at Posto, the rigatoni was spectacularly good with a rich meat sauce, made using veal, lamb and beef, just the right amount of salty parmesan and a sprinkling of fresh basil. What we didn’t eat that night, I had for lunch the next day, and it was just as good.

Rigatoni Pubblico – HK$178

The other pastas that we sampled including the homemade rigatoni alla vodka and spaghetti cacio pepe were both very well executed versions of classic dishes that I’d be happy to order again.

Homemade Rigatoni alla Vodka – HK$158

The restaurant’s new menu sees the addition of pizzas, but with a slight twist. Served in a heavy based pan, the pizza frittas are fried to give a crispy and crunchy base. Personally, I prefer a more traditional pizza and found the base a little too greasy, however the Bronx Bomber topped with crumbled sausage, pepperoni and oregano had a welcoming spicy kick, and the funghi tartufo was drenched in rich and salty pecorino. The portions are perfect for one as a main course or for two to share.

Bronx Bomber Pizza Fritta – Crumbled Sausage, Pepperoni, Oregano – HK$148

Funghi Tartufo – Mushroom, Pecorino, Truffle Pizza Fritta – HK$128

The final main courses included chicken Milanese, served with a caprese salad (yes, more cheese!) and the veal parmigiana (with even more cheese), accompanied by spicy pumpkin with chilli oil. The portions were huge, so if you are looking for dishes to share, these are both perfect choices. The chicken Milanese was particularly good and the caprese salad made an interesting and refreshing accompaniment with a good squeeze of lemon bringing the whole dish together. 

Chicken Milanese Style with Capese Salad – HK$218

Veal Chop Parmigiana – HK$448

Spicy Pumpkin with Chilli Oil – HK$85

The team behind Homegrown Foods, Linguini Fini, Stone Nullah Tavern and Posto Pubblico have refined and polished the concepts at each of their restaurants. The focus on delivering great food, at good prices using the best local ingredients has really paid off in the execution of both the old favourites and new dishes on the Posto Pubblico menu. If you want a relaxed evening with friends, enjoying good food and wine, then Posto should be on your radar. It’s been around for six years for a reason – it does what it does, very well.

Posto Pubblico is open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Head over after work between 5 and 7 Monday to Friday to enjoy all you can eat veal meatballs and all you can drink red wine for HK$98.