Italian Lunchtime Buffet at Spasso in TST

Spasso is a bright and welcoming restaurant in the Empire Centre in TST.  It joins the likes of Eastside Tavern and Pico that have also made this part of TST their home.

The large open dining area, with two kitchens and a views across Victoria Harbour make it a great spot either for a relaxed buffet lunch, or a more refined dinner.

We visited for the lunch buffet and sampled a wide selection of dishes that the menu has to offer. The burgeoning trend for lunch time buffets is certainly great news for diners, and Spasso’s offering includes a vast array of salad and Italian antipasti, to precede a mouthwatering array of main course options. As is always the challenge with these help-yourself buffets, limiting the first course is always tough, especially when faced with a selection of beautiful cold cuts, salads and antipasti, but for the sake of what was to come, limit we must.

The first main to arrive, was the Burrata. The beautifully presented ball of Mozzarella and cream was cut open to reveal a soft centre filled with olive oil and was perfectly accompanied by tangy tomatoes, red onion and a generous drizzle of balsamic vinegar – a classic Italian dish.

Next up the traditional style Sardinian slow-roasted suckling pig was crispy, full of rich pork flavour but well-balanced with the fresh Mirto leaves and apple sauce on the side.

The beautifully presented sea bass with potato scales, sautéed spinach and orange-rosemary sauce was light in texture but full of flavour. However the highlight was the thin crust pizza cooked in the on-site wood fired oven – a true taste of rustic Italy!

If you do go for the buffet, be sure to save some space for the desserts! The chocolate pudding with its rich and gooey centre was sublime and the organic yogurt bavaroise with passion fruit coulis was tangy and a refreshing ending to a rich meal.

Weekday Salad and Antipasti Buffet lunch: $155.  Add a pasta or pizza for $178 or a main course for $188. All sets include either a tea or coffee and dessert is an additional $38. 

Verdict: 4 stars 

Address:  G5-8, 12-17, Empire Centre, 68 Mody Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong