In the spirit of its name, much of the menu at Le Bonbon de Paris consists of cute, bite-sized snacks, while other items at this backstreet Sai Kung restaurant include a range of pastas, salads and all-day breakfast sets. With somewhat of a clustered interior, the best place to enjoy a meal at this little piece of Paris is at one of its parasol-covered tables, which charmingly spill out on to the pavement.
Considering the many options available on the menu, we opt for a ‘more is more’ approach. And so, we decide to try three of the snack items to sate our curiosity. First to arrive – albeit after a frustratingly long half-hour wait – is the smoked salmon toast ($62) which, with quality cheese and seasoning, comes close to hitting the mark but isn’t grilled long enough to achieve the all-important crispness. Next, the baked egg, bacon and spinach ($52) and baked tomato ($52) arrive in tandem.
The first, although a tad soupy, is the best dish of the night, with its half-cooked egg yolk delightfully sinking into fresh spinach and fragrant bacon bits. Finally, the baked tomato, stuffed with Bolognese-style meat filling, and topped with grilled cheese, lacks punch but stays safely in a ‘comfort food’ zone.
As far as neighbourhood joints go, Le Bonbon de Paris has the potential for winning back regulars with its slew of comfort food-friendly menu items and casual beachside vibe. However, the somewhat lacklustre service needs to pick itself up in order to avoid rushing items and delivering a less-than-pleasant overall experience. Li Meng de Bakker
Shop 1, G/F, Ko Shing Bldg, 9 King Man St, Sai Kung; 6484 1400. Daily 10am-9pm. Dinner for two: Around $200.