Fodor's Expert Review Ta Pantry

In a quiet residential building, chef Esther Sham's private kitchen is one of the coziest and most charming places in town. The space is decorated with cookbooks, cooking utensils, wine bottles, and many of the chef's other prized possessions. Diners can choose from five different themed menus, including Japanese, Shanghainese, New American, Indochine, and a menu De Luxe. The crabmeat ravioli in lemongrass-scented chicken jus from the Indochine menu is stunning, as is the coco balsamic linguine with mushrooms. The signature melting onion duck is deliciously rich and worth every penny of the supplementary HK$150. Only one table, seating a maximum of 10 people, is served per evening, so reservations are compulsory (one week advance notice is recommended). Also note that there is a minimum charge (HK$4,400–HK$5,500 for dinner; HK$2,200 for weekday lunch).