Pirata- Chic Italian

Pirata takes pride in being true to the Italian philosophy of food – fresh ingredients and simple recipes prepared with respect for our guests. Honesty is at the heart of our concept and, as such, our dishes are based on true Italian tastes and are uncompromising in terms of quality and value.-http://pirata.hk/about/

What makes Pirata stand out? For Pirata, it's not just about the quality of the food. It's about the overall experience in the restaurant. Two owners. One Spanish, one Italian, set out with the mission of providing excellent food at an excellent quality. And they did just that. At first, Pirata was a cozy, unexpected find, tucked away in Wan Chai. But after its warm hospitality and delectable traditional Italian cuisine, it rose to be one of the go-to Italian restaurants in Hong Kong. 

Pirata in English means pirate. But not the one-legged man with a parrot on his shoulder. No, but the lifestyle of adventure and discovery. Pirata is the home to Asia's first Vermuteria (vermouth bar), specialising in innovative cocktails, with an strong Italian spirit. The concept of Pirata has been so popular in Hong Kong, that the restaurant group has opened several other restaurants, including Japanese, Italian and Mediterranean.

As I stepped into the already crowded restaurant at 12:00am, I could feel the a different atmosphere from the crowded streets of Wan Chai. I saw the rustic furniture, caught a whiff of tomato sauce and heard the chuckle of the waiters, and felt strangely at home. A waitress with light purple hair came over and warmly chatted for us for a few minutes, giving us advice with the menu and pointing out customer favourites. The hospitality was remarkable.

Pirata has a special set menu, which you can eat alone or share with the table. The set comes with a an antipasto buffet, a house-speciality appetiser, main course (either pasta or meat) and a Italian dessert. Within the family of 5, we sampled all appetisers and ordered the Butcher's Cut and Spring Chicken.

My favorite appetiser was the My Mama's Meatball. I've always been a fan of meatballs, but these are absolutely incredible. Coated in a rich tomato sauce with a generous portion of basil sprinkled on the top, just the sight of them already causes uncontrollable salivation. Once placed in the mouth, the meatball is warm and the tomato flavor blatant. One bite in and the meaty flavors and herbs explode into your mouth. If you are looking for a perfect homey meatball, this is the one.

For the main course, I chose the Spring Chicken. The chicken meat was tender and flavorful, but by the time I had finished eating my appetisers and buffet, I was way too stuffed to properly appreciate the seasoning. The portion was huge. The meat was cooked just right, so that you could just slice through with the knife and let it melt in your mouth. I absolutely adored the sauce. To me, there was nothing to be criticized about it

Overall, although pricey, the quality and portion of the food, the service, view and overall experience is enjoyable and well worth it.

​30F, 235-239 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong • Tel: +852 2887 0270.