Harlan Goldstein set for big return

One of Hong Kong’s most colourful F&B characters, Harlan Goldstein is back with four new restaurants set to open from July to September.

Occupying the vast six-level space of No. 8 Lyndhurst Terrace – formerly the site of Italian bar and restaurant, La Piola – Goldstein’s new project will see the opening of four venues which span Thai, Italian and ‘Latin-inspired’ cuisines.

“There are over 20,000 restaurants in Hong Kong but there’s only one Harlan Goldstein,” proclaimed Goldstein, a no-nonsense New Yorker who has called Hong Kong home for 20 years.

“After my brief rest and my recent travels around the world for food inspiration, I can’t wait to be back on 8 Lyndhurst Terrace doing what I love doing best – and that is to give all my customers, loyal and new, the best possible dining experience.”

In light of Hong Kong’s increasingly competitive and cut-throat F&B scene, Goldstein’s new restaurants will be more understated than his previous flashy venues of Michelin-starred Gold by Harlan Goldstein, Sushi To by Harlan Goldstein and steak-centred Strip House by Harlan Goldstein.

First up will be his Italian restaurant, Ee Da Le (apparently a nod towards the Chinese pronunciation of Italy) and then Thai diner, My Tai Tai.

Swiftly following will be a Latin-inspired bar and restaurant called Mamasita’s Cantina and then a two-floored eatery, Eat Me Drink Me by Harlan Goldstein – all of which are scheduled to open from next month until September.

A self-confessed celebrity chef, Goldstein is a colourful character on Hong Kong’s dining scene and pulls no punches with those he has come to blows with, including a famous falling out with former business partners back in 2008 which saw him striking out on his own and launching his restaurant, Gold.

For this latest venture, he has teamed up with ZS Hospitality Group which includes the popular Viet Kitchen & Bar and vegetarian restaurant, Eat to Live in its portfolio.

“We are very excited for this partnership with Harlan Goldstein as our family and friends have been regular patrons at his restaurants in the past,” said Elizabeth Chu, Chairperson of ZS Hospitality Group.

“Harlan’s experience and passion will be a big asset to ZS Hospitality Group and we know that these four restaurants will transform 8 Lyndhurst Terrace into the dining hub of Hong Kong.”