Above & Beyond

Seeing the view I thought this place would be awesome, sadly that was the best thing about the place. The food is just ok and the service is horribly slow.

My family and I spent four nights at Hotel Icon, and during our stay, we visited Above & Beyond three times, once for breakfast and twice for pre-​dinner drinks. It was a pleasant place to hang out, and I was glad our club level rooms gave us complimentary access.
The space was nice, with a good view and a lot of comfortable seating. Service was excellent, as it was everywhere else in the hotel. There was a buffet at breakfast and a snack area during cocktail hour. There was also a full bar.
I wouldn’t choose Above & Beyond for breakfast over Market given the two options (if you get breakfast included with your stay, these are your exact two options), but mostly because Market is amazing. The breakfast here offered a more limited selection, but it was fine, and the atmosphere was calm and relaxing. I wasn’t that into the pastries and things that were out in the buffet, but I did get some dim sum, which was included but served a la carte. I had a few different buns and dumplings and enjoyed them very much.
As for liquor, I think at various points I had some wine, some Manhattan, and some mango and strawberry daiquiri. I’m probably forgetting a couple things, but everything was pretty solid. I liked drinking here.
I guess I wouldn’t push Above & Beyond for food, especially over Market, but you should definitely take advantage of it if you’re staying in the Hotel Icon. Even if you’re just swinging by the hotel, this place is worth checking out. It’s a cool spot to grab a drink and a bite while looking out over Hong Kong.

Outstanding restaurant. Beautiful views, fantastic service, and most of all delicious food. Classic Cantonese style food prepared with western sensibilities in mind. My mother (a Hong Kong native) complained the entire time that it wasn’t «authentic» Chinese food (it is, just not what she is used to), which I took as confirmation that the food is indeed great (most truly «authentic» Chinese food would not be very palatable to westerners).
Pricey but worth it. Great sommelier service as well.

Good place to take your out-​of-​town friends who are craving for good Chinese/​Cantonese food. The view is going to impress!
I came for dinner service and the signature dish here is the Crab Sticky Rice (紅尋米粒), which we didn’t get to try since the crabs were huge and too many for two people. Instead, we ordered randomly off the menu, might have taken a recommendation or two from the waiter. All the dishes came out delicious.
I loved the candied walnuts here. In fact, I loved it so much I tried making it at home the weekend after. Of coz it didn’t taste the same (and I would like to believe that I am a rather good cook!) (Check out my blog for my attempt! The link is in my profile.)
If you want a window seat, make your reservations early and request it.

Service is great but food is terrible.
Ordered crab over glutinous rice — The glutinous rice was so soaky, as if the cook put too much water in there.
Ordered pig lung almond fish maw soup — it is was so salty that it was close bitter.
Ordered Fish soup vege — Didn’t know it came with a lot of tofu skin.
Ordered mushroom with tofu skin — which is a lot of the same tofu skin.
The captain should advice that both of the vege dish contain tofu skin so that the customer would not have to eat the same food.
9 level prawn cake — this is probably the only food being cooked properly.
Overall, the food are all extremely salty. For the kind of amount they charged, the food is not at par.

**VERY LEISURE AFTERNOON TEA IN HONG KONG**
Since it’s popular, make sure to make reservations in advance for a window seat.
Served every Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday between 3:00pm to 5:30pm and priced at HK$ 488 per set (for 2 people) served with your choice of tea or brewed coffee.
AMBIANCE
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Beautiful harbor views.
Modern and upscale.
Dress nice.
AFTERNOON TEA TREATS
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SAVORY
*Sweetened Almond Cream with Lotus Seeds and Lily Bulbs
*7 dim sum specialties including
— Crispy-​fried Puff stuffed with Prawns
— Pork Dumpling with Halibut and Black Mushroom
— Mushroom Dumpling with Pumpkin
— Crispy Taro Cake
— Crab Meat Puff
— Baked Goose Liver and Pineapple Puff
— Smoke Duck Breast
— Steamed Bun
We liked maybe half of the dim sum items.
RATING: ³⁄₅
SWEETS
— Chestnut Crème Brulee
— Raspberry Lemon Cheese Ball
— Chilled Jelly with Lychee and Osmanthus
— Sesame Tuille
The presentation was very pretty. Liked the chilled jelly the best.
RATING: ⁴⁄₅
BEVERAGE
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ROSE AND JASMINE TEA
Nicely fragrant and was brought out in a clear glass kettle.
RATING: 3.5÷5
OVERALL
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Definitely enjoyed the views and the leisure-​ness of afternoon tea with Cantonese savory treats instead of scones. Service was a bit slow and if you can’t get a window seat, it’s not worthy of an experience.
RECOMMEND for small groups and dates.