Food: Brave, new dishes that marry DIY curing using European techniques – smoking, pickling, vacuuming, salting, sugaring and air-drying, with seasonal Asian ingredients. The menu changes regularly based on the availability of seasonal ingredients. Expect unusual and delightful dishes like kai lan with smoked almonds, anchovies and ricotta cheese or stracciatella cheese with sundried tomato, curry leaf, chilli and fried garlic. The restaurant also offers a good selection of boutique wines.

Service: Staff members are attentive and warm.

Must try: Pork terrine with home pickled vegetables and sourdough bread; creamy risotto made with healthy farro grains, with egg, dehydrated kale, cauliflower and parsnip mash, and the Montanara fried pizzetta with smoked lamb bacon, dehydrated kale, spicy tomatillo salsa verde, ricotta and dried shaved carrot that tastes a little like a fiery Indian dish or naan and curry. Leave some room for the “Better than Nutella” dessert – warm chocolate hazelnut mousse with bread pudding, milk and honey sorbet.

Ambience: The restaurant is intimate in size yet glamorous and brightly lit. A good choice for a business lunch, a birthday celebration or date night. The wine bar is a nice spot if you’re looking for a light bite and drinks with colleagues after work.

Average price per person: About 400 HKD per person.

Address: 12000 Francs (http://12000francs.com.hk/) 43A Elgin Street, Elgin Building, SOHO, Central, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2529-3100.