Japanese Western: Lee Tung Avenue has been opening new concepts left, right and center over the past year. At the heart of the new neighborhood is Blue Brick Bistro, which offers western-style cuisine with a Japanese flair. Run by Japan-based hospitality group YOKU MOKU, the restaurant is all about fresh ingredients and strict culinary standards — so strict that chefs in the Hong Kong branch follow recipes from Japan to a T.

Look & Feel: Sleek and sophisticated, Blue Brick Bistro comes complete with a modern décor: think cool lighting, an exposed brick wall and comfortable seating. There’s a spacious balcony with views of the bustling avenue below, and on our visit, most diners have taken advantage of the breezier weather to enjoy their meals outside.

On the Menu: The signature Japanese-style chicken liver pâté ($158) is made with sake and miso. Generously sized, it makes for a great starter to share between two or three. There’s also the signature lobster bisque ($158), and heartier mains like mushroom risotto with uni ($188) and Hokkaido scallops with king prawns.

Service: All of the servers are incredibly friendly and chatty, almost anticipating our needs before we even realized them.

Jeng: The Japanese-inspired western thing is easy to get wrong, but at Blue Brick Bistro the dishes are well-executed. The chicken liver pâté is thick and full of flavor — the sake and miso work well here too. The mushroom risotto with uni is fantastic — it’s creamy, with a great porridge-like consistency, while the flavors of the mushroom cut into the aftertaste of the uni.

Not So Jeng: The crabmeat and green apple salad with curd mango and avocado foam ($128) doesn’t really provide any surprises.

Great For: Special occasions (on our visit, the VIP room is poppin’), a long dinner with fine conversation.

FYI: Blue Brick Bistro has its very own in-house magician (!). Prepare to see your jaw drop at his incredible tricks.

This writeup was based on a complimentary media tasting. The Loop doesn’t guarantee/sell restaurant review coverage. See our editorial policy here.