Bella Italia: Perched atop the Peak in the space once occupied by Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen, FIAMMA brings a touch of Italy to one of Hong Kong’s most iconic locations.

Look & Feel: Visually, FIAMMA takes a few pointers from the Amalfi Coast with patterned ceramic tiles and wall-mounted planters providing focal points and plenty of natural light flooding in through floor-to-ceiling windows (at least during the day). This is juxtaposed against more modern aesthetics such as industrial-esque lighting fixtures mounted on the ceiling finished wood tables, and brass accents. For die-hard foodies, the open kitchen gives diners a sneak peek into the culinary process and sends wafts of mouth-watering aromas throughout the restaurant.

On the Menu: Inspired by the quintessential Italian family kitchen, the menu at FIAMMA is stacked with serious comfort food laced with fresh, seasonal Mediterranean produce. In keeping with Italian culinary traditions, all dishes here are sizeable and designed to be shared, so round up a crew, order a good selection of plates, and get ready to feast.

Expect classic Italian primis and tributes to Italian ingredients for starters. We sampled the super fresh Burrata e Pomodori ($148), zesty Vitello Tonnato ($148), flavorful Polpo (roasted octopus, $148), and surprisingly light and piquant Tartare di Bue Piemontses (steak tartare, $188), all of which offered bright, modern twists on classic plates.

At FIAMMA, the pasta is all freshly made in house, and it certainly makes a difference. The Tagliatelle Al Ragu’ Di Manzo O Cinghiale (tagliatelle in wild boar, $198) was cooked perfectly al dente and offered a nice twist on the traditional ragu without straying too far from the original. Similarly, the Tagliolini Ai Ricci, Bottarga, Limone (tagliolini with sea urchin, bottarga and lemon, $298) was simple, well-executed, and bursting with the flavours of the sea. Fancy a pizza? FIAMMA does that, too, and oh so well. We can highly recommend the Burrata E N’duja ($208) which offers simple decadence served on a fluffy, doughy base.

The food is rounded up by equally classic desserts – I’d argue that the Tiramisu ($88) is among the best in Hong Kong, while the Panna Cotta ($88) is pure indulgence. There’s a solid drinks list too, with a range of Mediterranean-inspired signature cocktails – my Apricot Smash ($118) was well made but a little too sweet – and a wine list that skews heavily (and appropriately) towards Italian labels.

Jeng: With sincere Italian comfort food done with real attention to detail, FIAMMA is seriously elevating the Peak’s culinary offerings. It’s worth making the trip up for a casual dinner filled with great food, solid drinks, and a convivial atmosphere.

Not So Jeng: There wasn’t much to fault at FIAMMA. They seem to have got the formula for a solid casual eatery exactly right.

Meet the Chef: FIAMMA is masterminded by Enrico Bartolini, one of Italy’s most renowned chefs, but, Paolo Olivieri – formerly of SPIGA – helms the kitchen. Having honed his skills in fine-dining restaurants around the world, including Dubai’s Armani/Ristorante, and London’s Ting, Paolo moved to Hong Kong in 2019 to take over SPIGA before Enrico asked him to take over FIAMMA.

Great For: Casual date nights, group dinners, impressing out-of-town visitors.

FYI: FIAMMA has a dedicated takeaway counter if you want your grub to go, as well as a terrace that’s perfect for alfresco dining and drinking in good weather.

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