It Takes Two: The brainchild of two of Hong Kong’s best Italian chefs, LucAle is a cosy establishment serving up straightforward Italian favorites made from fine artisanal ingredients sourced directly from Italy.

Look & Feel: Tucked onto a side street in chill Sai Ying Pun, the restaurant and bar is modelled after Italian trattorias, or laid-back neighbourhood joints.

On the Menu: Pastas, seafood, and prime cuts of meat. Consider starting off with a salumi platter followed by the Cappelletti Di Bolognese Bianca ($158), which features a white bolognese sauce and a generous sprinkling of 24-month parmigiano reggiano, or the Chitarrino Al Tartufo Nero ($198) with black truffle, pecorino cheese and walnut bread crumbs. Finish off with a Nutella Broken Pie ($88) with strawberries and lychee and wash it all down with an Aperol Spritz or a glass of biodynamic wine.

Meet the Chefs: If you haven’t heard of Alessandro Angelini and Luca De Berardinis, for whom the restaurant is named, you’ve definitely heard of their previous workplaces; Angelini most recently headed up the eponymous restaurant at Kowloon Shangri-la, while De Berardinis used to work in the kitchens of Conrad Hong Kong.

Great For: Delicious, no-nonsense food in an unpretentious setting; intimate catch-ups with friends.

FYI: The restaurant’s first guests can look forward to a 20 per cent discount during the first few days of business.

Check out Hong Kong’s newest restaurants and bars here.

This writeup is a news piece and was not based on a restaurant visit. The Loop HK will update this post once we’ve visited in person.