Look & Feel: Take your idea of the biggest restaurant you’ve ever been to and double…no, triple it. Now you’re getting a sense of just how gargantuan The Sixteenth is. Covering 18,000sqft, the restaurant is massive. But, because it’s split into four very distinct areas, it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Guests are greeting at a sedate, oak-paneled reception area before being whisked way to the eatery of their choice.

We nab a table at La Favorita, The Sixteenth’s Italian-themed dining room, which is lusciously decorated in sweeping fabrics, Murano mirrors, sophisticated tables and seating, and rustic, painted crockery that hint at the Amalfi Coast. But, there’s also Honjokko—a spin-off of Pirata’s Sheung Wan restaurant, Honjo—which dishes up decadent sushi and bento boxes with minimalist Japanese interiors; TMk Funk & Rolls, the third iteration of Pirata’s TMK handrolls and music concept; and finally, there’s Tempo Tempo, an expansive alfresco terrace dishing up “Summer in Italy” happy hours to Quarry Bay’s office drones.

On the Menu: For lunch at La Favorita, there are two set lunch menus. I can’t help but snicker when I see that the Italian names for these menus translate to “Worker’s Lunch” and “Executive Lunch”—with the prices to match. For the former, you can choose either a two ($238) or three-course ($268) menu at really quite reasonable prices; in the latter, you’re expected to shell out HK$318 for a three-course menu laden with “premium” ingredients. The additions of calamari, tartare, truffle and Wagyu are tempting, but it’s the beginning of Hong Kong’s silly season and with all of us having dinner plans that evening, we do the sensible thing and opt for the two-course Worker’s Lunch.

Which, as it turns out, is a delight—and very, very plentiful. My starter is an extremely generous serving of Insalata al tonne (tuna salad, for those who don’t parlare Italiano) which is a fresh, delightful dish of crisp butter lettuce and French beans with a heaping of tuna, plenty of black olives, and a heavy lashing (perhaps too much so) of lemon dressing. Others on our table ordered the Parma ham, served with veggies, which looked equally enticing—and huge.

For mains, I stick with an elevated classic, the Mafaldine all Bolognese. It’s a richly flavoured, hearty, satisfying dish that any Italian nonna would be proud of—though I admit defeat after a few bites and opt to take it home for lunch the next day. I hear the Chicken Arrosto was perfectly cooked and flavored, too.

We eye the dessert menu—Lemon Sorbet and Pistachio Crème Brûlée—but mindful of our respective dinner reservations, we skip the sweets. Instead, as we leave, we make a reservation for the next week to return to try Honjokko…stay tuned…

Jeng: The elegant surrounds and the well-made, generously portioned food.

Not So Jeng: The service could’ve been a little more attentive—we definitely waiting awhile for water refills and requested items.

Great For: Casual work lunches.

FYI: The Sixteenth is open for dinner too, though whether you’d make the trek out here after hours—if you’re not already in the area—is debatable.

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This writeup was based on a paid visit by the author without the restaurant’s knowledge. The Loop HK doesn’t guarantee/sell restaurant review coverage. See our editorial policy here.