Coco Thai, Deep Water Bay

Last Sunday was a scorcher – just too hot to handle. I couldn’t hack more than 10 minutes on the beach at Deep Water Bay,  so retreated to a shady table at Coco Thai.

The service is pretty abysmal, but the food is definitely worth the wait. Fab spring rolls, perfectly-spiced veggie Tom Yum and wonderfully wok-ed seasonal veggies. Prices not bad either – around $150 a head for food and drinks.

The views from the restaurant across Deep Water Bay are fantastic, as heftily priced next door neighbour, Cococabana, well knows. So if your heading to DWB to eat al fresco, and you don’t want a hole in your wallet once you’ve paid the bill, Coco Thai takes some beating. Just someone whip the staff into shape please – a fresh lime soda is not a Diet Coke and spring rolls are not a Thai beef salad.

Coco Thai, Island Road, Deep Water Bay (opposite Hong Kong Golf Club); Tel: +852 2812 1826.

Photo by Merryly via Flickr (Creative Commons).

There is such a thing as a free lunch

Yes, really. The new Cafe Iguana on Wyndham Street (formerly Zest) picks a table every lunchtime that eats for free. Luckily for me, I was sitting on it today.

I popped in for the first time a couple of weeks ago and was impressed, so headed back for more. The set lunch costs $88 for two courses and $208 for three. Both times I’ve gone for the two course menu and the restaurant has thrown in pudding for free. Two weeks ago is was sugary churros with a chocolate dipping sauce; today it was vanilla panacotta with a raspberry coulis.

The spicy tomato soup and pork burrito were fantastic, the fajitas good, but fairly standard. Being given a free pud is great, getting the whole lunch for free is incredible.

Head there for fresh Mexican food and a buzzy, semi-al fresco atmosphere. Drinks during happy hour are $30 and they come with free chips and dips (yes, even more free stuff).

Cafe Iguana, 57 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2526 7993.