Main St Deli - (Hong Kong)

  I have always had mixed commotions about Main St Deli in Hong Kong - the menu items sound New York and American somewhat on paper, and stands out in a city majorly lacking proper New York and Jewish styled food. But I have never lived in New York and Manhattan except when passing by for a short stay, and my memories of that trip was too patchy so I can’t lay claim to be being an expert in this field.   This more recent revisit to Main St Deli completely changed my stance and I think justifiably so or at least in my own opinion . One feels like the American Deli is almost playing a prank on the customers.  The Chicken Fried Steak isn't something you can find in HK easily, and other foodies who have more knowledge about this regional cuisine have explained this to be a Beef Steak that is traditionally fried in Chicken Oil or Lard, hence it's namesake!

Why Main St Deli dished out a fried chicken breast instead of a beef steak...... is then totally out of my wildest imagination, and totally unacceptable.

 

 

Dill Pickle and Sour Cabbage -
The dill wasn't pickled acidic or garlicky enough for my liking, I think! It was ok I guess and still quite crunchy.

Chicken Fried Steak -
There exists many variations of the same food in the world, sometimes it is localized and idealized. It happens. But this is the 1st time I have heard of a Fried Steak being served as Chicken breast. Doesn't anyone know better in the kitchen or to do some prior research? A Chicken Fried Steak, is a Beef cut.  Why we were served a fried Chicken Breast instead and with a mayo sauce than a more spreadable Country gravy, is another question that needs answering to. ~ 0/10

 

Buffalo Wings -
Served with some Carrot and Cucumber crudites of sorts, the Blue Cheese sauce was majorly too watery. The Wings were BREADED with panko, which is already a sore sight as I have never had Buffalo style wings which had such an obvious bread coating. The slightly chilly sauce also had a cheesy taste to it, but it both wasn't hot enough and also not wet coated enough. There is absolutely no way that it is near an authentic Buffalo styled chicken wings.. ~ 3/10

 

 

 

Mexican Burger -
Patty is made from Chorizo and Beef, with Pico de Gallo Salsa, Jack Cheese and Avocado. The patty was a little too 'sliced thinly' rather than thickly grinded, but the problem lies more with how dried out it was and was also missing the advertised spicy Chorizo sausage taste! I thought this burger wasn't bad by all means, but it was a little too dry and grainy, also obviously over cooked!  ~  6.9/10

 

 

The 4 desserts were at best ordinary.
The Lemon and Meringue pie showed the most potential, which had a good enough Meringue and Lemony layer but the pastry base is super hard and hard to cut through.   The Oreo Cookie Crunch Cheese Cake was rather dense, but at least had some saltiness. The Caramel Vanilla Layer had some very good honeycombs, but was way too dense in the cake and lacking the cream to balance the hard sponge.  The so-called Brioche toast arrived looking like a softened and triangular piece of soft pancake, and was too airy soft! The egginess was there to be fair, but this is not a true brioche French toast and way too soft to be politically correct.  I wouldn’t mind just having stale baguettes instead,  for replacement.
5/10

 

 

 

Price: HKD $250 per person
Ease of Access – 3/5  (5 Minutes from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station,  but needs to walk past the underground labyrinthe 1st.)
Food:   ♕♕ 1/2

Opening Hours -
Sun to Thurs:  10:00-22:00pm
Fri to Sat:  10:00-23:00pm

Address: 尖沙咀北京道8號香港朗廷酒店低層大堂
Lower Lobby Level, The Langham Hong Kong, 8 Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Ph: 2132 7898