Goodbyes are never fun particularly when they’re for somebody as loved as chef Daniel Calvert. His tenure in charge at Belon helped make the restaurant the leading French bistro in the province and saw it jump to No 4 in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. But there’s a positive slant to this out-with-the-old story too.
Not only has Belon found itself a top new chef in Matthew Kirkley (two Michelin stars at L20 in Chicago and three at Coi in San Francisco) but they’ve also got themselves a brand spanking new restaurant with a whole new look by award-winning designer Joyce Wang Studios.
Diehard fans may express concern as the old bistro look was certainly much loved. But this is the “next step in the restaurant’s evolution” says Black Sheep Restaurants founder Syed Asim Hussain.
And make no mistake, ambitions run high and an upgrade it certainly is: more space, an improved kitchen and whole layers of added refinement. Brushed plaster walls, cobalt panelling and an oceanic colour palette interplay with curvaceous counters and banquettes. This pared-down look spells ambition, for sure, but it also provides a canvas against which the food on the plate will be allowed to shine.
Note the move date is yet to be announced (watch this space). But in the meantime has extended its hours (just a little) to allow fans to say their goodbyes to the old Elgin site.
Belon, 41 Elgin Street, Soho, Hong Kong