Any neighborhood style restaurant is always my top choice for culinary discovery. I’ve heard good things about Nissa La Bella, a French bistro of French Riviera style, and therefore went there for dinner.
Upon going inside…
The interior is relatively spacious for a French bistro, with teal blue being the main decorative color. When you walk inside to the far left corner, a striking “Welcome to the French Riviera” slogan on the wall will draw your attention and make you feel like you’re in Côte d’Azur, the southeastern France coast full of beautiful beaches.
Starter: a comforting start for a meal
The Socca (HK$88) is an oven baked chickpea pizza, a simple finger food that can be served as a pre-meal sneak. It’s quite palatable and savory.
Carpaccio de loup de Mer (HK$158) consists of raw sea bass, trout roe and coriander and lime dressing. It’s a refreshing dish to have before slowing transiting onto the main course.
Petits Farcis Niçois (HK$148) is a dish of Mediterranean vegetables stuffed with minced pork, showered with tomato sauce. It reminds me of meatballs but a veggie version. It’s a fail-safe dish to enjoy as a starter.
Main: Scrumptious sea bass with barley risotto!
The Osso Bucco (HK$278) was once out of the menu for a couple of weeks and now it’s back. It’s made of braised veal stew with polenta, edge tables and tomato sauce. It’s a scrumptious dish with lots of flavors but not too rich like the same dish like what you would have in Europe.
I take the Pave de loup de mer (HK$238) which is the roasted sea bass with beurre blanc sauce, avrugo and pearl barley risotto. It’s a luscious dish with such moist and creamy texture without feeling too heavy.
The crispy roasted sea bass and the creamy barley risotto create an interesting culinary contrast, one that makes you want to explore more and more. I can’t help but keep digging deeper into the sea of barley risotto. There’s some bonus caviar on top (who doesn’t like caviar?) which comes as a nice surprise to me.
Dessert: Refreshing nougat and comforting tarte tropezienne
The Nougat Glacé au miel de Provence (HK$98) is the signature dessert of Nissa La Bella. It consists of almond and raspberry honey nougat with confit fruits. It’s a refreshing dessert which is a delightful choice to compliment a meal. If you like fried fruits, this will be perfect for you.
The Tarte Tropezienne (HK$98) tastes exactly like howwhat it should be, a brioche pastry filled with cream. It feels homemade, non-commercial and genuine. To some people it might be a heavy dessert but it actually tastes just the right dose of sugar and brioche you need to end a meal.
Service is intimate and friendly
Service is friendly, intimate and thoughtful. The staff would make conversation with you just like a bistro. The restaurant does get busy and the service might become less efficient but that’s understandable for peak hours.
Atmosphere and decoration: lively
The vibes are very lively and vibrant, with friendly chatters filling in every corner of the restaurant. There are good friends, families, couples from all walks of lives. It’s a great place for authentic conversations.
Menu
Here’s the menu we have.
Overall: Perfect place for Southern French cuisine with unpretentious and chill vibes
The simple wooden tables and chairs are truly what the French bistro style should look like (at least for me personally, though I’m not French), and the amiable staff and smooth service mean you will make the best choice of food and wine that will fit your state of mind at that point of time, and the quality of the dishes and the wine just make the entire experience ultimately pleasant. It’s that simple, genuine and no non-sense food and service that make this restaurant unique. Do grab a table nearby the windows for a long lunch on a sunny day. I will definitely come back for some casual lunches and fun dinners with good friends.
