Hong Kong diners like Italian. A look around town will yield a mind-boggling number of Italian restaurants, each with a distinctive personality. There are cutesy Japanese-influenced Italian joints, Michelin star style fine dining Italian establishments, casual eateries, pizzerias, American-Italian diners, and modern fusion Italian experimental cuisine. And in the case of Spasso, it seems to embrace all that the Italian food scene has to offer.

Spasso aims to live up to its name, Italian for happiness and joy. Opened at the end of last year, this Italian bar, restaurant and terrace aims to satisfy all dining preferences and wishes with its diverse menu, variety of dining space and an abundance of meal choices on offer. Foodies can drop in for power lunches, afternoon tea, Sunday brunch, kids-catering meals and even for an aperitif after work.

This contemporary roof - top Italian restaurant spans 7,600 sq ft, seats up to 100 in the indoor restaurant, 50 at the bar, has four private dining rooms, and a spacious airy white terrace space which can accommodate 100 diners. The overall effect of this dining space spells comfort and style, with the use of natural light streaming in from the terrace, but the most welcomed element will have to be the large alfresco space, a rarity in Hong Kong.

On top of the different dining space choices within the restaurant, Spasso serves up an extremely extensive menu. Created by Chef Massimo, hailing from Dolce & Gabbana's "Gold" restaurant in Milan, the Spasso menu embraces all of the best Italian dining has to offer. Diners can choose from antipasti, salads, soups, a selection of home made pasta "La pasta della Mamma", just like how mother used to make it, as well as thin crust pizzas from the Wood Stone Oven. Signature dishes include the Blue crab and avocado timbale with Mache salad and citrus vinaigrette, Traditional Sardinian Style Slow Roasted Suckling Piglet flavored with fresh mitro leaves, and Spaghetti tossed with fresh sardine, pine nut and fresh diced tomato.

And this is only just the beginning. The "Le Creuset" selection includes a variety of casserole dishes, prepared and served up in the famous Le Creuset enameled cast iron cookware. Choices include a Marinara clams casserole, or baby vegetables braised in cocotte with crushed black truffles. Another menu category, the "Focaccia Romana", comprises focaccia bread with a variety of toppings, including the signature "Spasso Focaccia" with mascarphone cheese and slices of 24 month "riserva" parma ham.

For those who have trouble deciding when faced with Spasso's wide ranging menu, the "Tra Amici" shared platter, weekday "Power Hour" lunch buffet, as well as the Sunday brunch may be the solution. The "Tra Amici" encourages Italian family style dining, dishing up bruschetta with tomato, buffalo mozzarella, Italian cheeses, warm bread puffs, and parma ham, while the "Power hour" lunch buffet includes antipasti, salads and a choice of main courses. Sunday brunch comes with the option of free flow red and white wine or champagne.

Shoppers with children can find happiness at Spasso as well. Afternoon tea at Spasso comes with traditional tea pastries and scones, plus a variety of "I-Scream" gelato in a delectable array of flavors, guava, coconut, papaya, dark chocolate and more. And last but not the least, Chef Massimo has created for his young audience a serious kids menu, which includes organic free range scrambled eggs with Canadian bacon, Wagyu beef meatballs with spaghetti, and grilled 5oz black Angus tenderloin steak.

Variety is the name of the game at Spasso. Whether you are looking for a romantic summer meal outdoors, a children-friendly lunch, or a large group sharing dining experience, Spasso aims to keep diners happy and joyous. Finally, wine lovers enjoying an "Aperitif Moment" at Spasso will be inundated with complimentary hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and the largest wines by the glass menu in Hong Kong, with over 50 wines by the glass on offer.

With such a winning formula, it would seem like even those impossible to please will find great joy at this Italian food paradise.

(HK Edition 06/25/2008 page4)