Opera Bombana is the glitzy and convivial sibling to famed restaurant 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo in Hong Kong, but planted in the modern Parkview Green development in the east of Beijing. Large sculptural art and towering doors welcome diners to the Italian restaurant.
Inside is a warm and buzzy environment with stone floors, metallic ceiling fans, a two-story wine storage display, marble bar, and a lounge that pumps out rhythm-and-blues as its background music. Tables in the soft glow of candlelight are spread across the dining room floor, appointed with linen tablecloths and high-quality tableware.
Inside is a warm and buzzy environment with stone floors, metallic ceiling fans, a two-story wine storage display, marble bar, and a lounge that pumps out rhythm-and-blues as its background music. Tables in the soft glow of candlelight are spread across the dining room floor, appointed with linen tablecloths and high-quality tableware.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- In addition to special seasonal menus, such as a black truffle menu, Opera Bombana offers a number of antipasti and soups, pastas and risottos, seafood and meat, and desserts.
- Highlights include the Lorenzo No. 5 olive oil with a creamy, unctuous quality and hint of bite at the start of the meal, accompanied by a fresh house-made loaf of ciabatta on a wooden plank.
- Diners are also sent home with gifts of freshly baked breads and pastries, though they may find themselves full after an amuse-bouche, meal, mignardises and post-dinner coffee.
- Also not to be missed is the excellent wine list, including the house Italian red exclusive to the restaurant group.
- The stunning angled-glass wall wine storage room makes a big first impression, and the house red wine, Il Toro, exclusive to the restaurant group, is well worth sipping.
Things to Know
- Make a reservation. The restaurant tends to get quite busy for dinner, so booking a reservation a few days ahead is recommended.
- The staff has a basic knowledge of the food menu and wine list, but tends toward a more professional attitude, particularly toward foreign diners.
- The limoncello soufflé confection should be ordered with the main dinner, due to the 20-minute waiting time, but worthwhile as it comes with honey ice cream and raspberry jelly.
The Food
- Tiramisu, a signature sweet dish on Opera Bombana’s menus, is given a modern twist with a gold foil garnish and a crème brûlée tart accompaniment.
- We loved the duo of foie gras appetizer, which includes one foie gras terrine with port wine jelly, chocolate and figs, as well as one foie gras roasted with olives, lemon confit and Tasmanian honey.
- The tender veal shank has meat that falls away from the bone and unctuous marrow in the bone’s center, with saffron risotto on the side to add some al dente consistency.
- Tagliatelle is made with sea urchin, zucchini and Sardinian bottarga, allowing for a high-end taste of la dolce vita.
The Look
- Opera Bombana has a warm, vibrant and modern interior design.
- The two-story dining room immediately impresses with floor-to-ceiling windows making up one wall and a glass tower with angled walls, filled with a wine storage room and a cellar for aging cheeses and curing meats.
- Red brick walls and beige stone flooring across the dining room say traditional Italian trattoria, but the effect is modernized with hanging metallic ceiling-fan-style fixtures and mirrored surfaces, such as on the back bar and decorating the zigzagging staircase leading to the private rooms upstairs.
- Indoor palm trees and a white marble horseshoe-shaped bar counter along one side also add a touch of glamour to Opera Bombana’s design.
Getting There
