What to Expect at Duetto in Wan Chai, Now Soft-Opened

Duetto just soft opened in Sun Hung Kai Centre in Wan Chai where you can have both Italian and Indian food. No, there isn't any cuisine cross pollination going on here; each cuisine sticks to tradition, it's just presented in a menu, and space, that accommodate both options. It's also no accident that Duetto is serving Italian and Indian fare. The former space used to be a well-regarded Indian establishment, Viceroy, that's been around since 1996 and was a hit amongst the Indian community. Locals too adored the venue, especially for their popular comedy night events. Next door was Milano, which eventually revamped into DV 8, serving solid northern Italian cooking. Both eateries on the second floor of Sun Hung Kai Centre are under the same management of Chiram Strategic restaurant group, and now they've officially merged the restaurants into one entity. Apparently, the idea came about when their regular patrons were already treating both venues like they were together anyway: Some Milano patrons would order Indian grub from neighbouring Viceroy, and vice versa.

Since the restaurants have been at the same spot for years, apparently it was also time for an update, and the current recession climate was an appropriate time for such a reinvention. So this summer, they began renovations and although they're still hammering away on certain areas, Duetto has soft opened so you can reserve tables now. "In today's economic climate, every business needs to stay current and deliver an exceptional product. We felt it was time to evolve Milano and Viceroy into one cohesive restaurant, where both distinctive and rich cuisines could shine. And so we created Duetto, which takes the best of both worlds," said Moss Bakar, Managing Director, Chiram Strategic Group. Duetto's renovation will be complete in just a few weeks, just before their grand opening day on September 24.

The new space adopts a more neutral look so you won't immediately sense any Italian or Indian ethnicity in the interior like before. Instead, the space is simply contemporary, fashioned in oak, wood, and all things beige and chocolate brown, including walls carved with Roman phrases. The space is divided into two areas, Luna for Indian fare and Sole for the European counterpart. Inherently though, it's Viceroy and Milano through and through with the same staff and menu from the predecessors. Executive chef Ravilal Bhandari, who was here since Viceroy's inception in 1996, will be manning the Indian kitchen. Regular patrons will be relieved to find Viceroy standby dishes are still on the menu, including a broad tandoori selection of charred meats, curries and rice options, such as lamb dum biryani (HK$98). On the other side, executive chef Sham Hon Yiu will be preparing Italian classics such as pizza and pasta offerings, such as homemade pappardelle with king prawns and zucchini (HK$188) and more. The menu is exhausting, full of options in case diners can't decide whether they're in the mood for an Italian or Indian meal. Also, do check out Duetta's large alfresco areas, which like the former space, continues gives way to gorgeous skyline views although now it's newly fitted with sleek, black patio tables and seatings. Room 2B, Sun Hung Kai Centre, 2nd fl, 30 Harbour Rd, Wan Chai. Tel: +852 2598 1222