German carmaker Mercedes-Benz takes customer service to the next level with its new Mercedes me Store, an urban boutique bang in the middle of Central. Through this rather innovative ‘concept store’, Mercedes offers a versatile space that can be used for all kinds of lifestyle, cultural, or corporate activities, as well as for a variety of retail experiences.

Venture upstairs from this boutique space, though, and yet another surprise awaits the guests! Mercedes has rightly surmised that no retail experience can be complete without a gastronomic element in it. With that in mind, the Mercedes me Store now offers an all-day dining option for guests, from breakfast to late-night dinner and drinks.

Carefully crafted by Maximal Concepts’ Executive Chef Russell Doctrove and Head Chef Joaquin Elizondo, the menu brings together the best of Asian and European culinary influences. Chefs Doctrove and Elizondo seem equally comfortable with their raw and cooked dish presentations – resulting in an eclectic mix of casual, modern cuisine that’s meant to be shared.

Eager to put the chefs’ skills to test, we started with the appetisers and were pleasantly surprised by the wide range. From the cured beef carpaccio (HK$169), whose decadent truffle crème is matched by pickled tangy mushrooms, to the ramen organic egg (HK$65), which offers a mouthful of delectable sea urchin, there’s something here for every palate.

The large plates had a lot to live up to after the sumptuous small plate-tastings that we did, and they surpassed our expectations! We particularly recommend the spanner crab linguine (HK$360) for its well-seasoned perfection and the Australian Wagyu sirloin (HK$380) for its crispy meatiness and the generous sprinkling of fried shallots on top – a change from the usual sirloin offerings at most Hong Kong restaurants.

The drinks menu too more than matched up to our expectations with its homage to Asian and European influences. The Green Hell (HK$120) – a classic vodka-based cocktail with an Asian twist – particularly caught our attention. Those looking to go alcohol-free will also be spoilt for choice, with our vote going firmly to King Pin (HK$80).

It seems that with Mercedes me Store, Mercedes-Benz is going all out to please all its customers, no matter how different their individual tastes!

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay