Eat & Drink

Hot Tables

Stable Steak House,House 1881

House 1881, formerly known as Hullet House, is something of a jewel hidden in plain sight. It forms part of 1881 Heritage, an architectural landmark and one of the most photogenic spots in Tsim Sha Tsui, where visitors admire the elegant architecture and glittering watch and jewellery shops. At the back, less obvious but visible to all, is House 1881, an imposing colonial building with lush gardens sitting quietly atop a small hill.

1881 House recently underwent an extensive revamp. As a heritage building, the former Marine Police Headquarters was renovated under strict preservation guidelines and hence it retains much of its colonial grandeur and charm. The building is surprisingly large and multi-functional. It houses a boutique hotel with 10 large colonial-style suites beautifully outfitted with a four-poster beds and all. It accommodates five concept dining outlets, which include a fine-dining Cantonese restaurant, a café, two bars – with the Stable Bar housing one of the city’s largest gin collections, and a steak house, the object of our gourmet affections today. What most surprised us about 1881 House was the number and variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces available for functions of all types.

We should mention that Café Parlour offers a lovely Afternoon Tea Set ($588 per set/2 persons) which includes a delectable collection of sweet pastries, savoury delicacies, homemade scones and a selection of teas. If you are in a mood for a special drink, the café offers two glasses of champagne for an extra $380. It’s a great way to relax after a busy day of shopping and sightseeing.

The nibbles only heightened our anticipation of our dinner at the Stable Steak House. Converted from a former stables, the restaurant’s décor retains some the original fixtures including its front doors which open expansively onto the manicured lawn in front. The seating is relaxed and friendly, as is the service of the helpful staff.

Our dinner started with Caesar Salad ($130) and USDA Prime Beef Tartare ($210), followed by a delicious Beef Consommé ($170) that was meticulously prepared, with no seasoning to get in the way of the soup’s natural beef flavour.

The signature dishes of the restaurant are, of course, grilled steaks and meats, in which it sources a variety of quality cuts from the United States, Australia, Japan, Korea and elsewhere. We chose to share three cuts: USDA Prime Black Angus Rib-Eye (12oz/$400), A-5 Omi Shiga Beef Striploin ($12oz/$1,280) and Australian Rack of Lamb (half/$420 or whole/$760).

We could distinguish the different flavours and textures of the meats, all of which were excellent. A wide selection of mustards and rock salts help accent the flavour, which is a nice touch.

The dinner ends with a trio of desserts: Chocolate Fondant ($120), Lemon Basil Mousse ($120) and Baked Pear Crumble ($120) that certainly sated our sweet tooth.

Stable Steak House offers an well curated collection of wines for the various dishes, which we highly recommend.

Now that we’ve introduced you to this hidden jewel, be sure to enjoy a memorable meal at a unique venue.