White Out
*tgif is a blank canvas that is part café, part diner, and what every neighbourhood needs.
First, let’s get something straight: I don’t do cafés. I make great coffee and don’t really see the point of going out for something I do much better at home. But I get that cafés are popular places for impromptu meetings, hip office space for freelancers, as IG hotspots – and a billion other reasons besides coffee. And that’s something *tgif gets, too. So for someone, like me, who doesn’t do cafés, I’ve been there enough times since it opened in the midst of the pandemic in mid-2021 to give it two thumbs up.
There are plenty of reasons for the likes. I first noticed the place while passing by the bright corner shop at the very end of Queen’s Road West. Its huge windows pivot upwards and surround the entire café to let in plenty of light and air, giving it the look of an aquarium that attracts passersby. Naturally, my curiosity was piqued and I soon found an excuse to check out the interiors. I liked the L-shaped layout, the tree by the entrance and the white walls with cement floors dotted with house plants. It was a gallery-like space that could be a blank canvas for anything.
When *tgif first opened, it focused mainly on coffee and teas – espressos, pour overs, floral brews and the like. Pastries soon followed. There were sporadic events whenever lockdowns were eased. Book launches, photo shoots for local fashion labels, and jam sessions confirmed my initial feeling that the café could serve the community well. Then, after the IGers had their fill, it became part of the Shek Tong Tsui and Kennedy Town neighbourhood. It acquired regulars. Its menu expanded. It opened for dinner. Today, it is a handy joint for a light and casual lunch. It’s still a café, and coffees are still its thing. Gen Zs still go there with their phones to work. But it has become so much more.
I dropped by one evening for a bite before a movie at nearby Golden Scene Cinema. Dinner hour there tends to be quiet, which was fine by me as the eateries closer to the cinema are often packed. The evening menu was somewhat limited to burgers and sandwiches, so I opted for the cleverly named Munch Away ($138), a pulled pork burger drenched in tangy barbecue sauce. It came with an egg sunny side up; sides included (really good) fries and a green salad with sesame dressing. The portion was perfect: substantial enough for a light meal with a good mix of textures and flavours. The pork was well shredded, the crisp fries were lightly salted and the mesclun salad was just enough greenery to temper any guilty conscience.
*tgif is a completely different place on a sunny day and really leans into its locale. On the day I caught up with a couple of friends, it was packed with a good mix of people of all ages happy with an alternative to the adjacent cha chaan tengs. The menu is more substantial, too, with a raft of egg options for those hankering after all day breakfasts, a good choice of pastas and set lunches that come with a drink. I went for the Beef Cheek Stew Risotto ($105) with an Iced Phoenix Oolong Tea while my friends had cappuccinos with Crispy Snapper Risotto ($103) and Pan Fried Tuna Salad ($105). My beef was fork tender with al dente risotto in a rich sauce; the peppery rocket topping the dish added a bit of freshness. The snapper was crispy as advertised, with a lovely mushroom risotto while the tuna was deliciously rare to contrast against all the greens.
*tgif is exactly what every neighbourhood needs: a no fuss place to go during the day where you can count on a freshly prepared meal and good coffee to boot. — RL
*tgif
Address: Shops 4-6 G/F, Wo Fat Building, 539 Queen’s Road West, Shek Tong Tsui
MTR HKU Station Exit C2; Tram stop Queen’s Road West (Kennedy Town swimming pool)
Telephone: 9875 3598
Worth going back?: Uh huh, especially after a swim or before a movie