Whisked Away

Full of character, Rajasthan Rifles transports gues with nostalgic tales, writing another chapter in Hong Kong’s book of sought-after dining destinations.

- Cathryn Zhang

Fireball duo Christopher Mark and Syed Asim Hussain, the founders of the Black Sheep Restaurant hospitality group, seek out the unexpected plot twist. Not long ago, when the dining scene in Hong Kong was thirsting for a renaissance, the restaurateurs understood that in a space

of cultural diversity which hundreds of thousands call a home-away-from-home, the neon lights are only as bright as the span of a night. To deliver a sense of belonging, Christopher and Asim surround guests with memories and stories so they might feel that much is closer to those they dine with.

Their dynamic array of culinary haunts extends from edgy pockets of SoHo (Ho Lee Fook, Belon, New Punjab Club) to budding favorites in Wan Chai (Le Garçon Saigon, Osteria Marzia). Now the duo has moved up in altitude to Mount Austin for their newest venture, Rajasthan Rifles, a reimagined British Indian army mess hall serving top-notch Anglo-Indian dishes.

The Peak, as residents call it, bedrocks the island’s most elite, the crème de la crème. With a single sweeping view that could encapsulate Hong Kong, Rajasthan Rifles positions an all-day dining affair for locals of leisure and those well-traveled looking to lose track of time. The pedestrian approach might have been for a minimal site that simply heroes its prime location, but Rajasthan Rifles in typical Black Sheep manner goes well beyond that.