Created by world-renowned Italian chef Umberto Bombana, OPERA BOMBANA is the successor to Hong Kong's famous Italian restaurant, 81/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana.
Talking about OPERA BOMBANA, it is natural that Umberto Bombana needs to be mentioned. The chef's 81/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana, the best Italian restaurant in the Far East, has been awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide (Hong Kong and Macau) and is the first Italian restaurant outside Italy to be awarded three Michelin stars, and in 2013 it was named one of the "World's 50 Best Restaurants". Currently, 81/2 Otto e Mezzo Bombana has one branch in Hong Kong, one in Shanghai and one in Macau, with two Michelin stars in Shanghai and one Michelin star in Macau. Although there is still a big gap between OPERA BOMBANA in Beijing and the main restaurant in Macau, it is still a strong contender for Italian cuisine in Beijing. The menu at OPERA BOMBANA was created by Chef Bombana and performed by Executive Chef Marino D' Antonio. Marino is a fellow Bombana countryman in Bergamo, Italy, who has worked with several Michelin-starred chefs and is the former head chef of Sureño, a renowned Mediterranean restaurant in Sanlitun.
BREAD IS AN INDISPENSABLE PART OF ITALIAN CUISINE, AND THIS IS EVIDENT IN OPERA BOMBANA'S PRE-DINNER PACKS. The bakery at OPERA is made by master baker Giuliano Pediconi, all of which are made with imported Italian flour, slowly fermented with natural yeast, and freshly baked in the store. There are four types of pre-dinner packs, including rye walnut, focaccia, ciabatta and lavosh, the walnut bread is firm and full of wheat and nutty aromas, the focaccia has a hard shell and a soft inner core, and several meal packs have a distinct taste, with high-quality Rolando No. 5 olive oil and high-quality balsamic sauce.
The Japanese king crab with millet salad is one of the best appetizers, the whole piece of crab meat is eaten together with the millet at the bottom, and the aroma of caviar and sweet citrus sauce is richly layered, and the rich flavor is blurred in the mouth, full of umami. Japanese chicken soup is also sweet and delicious.
Pasta and risotto are staples of Italian cuisine. One of the main dishes, spaghetti with small meatballs, is a traditional dish from the Abruzzo region of Italy, with a chewy recipe from the chef, and a small beef ball. Haihong pasta, lobster pasta, and slow-cooked beef tongue with vegetable risotto are also recommended staple dishes. In winter, fettuccine with French black truffle or white truffle with risotto is also a good choice. OPERA's pasta and risotto are traditionally on the hard side, so if you don't like the harder noodles and rice, you can tell the waiter when you order.
The slow-cooked beef tongue and roast beef tenderloin for the main course are good choices, both of which have excellent meat textures and characteristics. Grilled lamb chops and stewed veal leg are more classic Italian dishes. Deep-fried beef short ribs, grilled New Zealand prawns, etc., suitable for multiple people to share.
OPERA BOMBANA's desserts are also good, the modern Opera Tiramisu, Tiramisu with Italian Masca Pineny Cream, Coffee Meringue and Italian handmade ice cream "Avcito", the unique shape, light coffee flavor, creamy silky aroma, can be called one of the best tiramisu in Beijing. Another dessert, "Montebianco", is a cake with different textures of chestnut cream and Chantilly cream, which is served with Mont Blanc chestnut ice cream. Pistachio trios, limoncelline soufflé, etc., are mostly based on creative experiments.
Located in the artsy Parkview Green shopping mall, the restaurant is solemn yet stylish, full of wood and stone, and the huge portrait of Marilyn Monroe scattered among them adds to the artistic temperament. The first floor of the restaurant is a loose seat, and the second floor of the duplex is two private rooms, which have a lot of privacy. The huge floor-to-ceiling windows spanning the first and second floors make the restaurant have a wide and ethereal view, but the location of the window in winter is obviously affected by the outdoor temperature, and the temperature is low. The restaurant service is basically decent and in line with the price of the restaurant. OPERA BOMBANA has a three-course lunch set priced at 298 yuan at lunch, which is sincere and cost-effective.
