When Da Domenico were forced to move from its long-time premises at Yun Ping Road along Hysan Avenue, all the loyal customers- and it’s an extremely loyal and cash rich group-went through mass depression.
Owned by the passionate- and a little eccentric and kinda like the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld- Alessandro who is also the chef, ensures that Da Domenico is unpretentious to the nth degree serving simple- but extremely tasty Italian dishes- and with service- no uniforms are worn by the staff- that can border on the abrupt side of rudeness which, to many, is its “charm” and “unique customer experience.” Don’t laugh.
It’s never been about quantity- but quality- and, like good little children, you eat what’s been recommended.
Well, the good news is that Da Domenico has resurfaced in Shelter Street which is behind Tung Lo Wan in Causeway Bay.
Finding it is difficult as there is NO signage- though people down the street will guide you to the entrance. And guess what?
Despite no advertising, no marketing and located next to a construction site, the new Da Domenico was PACKED when I arrived with its army of loyalists.
As for food- mama mia- the clams, the cheese, the swordfish, the lamb chops were out of this world- and expensive, something that appeals to its high-profile clientele.
And listening to Alessandro speak just as passionately about his other great love- horse racing- made it a perfect night.
This really is a restaurant one MUST visit for its cuisine and “customer experience” while having to be impressed at just how far customer loyalty can travel- and with zero marketing and over-thinking the mantra of location, location, location.
As in the movie Field Of Dreams, build it and they will come- which is exactly what Alessandro has done- and where they have come in such droves that the restaurant is booked out for months on end.
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