Concept

Yü is a unique seafood restaurant with an exciting and innovative dining concept. Here the freshest of fish, direct from abundant fish tanks stocked with seafood from the purest South China Sea waters and beyond, are prepared in a variety of Asian and Western styles. An aquarium bubble wall creates a dramatic impact at the entrance of this trendy and fashionable restaurant.

The menu features fresh fish and shellfish of the highest standards. The fish are caught in the world's cleanest waters and are immediately brought live to Yü's kitchen, where they are put into special holding tanks. Here they recover from their 'jet lag' and become rejuvenated before entering the working tanks where they enjoy the restaurant's harbour view prior to dinner! The fish tanks contain biologically filtered ocean-like water, which is specially purified to ensure the optimum conditions and standards for the fish. This New Zealand-made system recreates the purest water and aquatic levels closest to those found in the natural habitats of the fish.

Name

Yü means 'fish' in Cantonese. The umlaut over the 'u' gives the name a European influence, since the seafood is prepared in both Western and Asian styles.

Logo

The Yü logo is designed to look like floating seagrass. The name 'Yü' combines Chinese and Western elements, using the Cantonese word YUE (fish) spelled with European flair by adding two dots.

Cuisine

Yü's main menu features a wide selection of innovative dishes, Yü classics and a selection of fresh oysters, live fish and seafood. Following the trend towards healthy, light food, the seafood is seasoned only to enhance its natural taste and is prepared with utmost care in order to secure its natural vitamins, minerals and proteins. Besides the special selection of live fish, the other highlights of Yü's menu include the Yü Seafood Platter, which is a mountain of ice with fresh poached shellfish, oysters and mussels served with six different sauces. The live fish menu includes an artist's drawing of each speciality fish, along with suggestions for preparation methods and matching wines. The à la carte menu, which changes seasonally, offers an innovative variety of dishes with both Asian and European inspiration.

Design

The restaurant has a distinctly aquatic decor, designed by Hirsch Bedner and Associates (HK). A dramatic undulating bubble wall, 44 feet in length and 7 feet in height, tailor-made by Nipura of Japan, weighs ten tons in total, and creates a deep sea illusion as guests enter the restaurant. Two oversized fish tanks, custom-designed by Nicholls of New Zealand, are encased within the wall. In addition, 150 water jets, individually controlled by computer, heighten the impact of aquatic motion within the amazing curved wall.

The restaurant's interior is warm and inviting with walls clad in caramel colour leather tiles, which tie in with the rosewood floor and the golden ceiling. Set in the ceiling is a mirrored glass 'river', framed by fibre optic light fixtures to create an underwater atmosphere. Dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows, highlighting the hotel's spectacular harbour views, further enhance the impact of water and motion. The open kitchen, a focal point of the restaurant, houses an enormous copper vat used to poach the seafood taken from the nearby working tanks in a delicious bouillon broth.

Designed by Pam Morris of California, contemporary glass works of art resembling colourful seashell treasures are placed throughout the restaurant. Every detail of the restaurant reflects creativity, from the choice of Narumi china and 'Annie Glass' unique frosted glass show plates to the silver shell-shaped napkin holders and fish-shaped bread baskets. Even the staff is outfitted with colourfully themed neckties.

Awards

Since its 1993 opening, Yü has gathered numerous accolades. The American Chamber of Commerce (HK Chapter) has voted it the 'Best Seafood Restaurant in Hong Kong'. Yü has also been included in Courvoisier's 'Book of the Best', listed in the Hong Kong Tatler as one of 'Hong Kong's Best Restaurants' and by Hotels Magazine as one of the 'World's Ten Great Hotel Restaurants'.

Located on the Second Floor.
Dress code: smart casual attire

For reservations, please call +852 2721 1211 ext. 2323

Open:
Lunch - 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm (Except Sunday & Public Holidays)
Dinner - 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm (Daily)

Please note: Prices quoted are correct at the time of publishing but are subject to change.