Czarina 1964

Czarina is a place for the memories (the food ain’t bad either).
The original store used to be on Caine road, across the street from HKU; and any store that has been open for longer than 10 years is an eternity in HK’s F&B scene, and with that history comes with it many stories. Czarina has been here for 50 years, so that’s a lot of stories. I’ve heard my fair share of stories thanks to my father, who would ramble for hours once he stepped inside those wooden doors. The staff were mostly still old timers and would ramble along with him and whoever old-​timer patron happened to be in the restaurant. It was good times for old times. Of course, Czarina to me and the younger generation is just another soy sauce western that they wouldn’t be caught bringing a date to. But 50 years ago, a Russian restaurant like Czarina was exciting — it was not just Western, it was Russian! It was all at once exotic and classy, HKU professors would treat their star students there, young men would bring dates there and my father would spend his hard earned money on big occasions here as well. The staff would have stories of now (retired) government officials or big company heads visiting Czarina.
But the ever-​evolving Hong Kong and its property prices forced this old staple to give way to Café O, so imagine the dismay of my dad when he learned that it was to close down — he had just lost a physical location that embodied memories of his youth. Fortunately, the owners were not quite done yet, and Czarina has reopened one street below Caine road, on High Street. Besides adding «1964» to the name, the interior has also been updated with a cleaner look to fit in with the gentrifying neighborhood, but it retains that old school feeling quite well with the burgundy walls and faded lighting. The staff have changed hands, but the food is still very much on par with the old Caine road store.
The portions are generous and as long as you aren’t expecting authentic western, food is still very decent. Matter of fact, this kind of food is authentic in its own local Hong Kong way — expect an abundance of potato salad, generous entrée portions and lots of sodium and sauces, all for a reasonable price. On top of that, you get to experience what was the luxury of the baby boomer generation. I’m glad that this store has been recreated and my dad can look out those tinted windows to find silhouettes of his youth once passed.