Westwood Carvery

Westwood Carvery Prime Rib is over-​rated and ranks far behind many others. I tried this restaurant after reading the numerous favorable reviews and I wanted something other than Chinese. The prime rib is featured with a number of favorable reviews framed and displayed. The service in this 20 odd seat crowded space is somewhat casual which I actually like. I ordered the 12 oz medium rare as usual, and a glass of zin. It actually came closer to medium than medium rare, and with a tiny container of au jus or gravy. There was a good sized baked potatoe with sour cream and an ok salad. I decided to eat it and not cause any distress for anyone. If the meat is good, there would be no problem.
But on the first bite, the beef had a very unusual taste reminiscent of something between a fowl and a fish. I thought maybe the edge picked up a taste from something else in the small kitchen. I cut into the center for another piece and it tasted the same. The texture is reasonably tender between a choice and a prime grade by U.S. standards. But the taste in the mouth is definitely not grass or corn fed beef. Perhaps raised on feedlot across the border? Or maybe on the way to being spoiled? I did not want to waste the meat but couldn’t finish it either. Potatoe is ok, not exceptional. Wine (decent zinfndel) is also ok, but cannot erase the meat taste.
Whatever meat they served me, it was not prime grade as known in the U.S. or at Lowry’s, Mandarin Grill, Jimmy’s, Hugo’s … in Hongkong (also reviewed). And the price is only a little less than the prime rib at Hugo’s. See picture of receipt (I left another $ 80 or so since it is not the fault of the server) … it is more than most New York prices which are always for prime grade meat (see several of my reviews on p rib). Less than the other HK establishments above, but what about the value/​risk? Hope they get their act together.
A very strange experience! It will be a long time before I try any prime rib in the little LKF restaurants although I’ve had good experience with Italian food there.

It could have been a 5 star, if they didn’t raise their price by like 50% a couple of years ago.
Quality food here, to say the least. I always go for a beef or chicken sandwich, and if I ordered with my colleagues, between every two of us, we could order one full size beef sandwich and one full size chicken sandwich, and had half of each.
Those were the days.
Ever since they raise the price, I rarely came back. The point is, they have all the legit reasons to raise the price. One time I called for 20+ orders at 11am, and they already said they were too busy to prepare any other bulk order because another bank was ordering just as many order that day. Well. I’m sure some of the bankers still love it.
Yesterday I got a chance to re-​visit again. Both sandwich choices on the lunch set menu are beef, which my friend would prefer not to have it. at a price of HKD$ 168, you got a soup (or salad), a sandwich, some french fries and a small apple.
See, this is a price tag you wouldn’t pay for lunch every day, but gosh, the roast beef sandwich is just the best you can get in Central. That tops it all, I suppose.
tl;dr: I’ll happily be here everyday if it’s not the price.

I knew this place would be great the first time I sat down. It’s jam packed with people during lunchtime and everybody is digging in their roast beef sandwich with their hands!
Their lunches are all very reasonable priced and their signature roast beef never disappoint.
A tiny disclaimer. This is not the lunch place you take your first date to. Your mouth will always be stuffed with the great sandwich and hands all soaked in the meaty jus. Definitely not the first impression you want to make.