Whenever I visited New York in the 1960's and 70's, I always made it a point to get as many people together as I could and trek to Mama Leone's Restaurant where we could stuff ourselves beyond good taste with their "Italian Family Style" meals.
While Mama Leone's is long gone, Hong Kong has its own version of Mama Leone's in Fat Angelo's Italian Restaurants. Serving Italian dishes, family style, Fat Angelo's is a great bargain and the more people you can corral to join you, the better the bargain.
When it first opened, I, in my ignorance, thought that the concept would never work in Hong Kong. I could not have been more wrong. I don't know what I was thinking. First, Hong Kong people like Italian food, I think primarily because of the pasta and pizza. Second, Chinese families and friends usually eat family style at the large eateries in Hong Kong. It is not unusual, in Western restaurants, for the local Chinese to share dishes even if the food is served in individual portions. Third, they serve complimentary salad and freshly baked, huge, Italian style rolls. This is unheard of in Hong Kong, where bread and salads are usually ala carte items.
The menu is quite diversified for a family style restaurant. 13 appetizers, four pizzas, 14 pastas, 13 main dishes including chicken, seafood, lamb, pork and beef. The only thing missing is veal which is evidently rarely available and extremely expensive. They have seven dessert offerings including two types of the ubiquitous tiramisu. Personally, I've never been able to order dessert because I'm just too stuffed after the main course.
They also have an extensive, reasonably priced wine list as well as beer and mixed drinks.
Each item is available in large or small size: small for two or three people and large for 4-6 people. I have found it wise to order one dish for each person at the table. That way, when we are finished, there are usually enough left-overs so I can take them home eliminating the need to buy lunch for the next two or three days.
In large groups we usually can leave the place satiated for about HK$100-125 per person (US$13-16.25) not incuding alcoholic drinks. When my wife, Pam, and I go as a couple we usually spend closer to HK$300 (US$39) for the two of us plus wine.
They also serve brunch on weekends and holidays at their Wanchai and Soho locations including a family style breakfast for large groups. The best deal is lunch, where for HK$89 (US$11.50), you get soup or salad, the incredible rolls, a main dish, dessert and a non-alcoholic drink. I like to go there between 2:30 and 4:00 PM, thereby eliminating the need for a separate lunch and dinner meal. Believe me. I'm still full when I retire that night.
My favorite dishes are the Broccoli Aglio e Olio, Fried Calamari, Vegetarian Pizza, Rigatoni Bolognese, Linguine Pesto, Linguini with Clams, Rosemary Baked Chicken, Mussels in Wine Sauce, Osso Buco and Italian Sausage with Peppers. Actually, the only dissapointing dish I've ever had at Fat Angelo's is the Ribs alla Roma and because of the family style service, I've tried most everything.
Fat Angelo's has six locations in Hong Kong - three on Hong Kong Island: Causeway Bay, Wanchai and Soho, one in Kowloon: Tsim Sha Tsui and two in the New Territories: Tseung Kwan O and Tsuen Wan. Click on the link in the second paragraph for exact addresses and phone numbers.
Wherever you are, it is worth your while to find a Fat Angelo's for a fun and food filled outing.