Even though Mr Brown’s main courses come in large portions, we were delighted to notice a half-portion option for its signature 14-hour smoked brisket with peppercorn and pickled onions. Served with the house-made barbecue sauce, the rich cut of beef was smoked slowly over 14 hours, cooked until the juices stayed within and the thin slices of brisket remained succulent and rich, while zingy pickled onions cut through the richness of the dish.

The half smoked duck, pomegranate and fennel pollen was a show-stopping main. A generous half the roasted bird, carved bone-in, resembled one from Chinese barbecue stands. One should not be alarmed at the dark, almost burnt exterior. Sweet-and-sour pomegranate molasses has been added to baste the bird, allowing the sugar to caramelised while mellowing the gaminess of the duck flesh. Fennel pollen added a hint of floral sweetness that went well with the savoury barbecue sauce.

Grilled cabbage with sesame and horseradish made a wonderful vegetable side dish, the charred cabbage wedges were smoky and sweet, while fresh horseradish grated right before serving gave the side dish a kick on the palate. With only three desserts on offer, we were particularly impressed with the cheesecake with Persian lime and cherry sorbet. A simple, no-fuss dessert on its own, the baked cheesecake was creamy and ethereal, while the top and side was beautifully browned while the interior stayed soft, almost resembling a soufflé. The cherry sorbet was sharp and tangy, a great accompaniment to the creamy cheese dessert.

Mr Brown stays true to its nature as a neighbourhood grill house, offering five craft beers on tap and a handful of wines by the glass, as well as bottles of wines from small producers from different regions of both old and new world. Cocktails are also popular at Mr Brown, especially The Roots, where mezcal infused with taro root was mixed with grapefruit juice and soda to create a smoky yet fruity concoction, a great pairing with grilled meats.

Service is warm and attentive at Mr Brown, despite its casual nature. Members of the service team are keen and knowledgeable on the restaurant’s concept, food and drink offerings and particularly keen on offering recommendations and portion control. The level of alertness remains high when the restaurant was full as well.

Mr Brown proves that dining concepts need not be too complex or avant-garde to win over its guests. Sometimes all you need are casual vibes, a good grill, and some great meats to tide our returns.  

A meal for two with one beverage and service: around HK$1,000

Rating: 4/5 

How we rate
Each of our reviewers score restaurants based on four main criteria: setting, food, service, and drinks, taking into account more than 35 different points of reference including manners of staff, usefulness of the wine list, and whether or not the restaurant makes an effort to be environmentally aware. 5/5 indicates an exceptional experience; 4-4.5/5 is excellent; 3-3.5/5 is good to very good; and 2.5/5 or lower is average to below average. Before visiting a restaurant, the reviewers will book using a pseudonym and do not make themselves known to restaurant staff, in order to experience the venue as a regular guest—if this is not possible, or if we are recognised, we will indicate this in the review.