The blissful multifunctional space in Quarry Bay offers wholesome comfort food for all ages and satisfying weekday lunch sets for locals seeking respite from the crowds.
Hong Kong — Jello & Mellow, now open in Quarry Bay, presents gourmet family dining, interactive indoor play, and engaging workshops for the wider community, all within a bright, attractive 5,700-sq.-ft sanctuary.
Named to reflect the innocence, imagination, and unlimited potential of childhood – soft, sweet, diversely shaped ‘Jello’ teamed with a warm-hearted ‘Mellow’ spirit – the immersive playhouse restaurant also symbolizes motherly love; J and M are the first-name initials of founder Vivien Lau’s twin boys.
Located just a short walk from Taikoo MTR station in a new Ginza-style commercial building overlooking Quarry Bay Park and promenade, it spans 5 themed sections, including dining rooms seating up to 90 people and an indoor playground where little ones can safely work up an appetite. Open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily, it entices families for breakfast through lunch and onto teatime and early evening bites.
Built upon simplicity and functionality, natural tones and lighting, and a palette of whites and pastels, its airy, uncluttered Nordic-inspired ambiance begins at the inviting entrance. A funhouse mirror, distorting images into a host of playful reflections, leads into the 5 creative spaces. The open Jello Kitchen serves 2 dining areas – the serene Main Dining Room and The Mello Dining Room overlooking the play area (admission fee required; see Appendix I). The Secret Garden is a flower-festooned outdoor terrace perfect for photos with family and friends, while the Positivi-TEA Room welcomes workshops and private events.
Heralding comfort food with creative twists, the a la carte menu features fresh ingredients while limiting salt, sugar, and oil to present healthy, tempting dishes designed to keep youngsters engaged and adults satisfied. Other menus and specialties of the house will be added following the soft-opening period.
Pizzas are a Jello & Mellow signature; handmade with Italian flour, their crispy yet the soft-centered base is spread with luscious homemade tomato sauce, layered with taste-bud igniting ingredients, and sprinkled with homegrown herbs. Family-favorite classics include Margherita (small HK$88; large HK$108) and Mediterranean (small HK$98; large HK$118). The culinary team’s innovative spirit is realized in the Osaka savory street pancake-inspired pizza, Octopus Okonomiyaki (small HK$128; large HK$148). An assured ‘Insta’ highlight is the eel-starring ‘Claypot’ Flaming Pizza (HK$188). Inspired by classic Hong Kong clay pot rice, the eel meat is flamed at the table for an aromatic charcoal-like flavor and texture.
The sharing spirit continues in a delightful range of snacks, where crispy Korean Style Fish & Chips (HK$98) shines. The all-time British standard is upgraded by East Asian invention – the batter coating New Zealand cod tastes of fluffy tempura and crunchy spring-roll pastry. At the same time, Popcorn Chicken (HK$78) reimagines Hong Kong-style beef balls into tender, handmade chicken balls. Mini Angus Beef Burger (HK$88) is a trio of American dining heroes scaled down in size but ramped up in flavor: succulent USDA Angus beef is topped with Australian cheddar and garnished by grilled onion, beetroot, and homemade tomato sauce.
Sumptuous sauces smother seafood and other fresh produce in hearty plates of pasta, including Carbonara (HK$98), Prawn Linguine (HK$138), and Creamy Mentaiko Spaghetti (HK$128). For smaller stomachs, kids’ meals are artistically presented on partitioned wooden boards filled with colorful, healthy seasonal treats – pasta, vegetables, fruit, jelly, cheese, and more. The Wheels on the Bus platter (HK$168) are shaped like a school bus, while the oval cloud-like segments of the Over the Rainbow spread (HK$148) help young minds soar.
All ages will find the desserts irresistible. Jello & Mellow Sundae (HK$78) leads the way, a delightfully light ice-cream sundae of Hokkaido milk soft serve studded with sweet pieces of homemade marshmallow and jelly. Sliced Cake of the Day (from HK$68) is a must. Continuing the tradition of Jello & Mellow’s sister artisanal cakery, Vive Cake Boutique, such delights as Carrot Cake, Red Velvet Cake, and Be Zesty, a lemon chiffon cake, await the sweet of tooth.
Specialty drinks are likewise beautifully crafted and aesthetically served. Echoing a beloved VIVE motif, the pink Uni-Cone (HK$78) is a strawberry, raspberry, and banana smoothie crowned by a whimsical, upside-down ice cream cone. With a whipped cream head and decorative dots for eyes, the Avocado Monster smoothie (HK$78) – blending mango, cucumber, and banana with everybody’s favorite green fruit – appeals to the young at heart. Purple Breeze (HK$58) is a thirst-quenching, eye-catching dual-colored soda cooler of butterfly pea flower tea and apple, while Creamy Road (HK$65) combines comforting milky Horlicks and cheese foam with a crumble of Biscoff biscuits on top. Babycino is a kid-friendly addition to the coffee and tea menu (HK$30).
Jello & Mellow lures the office and shopping crowds from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) for lunch in spacious surroundings. Served from 12 noon to 3 p.m. and priced at HK$128 per person, the lunch set encompasses daily soup or salad and a drink along with a signature main such as Margherita or Mediterranean pizza or one of the pasta trios, Carbonara, Prawn Linguine or Creamy Mentaiko Spaghetti.
Further reaching into the community, this merry space is ideal for holding children’s parties and private events. The entire venue or the key entertainment areas of The Mello Dining Room and the Secret Garden can be booked for four hours for an exclusive celebration. (see Appendix II for prices and available timeslots.)
A regular program of artistic workshops and other fun activities also draws enthusiasts from Eastern District and beyond. In July 2023, Jello & Mellow joins hands with Flower Child Studio for a Family or Friends Bonding Floral Workshop (details to be announced). The upcoming Wafer Paper Flower Workshops to be held in collaboration with Ciao Sugar Art are also highly anticipated. Ciao Sugar Art founder Joyce Chiu shares her skills in crafting edible flower sculptures from wafer paper in two workshops from 15-17 September 2023 (HK$3,500 for the 1-day workshop; HK$6,300 for the 2-day workshop). Budding sugar-art sculptors will learn how to craft a coral sunset peony and sweet pea in the 1-day session, while a quartet of everlasting wafer-paper flowers – the English rose, dahlia, hydrangea, and butterfly ranunculus – will be taught over 2 days.
“I am thrilled to realize my dream of launching a dining concept that celebrates family life, a happy place where children have the freedom to express themselves through imaginative play, and adults can relax over fresh, nourishing meals,” says founder Vivien Lau. “Jello & Mellow is perfect for casual family meals and special celebrations and caters to all ages. It is for everyone who cherishes togetherness and seeks inspiration through creative and engaging activities.”
Magical to the young at heart and cleverly multifunctional, this Quarry Bay dining and the recreational sanctuary is another charming string to the bow of the dining entrepreneur. Vivien Lau began her creative journey with celebrity-loved Vive Cake Boutique and recently opened chic café VIVE on Gough Street. Her fast-growing restaurant group is carefully designed to target the community’s varied needs. A hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the rejuvenated Quarry Bay district, this latest addition – and the biggest venture to date – seamlessly integrates wholesome food and play to forge lasting family memories.
Jello & Mellow is located at 9/F, 1001 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, and opens daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For reservations or inquiries, please call (852) 5111-4895, email [email protected], or visit https://inline.app/booking/Jello/andMellow.
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Facebook: www.facebook.com/jelloandmellow/
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