Fringe Club at last has tenant to take over legendary M at the Fringe’s space – Chiu Chow restaurant Nove, backed by chef Umberto Bombana

China Club designer Albert Kwan and Eason Chan’s stylist will craft the aesthetic of Nove at the Fringe, Chiu Chow restaurant opening upstairs at Fringe Club

Nove is a project of the Octavium Group, of which chef Bombana is a partner; he is bringing ex-Kee Club chef Roland Schuller back as group kitchen head

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Chef Umberto Bombana in the second-floor space at the Fringe Club in Central, Hong Kong formerly occupied by M at the Fringe restaurant. The Octavium Group, in which the Italian is a partner, will open a branch of its Chiu Chow restaurant Nove there.

Published: 12:30pm, 11 May 2020Updated: 12:52pm, 11 May 2020

More than a decade after Michelle Garnaut’s legendary M at the Fringe restaurant vacated its space at the Fringe Club in Hong Kong’s Central district, a new permanent resident is finally moving in next month. Nove Chinese Kitchen, an unassuming dim sum and Chiu Chow restaurant, is taking over the second floor premises.

It’s a big expansion for a small restaurant, but then again, it has some illustrious backers and staff. In addition to a kitchen led by the former dim sum chef from China Tang and the Chiu Chow specialist chef from Chiu Tang, the Octavium Group, which has as a partner Umberto Bombana, Italian chef of the three-Michelin-star 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, is the operator.

The group will retain Nove’s original spot on Li Yuen Street East, a Central alley full of market stalls, while Nove at the Fringe will take the brand to a more prestigious level.

“Actually, it’s more like the Fringe chose us than we choose the Fringe,” Nove spokeswoman Julia Wai says. “They have turned down others’ offers but I think they see we are compatible, with a mutual interest in creating something cultural with heritage significance and meaning.”

Michelle Garnaut at M at the Fringe in 1993. Photo: SCMP

To transform the historic Fringe building venue, they have invited Albert Kwan – China Tang and the China Club’s designer – to apply his vintage Sino aesthetic to the space, which seats 50 and will include a private room. Hong Kong stylist Felix Wong, who has clothed singer-actor Eason Chan and boy band Mirror, will do the servers’ uniforms.