The Deadliest Rabbit in Hong Kong’s Dining Scene

What began as a humble hole-in-the-wall in Quarry Bay, Deadly Rabbits Concepts has grown into a dynamic restaurant group with four distinctive brands and thriving locations across Hong Kong—from Wan Chai and Tai Hang to Happy Valley and Soho. Now, founder Bart Szyniec is setting his sights on his homeland, Poland, as the next chapter in the company’s expansion unfolds.

Bart Szyniec, Founder of Deadly Rabbits Group.

In a recent interview, Bart Szyniec, the founder of Hong Kong-based restaurant group Deadly Rabbits Concepts, opened up about his two-decade-long journey through the food and beverage industry—starting from communist-era Poland and now expanding his Hong Kong-born concept Ask for Alonzo into the heart of Warsaw.

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Szyniec’s beginnings were anything but glamorous. Born in 1980 in Wrocław, he came of age during a turbulent political and economic time. Despite studying law, he quickly found himself drawn into hospitality, initially out of necessity. “From the age of seventeen, I had to support myself,” he recalled. After a formative stint at an Italian restaurant in Poland, he dropped law altogether and pursued a BA in Hospitality Management in Dublin.

Hong Kong wasn’t part of the plan at first. He arrived in 2012 for a holiday but ended up staying after landing a role with the Aqua Group. Years later, in 2018, he co-founded Ask for Alonzo—a modest pasta bar in Quarry Bay. Despite its small size, the venture would become the foundation for a growing portfolio of restaurants under the Deadly Rabbits banner.

But getting there wasn’t easy. Szyniec described the early days of Ask for Alonzo as “a tough start,” noting that they operated at a loss and morale dipped. A turning point came when his longtime friend and chef Giuliano Dacasto joined the project—accepting a modest salary to help steer the culinary vision. From there, things turned around. By the following year, a second Alonzo location opened in Tai Hang, and Deadly Rabbits Concepts was born.

When asked what sets the group apart in Hong Kong’s competitive dining scene, Szyniec pointed to “sacrifice, commitment, positive energy, and an unwavering determination to never give up.” He emphasized that while many operators make similar claims, his team lives by them.

On the topic of Hong Kong’s shifting dining preferences, he noted the growing dominance of casual dining, driven by tighter consumer spending and rising costs. “Ambience, service, and smaller sharing plates will define the market,” he said. He also believes Western concepts, like his, remain resilient despite the tough economy.

Szyniec’s sights are now set on Poland, where he’s preparing to open Ask for Alonzo and a new modern Polish restaurant called The Slavic Social, both in Warsaw’s Varso Tower—the tallest building in the EU. His decision to return to his homeland was influenced by Poland’s impressive economic transformation. “It has lower corporate tax, high and rising consumption, excellent infrastructure, and an educated, English-speaking workforce,” he said, calling it “the best country in Europe to open a business right now.”

The Slavic Social, in particular, aims to tap into Poland’s increasingly diverse culinary scene, combining modern Polish cuisine with Asian influences. Szyniec sees Warsaw’s dining landscape as vibrant and full of potential, comparing its growth trajectory to that of early-2000s Hong Kong. “Give it a few more years,” he said, “and we’ll be able to rival other European capitals.”

As for whether he’ll replicate Hong Kong’s Deadly Rabbits formula abroad, Szyniec said that while each market is different, the core values remain. “I’m bringing the Deadly Rabbits DNA with me: resilience, adaptability, and that never-quit mindset.”

Looking ahead, Szyniec sees further expansion into Central and Eastern Europe—places like Romania, Croatia, and Bulgaria—as well as Jakarta in Asia. But despite his global ambitions, Hong Kong remains his home base and creative hub.

When asked what advice he’d give aspiring restaurateurs, his answer was clear: “Never, ever give up. In every failure, there is a lesson.”