Bar Bao

I had a great evening here with three friends. It’s a chic restaurant with tasty food, tasty drinks, and great service.
The décor in itself gets five stars. The use of collaged paper is elegant and tasteful and also makes the restaurant unique. The use of mirrors and repeated shapes was also nicely juxtaposed with otherwise comfortable furniture, including round couches and low tables (or traditional, regular-​height tables, if you prefer).
Our waiter, Josh, was friendly and down to earth. He was a bit goofy but full of great recommendations. He gave a great introduction to the chef, the cuisine, and the types of dishes, which were meant to be shared.
The food was very tasty. Presentation wasn’t stand out, but the tenderness of the meats and the uniqueness of the flavors trumped anything about presentation. I would highly recommend the short rib on lemograss skewers and the baby lamb lollipops as small plates. (One note: my biggest complaint about the food was the variety of sizes of lamb; one of the four pieces was about half the size as the largest piece.) Of the three big plates that were ordered, I would definitely recommended the sizzling skirt steak. The phở was also unique and flavorful but hard to share.
Don’t forget the dessert! The best bang for your buck was the Thai chili chocolate ice cream, a delectable and unique flavor. The dark chocolate bread pudding was also good.
Lastly, the cocktails all looked appealing and refreshing. I ordered the Jane Fonda, essentially a mojito with ginger liqueur. It was very tasty, but if I go back, I’ll want to try one of the other cocktails.
One last note: I know Unilocalers have said that Bar Bao is «casual,» but I’d say it’s one step above casual. You don’t have to be dressy, but most people will be in «going out» attire.

Everything about this place deserves a five star rating!
First, the ambiance is classy, comfortable… would be a very great date restaurant. Next, the service was top notch. You truly felt like you were being taken care of and the server, Josh, was friendly and full of great recommendations.
And most importantly the food!!! For our small plates, we ordered the spicy beef salad, short rib on lemongrass skewers, baby lamb lollipops; with the skewers being my favorite. For our big plates, we ordered the mustard glazed duck, sizzling skirt steak, and phở; my favorite truthfully was the phở. For dessert, the Thai chili chocolate ice cream and the dark chocolate bread pudding. Lastly, for drinks the Jane Fonda … basically a mojito but with ginger liqueur… it is my personal belief that American food does not use enough ginger!

Tasty cuisine, warm service, and chic and cozy ambience. I’m an admitted skeptic of Asian fusion cuisine because the «fusing» often fails to do justice to either cuisine, but I enjoyed Bar Bao a lot.
The daikon duck hash, which we had to investigate, was a delicious mixture of sweet and savory tastes embodied in soft and crispy daikon cake and duck hash. The daikon comes in the form of what the Chinese refer to as «daikon cake» (cubes of daikon mixed in rice flour steamed, then pan fried; savory, not sweet).
The phở features tender beef and noodles in a savory and not overly seasoned. My only complaint was that I was expecting a large cauldron-​like bowl of broth and noodles; not here — maybe that’s where the fusion part comes in. Perhaps the median American palate does not crave large cauldrons of broth.
I didn’t quite get my phở fix, but the entrees at Bar Bao were tasty and creative.

The Family style dinner at BarBao served on Sundays is a good example of how a few outstanding elements can compensate what otherwise would have been an average meal. The deal is as simple and attractive as is sounds: three course prix-​fixe menu, with four appetizers and four entrees to share and dessert = $ 28/​person. And attention: AYCE, since you can keep ordering the dishes that run out until you get satisfied.
Our four appetizers included Summer rolls with Berkshire Pork, Crispy Calamari, Daikon Duck Hash and Short Ribs on Lemongrass skewers. While I wasn’t impressed for the calamari, and the rolls was good but nothing exceptional, the ribs on the skewers however, invite you to general «whoas» just with the look, and to keep eating with the tenderness of the meat. I liked it a lot but I have to point out that its described as seasoned with peanut sauce but this was a little weak, the jalapeño rings coming along are not easy to eat with the meat and also the hot sauce, where you can dip the ribs if you like spicy, is just regular. Something that not only was the best dish of this meal, but that will be imprinted in my memories as one of this dishes to remember no matter where or when, is the Daikon Duck Hash; served over an iron-​pan with sweet soy sauce and a poached egg on the top to mix right before you are eating. As result, a rich and creamy texture, the most tender cubes that you can imagine and balanced flavors. It looked to me like old style cooking, nothing fusion here or Chef-​school type food. But who said a dish must be invented in the «College» for being exceptional.
We got next our four entrees after 2 extra orders of ribs skewers (did I say already that you can keep ordering with no charge?). The Coconut-​Curry Shrimp with vegetables and Mushrooms was good but it was a regular dish as well as the Vermicelli Noodle that I didn’t like too much. We also had some extra orders of rice. Fried rice was just ok and I highly recommend the sticky rice with Chinese Sausage. But as I said, compensation was key and so we had 2 entrees that equilibrate the main courses. Meat-​Eaters, attention please. you will probably like the Sizzilng Skirt Steak; medium-​rare, tender and far away from overdressing. pure red-​ish protein along with onions scented in Pandan, a typical herb used for flavoring in Southeast Asian cuisine. Although not as impressive as the hash, another dish to remember at BarBao is the Iron Pot Organic Chicken. Cooked inside of a small iron cauldron, the lid is removed once is served and again scents of old style home cooking will fill the air. It comes along Quail Eggs, Shallots, Shiitake, Ginger and be care, 1 – 2 small chilies/​pot. The spiciness is barely noticeable, but a bite to the pepper will deeply burn you. Anyways, the chicken was amazingly tender. Because is organic, because the way they cook it, because of both? I just loved this dish and it’s perfect for Winter time. Dessert was as simple as ice cream; 2 big scoops and you can choose among vanilla, milk-​chocolate or Thai-​chili chocolate. There is several bowls in the bar area with different toppings; from nuts to small marshmallows to chocolate sauce to customize your ice cream. The rumor was that the regular chocolate wasn’t very good. I’m very simple in terms of chocolate preferences: 2 scoops of spicy-​chocolate for me please. It was great.
Wine, Cocktails and international variety of beers from Europe to Asia, has their own space at BarBao. I was in a mandatory alcohol deprivation since I was still paying for the cold weather. Unfortunately, they don’t serve any tea which disappoint me a lot but I still could enjoy a nice «virgin» cocktail after to express my favorite taste to our server. In between, he was exceptional. As well as the other waiters. I have to say here that it was freezing at the end of our dinner which is not only uncomfortable for customers but also the food get cold very fast affecting how it taste. This is not as simple and it should be considered. But lets forget this; I loved how BarBao looks. As well as for Socarrat Paella bar and Allen and Delancey, RKIT is the designer team behind BarBao. Again, simple and attractive is what they accomplish; a big open space, vintage style looking, chill-​out and suggestive, really sexy; soft lighting, botanicals, mirrors, semicircle sofas that somehow privatize your group, and some old Vietnamese posters with the appearance of a code bar filling a few walls of white bricks. I’m pretty sure that you will automatically smile with complicity when you first check it out.
With a functionally equivalent formula to the Restaurant Week menus, the family dinner at BarBao is a formal presentation of what they are able to do with an affordable price for «customers caption» that will further explore their regular menu. Did they reach the objective? Groups will be satisfied, individuals will probably come back… Yes, they did in fact

Delicious! and what a unique restaurant. From the ceilings to the décor to the layout, the whole place was a fresh take on a Manhattan hotspot. Really enjoyed it.
The food was delicious, I had the duck and my boyfriend got the «loup de mer» Both were fabulous. We also ordered the short ribs for an appetizer, and for dessert, we walked on the wild side and got the Thai Chili Chocolate Ice Cream cones. Be warned: They are spicy! But good. Worth having at least once.
The prices are a little steep, so this is more of a once in awhile place, but we went using Diners Deck and was an awesome opportunity to go someplace I wouldn’t have thought to go.

Disclaimer: I came here for cocktails and spring rolls only.
Review: The cocktails rock. The bartenders rock. Prices are a little high, but eeeh, it’s worth it. Spring rolls are okay.
Memorable cocktails: China Beach — I’m obsessed with elderflower, so this was an automatic WIN in my book. Saigon Needle — I’ve never had a cocktail with saffron in it, and I was pretty skeptical at first. Skepticism was quickly shoved out the window as soon as i had my first sip. V9 — It’s like the fancy night time version of bloody mary
One more thing worth mentioning: There were a lot of people eating their dinner alone at the bar. So for those of you who are (1) brave enough to do that (2) are interested in doing that… this might be a good place for ya!

So I chose this restaurant for my mom’s 60^th birthday dinner after taking her to the Museum of Natural History. It’s a short walk away but it was friggin COLD last weekend. We arrived at around 6pm as a family friend had a show to catch afterwards.
The place is low key and the décor is nice as mentioned in other reviews. Fairly understated and does it well. Coat check and a nice spacious waiting area with a bar, chairs, and couches. My family was able to relax there while I ran out and got the car.
We had a larger group of people (8 total) with a reservation for 7… we were seated at a round table that they were able to easily add an extra place setting without much fuss. When we went, the restaurant was fairly empty… (probably because it was early and it was friggin cold). The dining space is pretty large.
They had a decent selection of beer and wine and an extensive cocktail menu. We didn’t have any cocktails though.
First off, portions were small… so QPR isn’t that great but since all the food we ordered tended to be very rich, it might be easy for you to get full. If you’re one to gorge till you can’t eat, don’t come here unless you’re ready to plunk down some serious cash or order lots of rice.
The waiter had suggested that we order everything at once to prevent an «unnatural» lag between the appetizers and the main dishes. But the kitchen wasn’t slow at all that day. Appetizers were out in about 5 minutes and the main dishes all soon followed in 5 – 20 minutes depending on cooking time. There was one or two dishes that came out later, most likely because of a longer cooking time but all the «fast» dishes came FAST, almost immediately after the appetizers. The desserts took a little longer in comparison… about 20 minutes… again, probably just cooking time.
We ordered two appetizers, both were good but neither was truly memorable. The big plates were where the action was. Organic chicken was a hit, juicy and flavorful. The strip steak was good and the sauces on point with a yummy sauce, but I’d go elsewhere for better value. The pork belly was great, very rich and crispy, though there was a tiny hint of dryness in a few pieces. The duck breast was great as well, cooked perfectly, moist and tender. The pan-​roasted fish was good too… cooked exactly on point again… but this isn’t a complex mind-​boggling dish. We also ordered the vermicelli noodles and the shanghai noodles. Everyone LOVED the shanghai noodles, very VERY tasty… totally on point, fresh tender, super flavorful. The vermicelli noodles were good but again, value is lacking.
Dessert was a couple of pandan flans, the thai chile ice cream, and a super decadent and very yummy dark chocolate bread pudding. The flan was good and ice cream was interesting but nothing to write home about. But the bread pudding was sooo good, it was worth the extra wait. Not too sweet, good balance of chocolate flavor. And this coming from a non-​chocoholic (chocolol?).
There were some nice standout dishes and our experience was quite nice overall. However, being the cheap bastard that I am… I’m always on the lookout for QPR and fillin’ ma bell-​ay.
3.5 stars due to mediocre value for your dollar.

This is not a place one just stumbles across. The golden lettering on the door is discreet and there is little indication from the street of what goes on inside. But what does go on inside is well worth checking out.
First off, the atmosphere of Bar Bao is sophisticated and yet comfortable. It’s a good place for a small group of friends or for a date. The décor is simple and cozy, especially in the extension of the main dining area where oval tables feature a kind of love seat on one side and two armchairs on the other. And these aren’t the kind of plush seats that making eating at a table difficult… they’ve got firm backs and sit reasonably high. In other words, you’re not going to spill all over yourself or fall into the cracks of the upholstery as you might while eating in your own living room.
Moving on to the good stuff, Bar Bao has a creative cocktail menu («China Beach» with the trendy St. Germain elderflower goodness), some great beers (try the Goose Island Brown), and a good selection of wines.
For food, begin by sharing a bunch of small plates. The duck hash is flavorful and accompanied by deliciously light sauteed daikon cubes. The cuttlefish is anything but fishy… tender and rich balanced with some crisp green shoots. Also try the lamb lollipops… they are incredible.
For the mains, sharing is also the way to go. All the dishes are awesome and this will give you a taste of more than one. Definitely try the pork belly, which is one of the best pork dishes I have yet to try… anywhere. The curry shrimp are subtly flavored with lemongrass and creep up on you with a pleasant after-​kick. I also enjoyed the vegetarian noodles, though my dining companions felt that they were more of the take-​out variety.
For a mix of traditional and edgy on the dessert front, give the chocolate-​chili ice cream cones (literally two big ice cream cones) a try.

Although Bar Bao is quite large and the service is great, it is definitely a destination so if you plan on going after 8pm (weekend or weekday) you’d be wise to call ahead for a reservation.

My meal here started out amazing. I had the cucumber, lime, and lychee cocktail and my bf had the tequila, lime, and chili-​salt drink– both were very unique and delicious. We shared two appetizers to start: the duck hash and the sizzling cuttlefish. Wow. They were intensely flavorful, and they really complemented each other. The duck hash was soft, smoky, and sweet, while the cuttlefish was salty, peppery, and limey with a much chewier texture. Together, the drinks and apps were a perfect start to the meal, and I was ready to love Barbao.
As we were finishing our appetizers, we decided to get another round of cocktails instead of wine. Unfortunately, after taking our order, our waiter just disappeared. Our drinks sat empty. Our meals came: my bf’s loup de mer was great– fresh fish with a sweet coconut broth. My wagyu phở was disappointing– the soup was just really underseasoned. It took me so long to get the attention of a busboy and ask him for salt that my noodles were soggy and gummy by the time I seasoned the broth. And we still didn’t get to order more drinks. Waiter dude reappeared in time to try to give us the dessert menu.
The food was great (except for the phở), and I loved the drinks. The service was terrible.

Yes, the duck hash is all it’s cracked up to be. Tender duck confit, tossed with roasted daikon (crispy on the outside, tender on the inside), with a beautifully poached egg on top. One of the best dishes I’ve had since I’ve moved to New York. I followed up with the fish special, which was a filet of black cod, served over glass noodles, with mushrooms and tomatoes, all in a ginger soy broth. Absolutely fantastic. My husband had the pork belly, which was huge… and followed the flavor profile of the duck hash a bit too closely, so don’t order both.
The atmosphere is elegant and hip, and the service was quite good. I did feel that it was a bit overpriced, but in these tough economic times, what isn’t?
If you’re looking for a nice night out, I would highly recommend Bar Bao. And please, for the love of God, order the duck hash.

We adored BarBao– the place is spacious and comfortable, bustling enough to feel festive but not so crowded that you feel like you have to shout across the table to chat with your dining companions. Particularly notable were the noodles and the amazing snapper– despite the Vietnamese inspired cuisine, it’s not family style eating (we tried and failed miserably– the dishes just aren’t sized appropriately for sharing) but nonetheless, the price feels reasonable, and a meal at Barbao feels like a fun night out.

Great food! Great atmosphere! Very romantic but also appropriate for a Sunday night dinner with the family. Must say though was not impressed all with the wait staff. Our waiter was pleasantly rude (the type of rudeness that comes off as just uninterested in being in the restaurant or helping you, versus having an attitude) and seemed amazed that we were not interested in the ’ Sunday Family Feast ’ offered on Sunday nights. GREAT OPTION for eating with the family because you can order 3 courses for $ 28 from a pre fixe menu. If it’s your first time though like it was ours you may not want to stick to the Sunday Feast menu and order separates.
The whole red snapper was delicious! Very reminiscent of a Thai Basil mixture. The lemongrass salad appetizer was also delicious! 4 people had 4 separate entrees and all loved it. Would definitely go back solely on the food.

Classy place. It’s spacious and not too loud like most Manhattan restaurants. We’ve been three times at least and always been satisfied. Usually one of us gets the red snapper, which is crispy and tasty. This time around, I got a sword fish special in a ginger sauce. Instead of appetizers we got the salted peppery corn on the cob. That was a revelation! And good eggplant.
Sometimes I’ve had the duck hash – could be heavenly, but they put a raw egg on it, which is supposed to be cooked by the heat of the hast and sometimes it isn’t quiet, which grosses me out.
Cocktails are good – I got a lychee/​cucumber concoction that was very refreshing.

(Full Disclosure: This review is of Bar Bao’s $ 28 ‘family meal’, offered only on Sunday dinner service.)
There’s a phrase in Vietnamese that is the linguistic equivalent of «Bön Appetit» — An nào, or simply, ‘enjoy your meal’.
And enjoy our meals we did. For the price paid, it’s an unparalleled feast of Vietnamese classics fused with modern techniques in a comfortable, chic, sexy setting. For the price, quality and quantity (essentially AYCE) of food, it’s a veritable upscale soup kitchen.
** Mounts the soap box **
I’ve always extolled the virtues of the humble restaurant week set menu. Bad restaurants half-​ass it. Good restaurants use them as a marketing tool to bring back punters for the full priced menus. Bar Bao knocks it out of the fucking park.
The $ 28 family style menu features a tasting of 4 starters, 4 entrees, and one dessert. It’s less of a tasting and more of a all-​out gorge fest, as you can request ‘re-​fills’ of individual dishes.
While dining experiences will vary (they switch out the items on the family menu every week), the execution is spot on. A crunchy fresh summer roll with a subtle hint of background heat, juicy short rib wrapped around a stalk of lemon grass, duck hash (incredibly rich, fatty and unctuous) with a slow poached egg, and a satisfying dish of vermicelli were standouts for me.
Vietnamese cookery is famous for hitting all 5 taste sensations, and Bar Bao does not disappoint. There’s earthiness from the chili glazed chicken breast with Chinese broccoli. There’s brightness from the fried spring rolls, wrapped with fresh lettuce and dipped in the chili/​huac nom sauce. And an added surprise from the chili chocolate ice cream. There was nary a miss on execution — the food was on point, full of flavor, and totally delicious.
Have I used enough superlatives in this review yet?
This meal, while humbly priced, at $ 28, blew away my expectations, and certainly warrants a return visit.
I can’t opine on the their regular a la carte fare, but if you happen on their Sunday family meal, then I bid you a well substantiated, An nào!

Bar Bao is tucked away on a quiet street off of Broadway — surprising you with a fairly large and well decorated space. The music is bumping at just the right volume, is set to 90-​early 2000s jams, the people are happy, waitstaff — friendly, bartenders — good looking, crowd– diverse and pleasant and the food — satisfying.
This was a great, random selection by our group a few Fridays ago. Huge portions, great for catching up, people watching and having a fun, yet mellow Friday night. I’ll be back for their creative drinks, pork belly, huge vermicelli dish and pork spring rolls.

Let’s focus on one thing, here: the phở. The phở is amazing. I think it may be the best in the city. Now, I’m not Vietnamese, and I’m no phở expert, and I’ve not taken a formal survey of the city’s phở offerings (phofferings?), but – I’ve had bad phở, and I’ve had good phở, and Bar Bao’s phở is good. To boot, it is consistent: I’ve had it several times over a two-​year span, and it’s been as excellent each time. I should probably be ordering other things on the menu. It’s not good form to stick only to what you know. But I cannot resist this phở.
Bar Bao is kind of a fancy schmancy place, with a chic décor and dim lights and good music and creative cocktails and almost-​but-​not-​quite-​stupidly high prices, and I’ve been here several times with variously sized groups of people, and folks have ordered all sorts of things and liked them a lot, but I swear, the $ 12 phở – I think it may be the cheapest entrée on the menu – it cannot be beat.
Other notes: the shrimp salad with carrot and cabbage – very good. The grilled corn – very good. The yucca waffle dessert I’ve had twice: the first time, fantastic; the second time, like a sog of poop on a plate. Don’t know what’s up with that. Avoid.
I’m always looking to go back.

Beautifully decorated restaurant, and one of the most unique menus I’ve seen which compliments the ambiance perfectly. I would start out by saying not to be afraid to order many dishes as the portions are not large. We ordered
1. Daikon Duck Hash slow poached egg, duck bacon, sweet soy
2. Summer Rolls short rib
3. Pan-​seared market fish with glass noodles, shitake mushrooms, Chinese celery and ginger-​soy broth
4. Asian Eggplant scallion oil, yuzu soy cham
5. Glazed Duck Breast
6. Sweet Yucca Waffle drizzled with a coffee caramel sauce
The duck hash was fantastic, very unique, bold flavor, and wonderful textures that balanced each other perfectly. You could choose what you wanted in the summer rolls, and though the filling was very nice, the texture of the wrap itself was too gelatinous for my liking. They did have a cute presentation however, looked like lollipops. The market fish was also incredibly fresh and tasty. The duck breast had a mustard glaze and was cooked to perfection– WOW! The eggplant was not my favorite, but I am not the biggest vegetable fan. I was not too crazy about the consistency.
The desert was fabulous, crunch, and the right amount of sweetness and variety of flavors. They also serve French Pressed coffees/​teas. We had the Chamomile with Lavender– strong, but very nice. Great end to a wonderful meal.
This place would also be a fantastic place for a date as the atmosphere is great and the service is friendly.

I went there this past Saturday with two friends, and we had a wonderful experience. All the dishes were tasty. They did a great job with the French/​Vietnamese fusion cuisine.
For apps we enjoyed:
sizzling cuttlefish (excellent!)
duck w/​daikon hash (also a winner)
For dinner:
duck breast (amazing! highly recommend this! so tender, not tough at all, and the crispy skin was very well seasoned!)
blackened cod (good)
duck fried rice (MUST try this! delicious. best fried rice ever)
smoked tofu (really good, although I think you should be a tofu lover to fully appreciate)
For dessert:
mocha bread pudding w/​cinnamon ice cream (you’ve never had bread pudding like this before. trust me!)
flan (the nuts on top really made the dish. very delicious!)
One negative was our server. He was slightly inattentative and was distracted while taking our orders. When we left, he suggested that we tell the manager what a great job he had done… weird!
Other than that, it was a positively lovely experience! Can’t wait to go back :)

Bar Bao is a welcomed switch from previous tenant Rain — a solid Vietnamese/​Asian Fusion restaurant but also pricy and staid.
Came here with my gf this weekend and had a really nice meal. LOVED the cuttlefish (squid) appetizer ($ 12). Great texture and great spicing (salt, pepper, some heat). The Daikon Duck Hash ($ 12) had a nice flavor — could’ve used a bit more duck but the diced daikon (think lighter potato) soaked up the sauce quite well.
For entrees, the Berkshire Pork Belly ($ 22) was cooked very well. Nice subtle flavor. Better entrée to share. Their Phở ($ 12) is pricier than usual but the delicious slices of wagyu within it made it worth it. Liked the beef-​flavored broth and the noodles (which resembled linguini more than vermicelli). Really enjoyed our snow pea shoots side dish in a salty fish sauce.
Cocktails were solid. Great bar and dining space — dark, kinda sexy.
While I feel some slightly upscale restaurants can skate by with good food in the UWS, I think Bar Bao is one that can thrive anywhere in NYC. I liked it better than the other upscale Vietnamese restaurants I’ve dined at (Mai House, Viet Café).
Sidenote:
While it doesn’t feel like a UWS restaurant, there’s still a lot of UWSers frequenting it. We felt like we were dining with extras from a Woody Allen film (back before his Europe /​Scarlett Johannsen fascinations.)

Wasn’t sure what I’d get when I approached the large wooden doors of Bar Bao and crept through the dim lighting to my party’s table (I was late,) but I knew I was in for at least an attempt at interesting food given the French Vietnamese spin.
We were solicited a little too frequently for our drink orders, but when we finally decided, we ended up with some spectacular choices. My one friend got the cucumber lime cocktail, which was very refreshing. I went with the Red Dawn, which is a mix of tequila, passion fruit and chiles with a chile/​salt rim. It was delicious and not so spicy that it was unbearable. Hot and sweet mingled nicely.
We decided to share a few appetizers. The shrimp summer rolls were really great with the sauce, but the duck summer rolls had a funky taste that I couldn’t quite pin down. Needless to say, I avoided them.
However, it was the sizzling cuttlefish that really stole the show. It’s so rare to find cephalopods that don’t taste like chewing gum, but these were fabulously soft, meaty, spicy, and yes sizzling. So much so that I nearly burnt my mouth off on a chile I mistook for a green bean. Watch what you eat here, despite the dimness.
Then it was time for entrees. I went with the lamb shank mainly because it comes with a pandan parsnip purée. The side was an awesome combination, as were the few vegetables that accompanied what I’d call an extremely tender and soft piece of lamb meat. It wasn’t spicy as described, but I loved every little moist bit of it.
One of my friends ordered the phở noodles which had extremely fatty pieces of Wagyu beef in it and an abundance of sweetbreads. I was already turned off, but my one bite of the noodles + broth was good ‘n hearty.
Next was the claypot with shrimp and fish… considering what we paid it was awfully microscopic and not that amazing; the market fish (can’t remember it at the moment,) was the only thing that stood out amongst the bland dish.
Finally there was the loup de mer with green curry, hearts of palm purée and chanterelles. This, my friends, was a winner, and it’s rare that one gets a fish so moist and firm and mmph. Definitely the physical embodiment of this restaurant’s theme.
For sides we shared sweet potato shoots in fish sauce (thumbs up,) and super sticky rice with sausage and scallions (another favorite — I couldn’t get over how positively GLUTINOUS it was.)
As a dessert lover, it was essential that I hear the desserts of the day. We decided to get all three.
Avoid the market basket because it unfortunately sucks despite the idea behind it. The mango’s fine, so is the pineapple… even the pomelo is doable. But the persimmon is gross (or as our waiter called it, parsimmon,) and the chili-​salt powder they pair these poor fruits with makes the entire dish taste like crap.
However, the night was saved by the pandan flan, a dessert with a catchy name that lives up to the curiosity it induces. The thick custard is topped with coconut foam, ginkgo nuts, and Chinese red dates… delicious. The other dessert, a yucca cake shaped like a waffle, envelops a filling of Vietnamese coffee caramel and sweet corn. Ahhh the corn is what makes it really shine. it adds so much crunchiness and levels out the sweetness. The dulce de leche gelato on top just completes the picture.
How was service? A little shaky at times but amiable enough, and I got a kick out of how they turned the lights up the later it got… how UNromantic: P. Definitely perfect for a date or merely a good friend. Some misses but plenty of hits.