Rough Guide to Vietnam - Jan Dodd [271]
Al Fresco’s 23 Hai Ba Trung 04/3826 7782. The sister restaurant to Pepperonis(See "") is a relaxed place with a pleasant balcony on the first floor. Café, bar and grill in one, the menu includes good-quality Aussie and international fare, including ribs, salads, steaks and a choice of thin- or thick-crust pizzas from 92,000đ upwards, all served in hefty portions. 10am–10.30pm.
Bangkok Hanoi 52a Ly Thuong Kiet. Give your taste buds a work out with a fiery thom yam soup followed by a green, yellow or red Thai curry, washed down with a Singha beer. Despite the fancy exterior, it’s not too pricey – main dishes start at around 40,000đ. 10am–10pm.
Bobby Chinn 1 Ba Trieu 04/3934 8577. Hanoi’s standard-setting dining experience features Asian-Californian fusion food, mood music, contemporary Vietnamese art and an oh-so-laidback chill-out zone screened by silk-gauze partitions – indulge yourself with an Egyptian water-pipe (shisha). The limited lunchtime menu offers salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes from around $8, while in the evening a starter and main course will set you back around $30. The menu is seasonal but usually contains signature dishes such as filet mignon, blackened barramundi and, as a side dish, grapes wrapped in goat’s cheese with a pistachio crust. 11am–11pm.
Halia 83b Ly Thuong Kiet. A Singaporean restaurant serving European food in the business-heavy Pacific Place complex – “cosmopolitan” may be le mot juste. Lobster linguini and sauteed mushrooms with duck egg jump out from a slightly overpriced menu, though the set lunches ($18; 11.30am–2.30pm) are good value. 11am–11pm.
Highway 4 54 Mai Hac De 04/976 2647. The sister outlet to Highway 4(See "") is very much a restaurant – bigger, less rustic and more spacious – but otherwise follows the same successful formula: varied seating areas, a well-priced menu of classic Vietnamese flavours and, of course, the lip-smacking liquors and herbal teas. Phone ahead if you want a seat on the roof terrace. 10am–1am; food served until 11pm.
Hoa Sua 28a Ha Hoi 04/3942 4448. Well-presented Vietnamese and European food with a heavy French influence served on the plant-filled patio or in the a/c colonial villa buried in the backstreets – it’s not well signed, but don’t give up. Hoa Sua is part of a non-profit-making vocational training school giving disadvantaged children a start in the restaurant trade. Try a Vietnamese combo platter (35,000–48,000đ), or one of the daily specials, but save room for a wicked dessert. Live music Sat (7–10pm). Mon–Fri 11am–10pm, Sat & Sun 7.30am–10pm.
Indochine 16 Nam Ngu 04/3942 4097. See map "Hanoi". Food of consistently high quality at reasonable prices keeps this well-established restaurant up there with its younger rivals. Beautifully presented, original Vietnamese specialities, from seafood spring rolls to steamboat or the famous prawn on sugar cane, is served either in the colonial villa or its patio-courtyard. Evenings are popular with tour groups, so reservations are recommended. Traditional Vietnamese music Tues & Thurs (7.30–9.30pm). 11am–2pm & 5.30–10pm.
Koto 59 Van Mieu 04/3747 0337. See "Hanoi". Deservedly popular restaurant staffed by erstwhile street kids under a charity programme to train them in hospitality skills. Start the day with muesli and fresh fruits or a full buffet breakfast, then stop by later for a gourmet sandwich or a barbecued duck salad, but make sure you leave room for dessert. All proceeds are ploughed back into the charity, and you can also visit the training school by prior arrangement. 7am–10pm.
Le Tonkin 14 Ngo Van So 04/3943 3457. The garden lends more atmosphere to this sister restaurant of Indochine, but otherwise it follows the same formula: elegant but not exorbitant dining which makes a great introduction to Vietnamese cuisine. Traditional music on Mon & Fri (7.30–9.30pm). 11am–2pm & 5.30–10pm.
Nang Tam Com Chay 79a Tran Hung Dao. Small, vegetarian restaurant down a quiet alley off Tran Hung Dao and named after Vietnamese Cinderella character. Goi bo, a main-course salad of banana flower, star