5/28/09

Speaking_ A restaurant in Hanoi_Wild Lotus

The Wild Lotus restaurant is one of the best options for Vietnamese cuisine outside the high-end hotel in Hanoi. This is a room decorated in the style "art deco" in the residential area of town where the main hotels are located. It has 2 distinct plants: a lower offering essentially bar service, with different tables and sofas in the middle of sources and a more distended; prepared for a top restaurant, not very big but spacious enough to enjoy a dinner quiet and without much noise.

We opted for dinner at the top where we were treated very well from the start. The kitchen could be defined as a fusion of Vietnamese cuisine, with many modern dyes that distinguish it from traditional cuisine that is found in other restaurants in town.

For a start we opted for some entrants based Vietnamese rolls that unlike the Chinese have a stronger flavor, partly because of the flavor of its mass (not fried like the Chinese). Additionally, a spinach salad with fruit and shrimp after several dishes made from beef and chicken and especially pork with mushrooms. Finally, a dessert consisting of sticky rice - rice paste - with vanilla ice cream.

Due to the limited depth of the wine list we opted for beer as a companion to our meal.

The cost of the dinner was about $ 25 - $ 35 per person, possibly in the range of higher prices in the city, in line with the quality of the dinner.

Conclusion:

Wild Lotus is a restaurant for a proper European standard but perhaps the most recommended under Vietnamese standards. It is a relaxed, well decorated and with a good service. Vietnamese cuisine is different to other Orientals, in part because it marked its flavor, so it might not satisfy all palates, but to appreciate the Wild Lotus is a good option.

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I had been in Wild lotus restaurant in my journey to Hanoi in 2006 and 2007 and it had been nice experiences, the environment was relaxing and comfortable ,the food and staff was nice also. But last May 9 aprox, I had recommended the place to my company group and their comment about the food and service was really regretful, they said that the food was bad and even they serve pork instead of beef, what they didn't ask for. I wish there were an explanation from the restaurant to clearify what really happened there. best regards.

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I went to this restaurant with a couple of friends in my recent trip to Hanoi in April 2009. The food, ambiance and service rival WolfGang Puck’s “Cut” steakhouse in Vegas. I guess that sums it up. Try it and you won’t regret…

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Shiny silver fairy floss light shades project batik snowflake patterns on the ceiling. Striking pink lotus float in clean calm ponds. Austere, confident bronze figures both recline and stand to attention.

"Good evening and welcome to Wild Lotus."

Wild Lotus is a sublime aesthetic and gastronomic trip, art-deco architecture outside, intricately curated gallery inside. Lotus adorn candlesticks, are shown on canvas in abstract decay, embossed in gold on hand-carved doors and delicately painted on ethereal silk curtain. This floral motif is tastefully everywhere at this rather recent addition to high-end dining in Hanoi.

A half sibling to the retreat restaurant, Moon River, this establishment's divine setting is contained on two floors, each distinct in shape and character. The upper storey is a recumbent splendour of cushions and couches, lending itself to aperitifs, coffee after a meal or a simple nightcap. On this floor, the dining transpires in a large recess featuring an ornately carved and curtained bay window. Downstairs offers a warm ambience of white coffee walls and soft chocolate brown chairs, the acoustics allowing intimate conversations to remain private.

This sophisticated blend of contemporary design and orientalia augurs well for the experience to follow. Fortunately, we are not disappointed. Having been unveiled only in March this year, it is inherently obvious that any early glitches have been resolved. As the menu says, the 'culinary journey' at Wild Lotus is themed around the 'old spice routes'. Influences from China, Thailand, India, and Japan, as well as Italy and France, combine to make the cuisine not international, but modern Vietnamese fusion.



Our soups and appetizers are palate pleasers. The creamy sweet corn and leek soup surprises with its crab and coriander dumplings. The five spice salad of pork, prawn, red cabbage and lotus root has an added triple crunch of cucumber, sesame seeds and peanuts and the tangy dressing is enhanced with the addition of shredded starfruit. We experience Japan's influence in the fresh salmon rolls, dipped in a punchy green sauce of ginger, chili and wasabi!

In the interim between courses, a flipped and propelled chopstick is attended to like lightning by our ao dai attired waitress. Before long, she delivers our main courses. The pan fried Nha Trang sea bass is filleted, succulent heaven with its accompanying salad of mango, cherry tomatoes and glass noodles - a real highlight! Sweet pickled shallots are the secret to the grilled beef with herbs and spices, enveloped in tender rolls of meat. Our vegetable dish is luscious, silky purple-skinned eggplant doused in a pork and prawn sauce.

For dessert, our unanimous recommendation is the Vietnamese black sticky rice with Thai custard and vanilla ice cream. It defies superlatives.



The wine list is informed and many marriages can be made with this fine cuisine. Cocktails, beers and other beverages are mixed and presented with precision and beauty. Wild Lotus is sure to become a dining institution in Hanoi and, without wanting to sully our exquisite evening with talk of money, the prices compare remarkably well to other high-end restaurants in the capital.

Wild Lotus Restaurant and Lounge
55A Nguyen Du, Hanoi

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