Reviews by maliusmaximus
A bitter sweet symphony.
The food is very good, but at the price, you would expect it to be. I think there is nicer food available at the same price at places like say Green Tangerine.
The service is excellent and attentive. Have been there a few times, and the staff have always been nice.
However, I hear SO MANY stories from friends and other people relating to Bobby Chinn himself and his quality of character (not good)that you feel bad giving him so much money.
Recently had a Gin Martini there, cost $14. Ouch.
A mixed bag in my opinion. Won't go there again unless I feel like posing or smoking a Shisha.
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I love this place.
I've eaten here a few times. The food was excellent, but what really made it for me was the staff and the ambience. Everybody has huge smiles all the time and staff are clearly content with their jobs. I'm sure this is due in no small part to the owner, Mr Hai. We recently performed here for a charity gig, and the staff and the owner pulled out all stops. The staff stayed up until 2am even though they were meant to go home much earlier. As for the owner, he is an excellent person, and this shows in the quality of the restaurant, the great food and the general atmosphere.
The resident band, the Green Mango Guitars, are two very tight flamenco guitarists.The most recent time I've seen them play they were joined by a violinist who was also top notch.
The food here gets the first four stars, but it's the decor, the music, the vibe and above all the staff and owner that get the fifth star.
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A very pretty cafe with a lovely outdoor setting, Au Lac has that certain something that makes passers by stop for a look at the menu.
The menu is a mix of French and Vietnamese cuisine. They are used to catering to the business crowd from the Metropole and the Hilton, so standards are generally high.
The food in my experience ranges between quite good and very ordinary. It seems to be a bit of a pot luck sometimes.
Definitely worth a visit. Their salads and pastas tend to be good.
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Very good food. At the moment, the pizza oven hasn't been installed so it's pasta only. Should change pretty soon.
The owner was a very friendly Italian man who gave us some complimentary drinks and a few tips on making vodka infusions!
The staff were excellent and very attentive. Fresh bread came out immediately and was replaced whenever eaten.
The street was a bit noisy when sitting outside so you may want to come here during lunch time or after 7pm when the traffic has died down a bit. Alternatively the inside area is very nice.
This place is bound to explode being so close to the Mausoleum so it will be interesting to see how they handle it.
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Where would we be without Mao's?
The tunes are excellent, the drinks are well priced and the vibe is awesome.
Mao (the owner) is one of the best people you'll ever meet, and deeply interested in his music. There is a strong showing of war-era rock, but its intermingled with some real surprises.
My only gripe: Why are the Halidas always finished so early (forcing us to buy the Larue.. still decently priced but hey it happens every week)
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Well this vegetarian restaurant blew my socks off. I promise. I'm sitting here right now with no socks and two holes in the floor.
Tamarind is in the heart of the old quarter,has a tour desk at the back and brochures in the front. Living here, that puts off a few alarm bells. But I'd heard good things, so what the hey.
It's appropriate to mention right now I am an avid meat eater. Big time.
The ambience wasn't mind blowing, but the chairs were some of the comfiest restaurant seats I've ever planted my bum in.
First up was a mango juice. The best and tastiest mango juice I've had in Hanoi. That's saying alot.
For mains I had the pumpkin soup and the mushroom steak.
The pumpkin soup tasted truly home made and it was evident the ingredients were fresh. The taste was spot on.
The mushroom steak was pretty spicy, but nice. The sides all had a unique taste and were well prepared. I felt that everything I ate there was made very carefully.
The staff were also happy for me to practice my Vietnamese and responded in kind.
The food here was some of the best I've tasted in a while. Will definitely come again
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My partner and I recently ran a teacher training course in Hanoi and we chose Com Viet to feed our trainees for two days out of the five. These guys have a broad selection of set menu choices. If you've got a group and haven't mastered the fine art of ordering for many, I think this place is a winner.
The location is quite convenient, just on the fringes of the old quarter.
The decor is quite nice and clean. The word "wood" definitely comes to mind.
There are a few conveniently placed pictures of Hilary Clinton dining at Com Viet, a fact I am sure they are very proud of. Could be worse though, the restaurant have tastefully chosen to keep Mrs Clinton out of the bathroom.
The staff were very attentive, and the duty manager spoke good English and Vietnamese.
There are set menus that you can order, starting at about 70000 per person from memory.
The food was nice. Well presented, tasty and varied. It doesn't reach the same level as say Quan An Ngon, but it was perfect for our needs and we'll go there again. Additionally it was much quieter and motorbike parking was a breeze. Would recommend this place for any large group that wants to eat a set meal in the old quarter without having to think too much about what they are ordering.
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Whilst there is no doubt that the setting for the Hub Pub is ideal, with a great open balcony area and comfy lounges on the middle level, we have gone there several times and have consistantly left with a bitter taste in our mouths. Cocktails arrive with no alcohol, and raising the issue brings an immediate apology. So quick in fact that one would suspect that the manager already knew.... This has happened about eight times in three visits so its reasonable to assume this is intentional. Additionally the food is below par and the music on the balcony is played very loudly and isn't the best. The staff, whilst friendly when attending, aren't exactly attentive. This pub is good for a specific purpose - Outdoor, afternoon, rooftop, sunset beers (beers only, no cocktails), in the Old Quarter, as long as nobody is eating, or doesn't mind an average meal and bad music. If you can hijack the sound system then you may have a good afternoon on your hands. Otherwise, more honest service is available elsewhere.
It's a pity, it's got so much potential.....
For possible Old Quarter sunset alternatives try the Balcony Bar on Le Thai To (currently no motorbike parking available) or Highlands just North of the lake (It's Highlands though so you know what you're getting.....)
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One of the cheapest and best places to eat in the old quarter. Staff are friendly. The food is good and very well priced. The coffee comes in big cups. The menu is diverse. Its a great place to frequent.
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