Review

Le Dalat sits in a centuries-old restored teak house with richly ornate interiors. Diners are serviced by waiters in classical Vietnamese costumes. The extensive menu showcases well-known Royal Vietnamese classics from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Begin with sharing appetisers, including fresh and fried spring rolls, packed with fragrance and flavours, cochinchine and pork brochettes and pho bo imperial, for which diners blanch tasty pieces of beef at table. For a lighter start, order goi cuon of fresh summer rolls with prawns accompanied by sweet chilli and peanut dip. Le Dalat’s rendition of bun cha is outstanding and is worth ordering for the table. The caramelised grilled pork holds a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and smoky notes. Stir-fried prawns with lemongrass sauce is a highly scented dish with an amalgamation of complex flavours. Indochine beef stew tempts, or take a richly comforting curry, either lamb or chicken. Try crispy crepe filled with soja mushroom, pork and shrimp, for a lighter option. Taro paste with ginkgo nuts, from the dessert menu, satisfies one’s sweet tooth whilst adding a burst of adventurous flavour. Presented in a charming fan-shaped menu, the drinks list offers wines, cocktails, non-alcoholic juices, smoothies, and traditional herbal drinks. Surrounded by antiques, old photographs, and lanterns, this is an enchanting place to immerse oneself for an evening.