A well preserved French colonial house stands elegantly in Chan Cam in the French Quarter of Hanoi. It was designed by the architect who designed the Opera and it was once used as the Spanish embassy. Rumour has it that ‘Uncle Ho’ used to visit the house. Now it is a restaurant.
There are multiple small dining rooms. Outside the courtyard is a well laid out comfortable dining area and although there was a chill in the air we choose to sit here. The restaurant is run by the French chef Didier Corlou and named after his wife’s grand-mother. It aims to celebrate the best of Vietnamese food and cooking developed over generations by Vietnamese women. This explains why the walls show varied pictures of women.
The menu is extensively Vietnamese and before we ordered a generous bowl of toasted nuts and prawn crackers was brought to our table. We choose a simple meal of pho, steamed pumpkin stalks with fried garlic and fried noodles with shrimps and vegetables. The pho was a clean tasting vegetable broth. The steamed pumpkin stalks were deep green, carefully steamed and lovely and garlicky. One portion of fried noodles was enough for two. Glossy, slippery noodles flavoured with aromatic herbs and tender sweet prawns. Each dish was well presented. The service was attentive, courteous and friendly. This is a good place to eat if you want to get away from the chaotic street food and sample finely balanced, fragrant Vietnamese food in comfortable surroundings. We spent just short of $20 for two of us.
Madame Hien, Café and restaurant. 15 Chan Cam, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam