Take an exotic trip without leaving the country
Written: Aug 21 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Food, Ambiance & Service
Cons: Dessert, portion sizes
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| cchille's Full Review: Ana Mandara |
Having recently moved from my home state of New York, I am always on the lookout for wonderful restaurants to try on this coast. I was very pleasantly surprised to find not only a wonderful restaurant but an exceptional one in Ana Mandara.
I made reservations for my husband and myself approximately two weeks in advance for a Saturday night and had no problem securing a reservation for the time I desired. From the moment you enter Ana Mandara you cannot help but feel that you have taken a step to some exotic faraway place. Every element of the decor has been carefully undertaken and it shows. I have been told that anything that has not come directly from Viet Nam has been meticulously copied from an original Vietnamese treasure. Every step taken in the restaurant offered another visual treat but it was the service and the food that really excelled at this restaurant.
Having heard that it was co-owned by Don Johnson (who reportedly fell in love with Viet Nam on his honeymoon) and Cheech Marin I was initially skeptical about finding a culinary treasure. Nothing could be further from the truth. Every morsel of food put into our mouths was more extraordinary than the last. From a complimentary appetizer of crab cakes served on bamboo brought by our enormously helpful and courteous waiter to the blue crab soup and field green salad, nothing disappointed as flavors swirled across our tongues. It was a fitting introduction for our main courses.
I ordered the lobster tower. The meat was so tender and succulent that I was actually sad when my meal was done. The lobster was accompanied by a sticky rice (which was flavorful but I would only rate as so so) and flying fish roe with a sprinkling of a wasabi based sauce to complement the lobster perfectly. My husband ordered the beef medallions and the highest compliment I can give it is that I do not like beef and thought it was spectacular. It has fast become my husband's favorite dish in the Bay area. The only down side is that you must order sides separately. We did not try any of the sides so I cannot rate them here. I must highly recommend the self-titled signature drink of the restaurant. It is a lemon drop martini. It is so refreshing and delicious and compliments any dish wonderfully. Again, I must sing the praises of our waiter.
I had heard some disparaging reviews of the service at Ana Mandara but I saw nothing but a professional, friendly, courteous and helpful staff. In fact, I even made sure to mention to the maitre d' how exceptional I found our waiter to be. The only item that I was able to find fault with was dessert. It was good, but not exceptional by any means but on the contrary, the vietnamese coffee was the best coffee I have ever had. Watch as your waiter pours it into a cup and milk appears to lighten it from nowhere. Now drink it without adding sugar, trust me, I am one of those people who used to drink coffee with my sugar and I did not need to add anything to the coffee.
Ana Mandara may be a bit pricey for a family and the portions are of the typical small California variety. Though there were children at the restaurant when we were, I cannot imagine that children will appreciate the mouth watering creations pouring forth from the kitchen. It is probably wiser to make this a night out for the adults. Overall this is a superb restaurant. Definitely worth a visit and don't let the Ghiradelli Sq. location scare you off. This is a treasure within the tourist area that should not go unappreciated by the locals. A must try!!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cchille
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Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
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