Diners at Ben Pho Restaurant in Nha Trang City can look out on spectacular views while enjoying sumptuous seafood served according to taste. Minh Thu reports.
When on a holiday, I expect to savour local cuisine, for not only its quality, but also its proximity.
Once, while walking along Tran Phu Street, which is one of the most beautiful coastal streets in Nha Trang City, I discovered the lovely Ben Pho Restaurant nestled on the bank of the Cai River.
When on a holiday, I expect to savour local cuisine, for not only its quality, but also its proximity.
Once, while walking along Tran Phu Street, which is one of the most beautiful coastal streets in Nha Trang City, I discovered the lovely Ben Pho Restaurant nestled on the bank of the Cai River.
Nightime nostalgia:Ben Pho, which means "wharf, street", offers, as its name suggests, a beautiful view of Tran Phu and Bong bridges, as well solemn Ponagar Tower and the busy wharf on the Cai River.
The restaurant enjoys panoramic views of flashy Tran Phu Bridge, leading to the city centre, ancient and solemn Ponagar Tower situated on a hilltop and the old Bong Bridge, spanning the noisy wharf.
Letting a nimble valet help us park our motorbike, my colleague and I walk along a gravelled path at the end of which we met restaurant manager Nguyen Van Tuan.
Mistaken for a couple, we are led to a fishing-net and hurriane lamp in a decorated wooden pavilion, "the most romantic and private corner of the restaurant", according to Tuan.
Apart from the scenically elevated pavilion, diners can also enjoy a night sat at tables spread out along the riverbank, from which the sound of waves crashing and the smell of the sea is all too endearing
For starters, Tuan suggested we try the deliciously fresh American baked shellfish with cream dressing, minced meat, spices and cheese sauce, a real appetite stoker.
For mains, we were wowed by oysters steamed in a pot full of pre-heated rocks, lifting the lid of which releases copious amounts of steam, forcing the oysters to open their shells. The mouth-watering dish is served with salt, pepper, lime juice and slices of fresh chilli.
"Preparing food on volcanic rocks used to be considered naturally delicious and healthy," Tuan explained, adding that "steam rising from the rocks was said to bestow therapeutic properties to food."
Tuan said that he and his staff often researched new recipes in order to add new
and exciting dishes to the menu.
A dish of noodles stir-fried with seafood takes us on a culinary journey of octopus, prawns, oysters, clams and crab.
We follow up with round, yellow pieces of soft fried tofu covered in crispy wheat flour, accompanied by marjoram leaves, traditional black soy sauce and optional mayonnaise and chutney that, to our delight, mix exquisitely with the tofu.
According to Tuan, a good sauce is no less important than the main ingredients of a dish in providing diners with a new and surprising experience.
"Besides the quality of food, staff attitude is very important in satisfying diners. We try not to only serve customers, but also talk and engage with them with regards to their choices of food," Tuan explained.
Coming from suburban Ha Noi, the manager has gained plenty of experience in understanding popular tastes from different parts of the world.
"In the case of northern food, I always ask the cook to adjust spicing to make the dishes more familiar. I know that while southern people prefer food with a bit of sugar, northern people don't," he said.
With specific attention to detail, the Ben Pho Restaurant serves an array of specialities including eel, ostrich and crocodile, each dish nothing less than a surprise. — VNS
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Ben Pho Restaurant
Add: Beside Bong Bridge, Nha Trang City
Tel: 0905 98 99 98
Price: from VND20,000
Website: nhahangbenpho.com
Comment: Nice view, local specialities such as sea food, ostrich and crocodile, friendly staff.
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