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| Juicy: Premium Black Angus tenderloin steak, perfectly cooked to medium rare. VNS Photo The Nomad Quynh |
Viet Nam News
by Nomad Quynh
Recently it was the birthday of one of my loved ones, and so I was looking for a nice place to bring him to. I wanted to try a steakhouse as we are both fans of steak.
Among the most famous steakhouses in the city, Rico is a name I often hear mentioned. Deciding to give it a try, I picked up the phone to make a reservation, telling them it was for a birthday. To my pleasant surprise, a cheerful voice on the line told me they would set up a nice table for us and there would be a complimentary dessert for the special occasion. The restaurant’s excellent customer service had started even before the meal began.
The address was a bit confusing at first, but we managed to find the restaurant using Google maps. It was a beautiful French colonial villa on a relatively quiet street very near the heart of downtown Ha Noi perfect place to enjoy some romantic quiet away from the hustle and bustle of traffic.
A smiling staff member greeted us at the door and showed us to our reserved table. It was a humid evening, so we decided to sit inside with the air conditioning, although I noticed a nice terrace outdoors which would be perfect for lunch time in cool weather.
The inside dining hall is separated into two spaces. The bigger one is right behind the entrance and a smaller one next to it is used for private functions. The whole place is not very big, but gives off a very warm cosy vibe with yellow lighting and dark-themed decor.
Having heard that this is one of the few places in the city that offers Beef Wellington, we were both really looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately, the staff informed us it had run out for the day. It turned out they only make a certain number of servings of Beef Wellington everyday, and we need to book it in advance. I will remember that next time.
We decided to go for steak instead. Most of them are Premium Black Angus beef, and we chose different cuts to try - one rib-eye and one tenderloin (VND799,000 for 350g), both medium rare. The menu also features higher-end choices such as full-blood Wagyu Tomahawk MB6, from 1.2 to 2kg, which would be a good sharing option for a bigger group, or Wagyu Striploin MB6 at VND1,299,000/250g or VND1,799,000/350g.
Our steaks arrived after the wine and the complimentary bread, which is quite a standard practice in most good western restaurants in Viet Nam these days.
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| Yum: Great sauces and side dishes compliment the steak wonderfully. VNS Photo The Nomad Quynh |
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| Cosy: A nice private corner. VNS Photo The Nomad Quynh |
At this price range, high quality steak done right is what customers would expect, and indeed we were greatly satisfied. Both of our steaks were very tender, juicy and most importantly, they were cooked exactly medium rare as we asked - a request that isn’t always fulfilled, depending on where you go.
A good steak would not be complete without good sauces and side dishes. We chose three sauces – red wine, truffle and blue cheese with walnuts – each priced at VND59,000. Then for sides, we went for ratatouille and mushroom with bacon gratin (VND69,000 each). I honestly can’t find anything to criticise about them. They were all perfect. I especially recommend the blue cheese with walnuts sauce, which probably had the most depth in terms of flavour and was amazing.
Upon finishing our main course, a complimentary chocolate fondant served with vanilla ice cream and English sauce, which is normally priced at VND119,000, was brought out to us. The cake was beautifully presented with a happy birthday message written on it, accompanied by the birthday music playing in the background. It was a perfect end to our lovely meal. As someone with a sweet tooth, I enjoyed the dessert a lot and will likely order it on my future visits.
Besides steak, the menu offers other choices as well such as pasta (VND189,000), premium New Zealand lamb chops with dauphine potatoes and chimichurri sauce (VND539,000), and of course, the famous Argentine Beef Wellington, which I failed to order this time, at VND719,000. A higher-end option is foie gras at VND889,000. I definitely will have to return for that dish. Starters and salads are also available.
Fittingly for a steakhouse, there is certainly no shortage of nice red wine options on Rico’s menu. My glass of Sangria was very refreshing and enjoyable as well. If you would like to give this place a try without breaking the bank, check out their very reasonable set lunch options at VND250,000 for three courses with steak included, available from Monday to Friday.
Overall, Rico is for sure one of the best options in Ha Noi if you are in the mood for steak. The food is great, the ambience is nice and the service is wonderful. Furthermore the location is quite convenient as it’s near city centre. Will I return? Definitely! VNS
RICO STEAKHOUSE
Address: 56 Tran Quoc Toan, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi
Tel: 0122 299 6789
Opening hours: Everyday from 11am – 2pm and 5pm – 11pm
Comment: Quality steakhouse with great professional service in a nice venue. Reservations in advance are highly recommended.
OVietnam