Restaurant Evaluate: Le Colonial
601 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Seaside; 561/566-1800
Le Colonial’s opening this previous February was extremely anticipated, and that’s an understatement. Its debut soiree attracted lots of of glitterati, all wanting to expertise Le Colonial’s French-Vietnamese delicacies on the new Atlantic Crossing. The area instantly transports you again to Saigon’s tropical paradise of the Nineteen Twenties. Lush birds of paradise and palms line the halls that lead into intimate eating nooks all through the 7,000-square-foot restaurant, vibrant wallpaper and art work adorn the partitions, and comfy banquettes invite you in to remain some time. Le Colonial radiates basic class that’s as refined as it’s comfy.
The model opened its first location 30 years in the past, and Delray’s outpost is its fifth, with a number of different cities within the pipeline, together with Naples and Scottsdale. Created to showcase Vietnamese delicacies and its French influences (France dominated the nation for many years), Le Colonial has a standout technique of curating basic Vietnamese dishes that enchantment to numerous palates.
Settling into our nook sales space, we began with a lychee martini ($15) and the First of the Final gin cocktail ($15). For somebody who adores lychee, particularly when it’s drenched in vodka, this drink was disappointing. To start out, it appeared that there was no precise lychee juice current. It’s made with a lychee liqueur that was then doused with lime juice. An excessive amount of lime and bitters overrode the gin’s smooth juniper notes.
Because the appetizers arrived, I used to be sanguine. The Bahn Uot ($16), or sesame beef ravioli, is a signature dish formed as sizeable rice noodle pillows full of grilled beef. I liked how the softness of the ravioli and beef performed off the crunch of the cucumbers and lettuce that high it. The basil and the lime garlic sauce with hints of sweetness and spice tie the dish’s flavors up properly for a satisfying opening to our meal. Our waitress rapidly glossed over the soup part, and I’m right here to inform you: Don’t sleep on the curry. I’m actually glad we didn’t. We shared the Cari Ga ($29), or yellow hen curry, and it was the star of the night. Creamy, flavorful and properly balanced, it delivers the whole lot you need in a curry. Plus, the jasmine rice we ordered with it was completely cooked.
Our two entrées have been the Ca Chim ($36), or halibut with “La Vong” scent, and Bo Luc Lac ($45), or shaking beef. The previous, cured with galangal, a Southeast Asian root within the ginger household, is an exquisite saffron hue on the surface and snowy white, smooth and flaky on the within. It’s vivid and citrusy with delicate spicy notes and topped with dill, mustard seed and pink peppers. The meat has hints of sweetness, and once more I loved the steadiness of its tenderness with the crunchiness that got here from the pickled onions and snow peas.
We ended with la noix de coco ($14), Le Colonial’s tackle a conventional Vietnamese frozen banana dessert. It’s a dainty chocolate cup stuffed with banana and coconut cream and topped with coconut flakes and toasted peanuts. It was an exquisite approach to end the meal in Delray’s new swanky, tropical oasis.
IF YOU GO
PARKING: Valet (on Northeast Seventh Avenue), parking storage (additionally on Northeast Seventh Avenue)
HOURS: Lunch Sat.-Solar, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Dinner Solar.-Wed., 5-10 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., 5-11 p.m.
PRICES: $14-$95
WEBSITE: delraybeach.lecolonial.com
Hungry for extra meals information? Go to our meals web page, and subscribe to the journal for probably the most scrumptious protection of Boca and past.
