Cay Co gets diners in the mood for love

Ha Noi’s cool autumn evenings are ripe for romance. A perfect spot for feeding your partner delicious forkfuls of nosh under the moonlight is Cay Co on Xuan Dieu Street. Marianne Brown takes a bite.

If you there’s a certain person you want to impress over dinner but don’t have an abundance of dong to spare, atmosphere and choice of dish can make all the difference over price. Last night I discovered a place that can cater to both, Cay Co, hidden away from prying eyes on the north side of West Lake.

Cay Co’s intimate eating area and beautiful views are best appreciated after dark. Along lively but quiet Xuan Dieu Street, with its treasure chest of glittering shop fronts peeking through the trees, Cay Co announces itself with a doorway strung with white lights. We led our motorbikes down a sloping corridor lined with shrubs and arrived in a small courtyard with an open bar and kitchen on one side and a mezzanine on the other. The dim lights and the stillness blanketed us in an atmosphere of calm, broken only by the rumbling of stomachs enticed by the smells wafting from the kitchen.

Despite the fact that many tables looked busy, scattered with foreigners and Vietnamese alike, we were immediately greeted by a waitress and headed for the best view, up to the mezzanine for a seat facing the lake. It’s sheltered from the rain and far enough away from the water to guard against any prowling mosquitoes.

Only a few minutes after sitting down we were sipping our fresh fruit drinks and perusing the menu, which is extensive – good if you want to cover up any awkward silences.

The choices themselves don’t vary wildly from other restaurants in the city, creating quite a typical medley of Vietnamese and European dishes with everything from chicken and corn soup beef salad and hot pot to pizza and spaghetti bolognaise.

The fish dishes, including several squid and eel options, have the most variety. I fried potato, half the price at VND40,000 ($3). To mute the hungry sounds in our bellies we also picked seafood nem (spring rolls) to share (VND9,500 each).

Although we had to wait about 10 minutes for my salmon, we enjoyed the time to take in the view. Looking out across a small lake, Tu Lien Pagoda is silhouetted against the distant streetlights and the moonlight is reflected in the water. You couldn’t ask for a more romantic backdrop.

First to arrive was our nem. It was just one roll with a thick layer of breadcrumbs wrapped around large prawns and jungle herbs. It wasn’t too dry and could be spiced up with some chilli dipping sauce on the side. Also, crucially, it could be politely carved up and eaten in small bites, saving me the embarrassment of licking my fingers.

After a short wait, our main courses arrived. My salmon was beautifully presented, the fish rolled with herbs in sweet creamy sauce on a bed of roughly mashed potato. The texture of the lightly charred skin, which gives a little before you taste the fish, works very well with the soft potato. The colours work well too, flecks of red chilli contrasting with the dark green seaweed. It’s also very easy to carve up with your knife and fork so you can pass tasty morsels across the table.

My partner’s choice was not so imaginative but still good. Although the potato was a bit dry he used the small bowl of finely chopped vegetables and mayonnaise to moisten it.

Soon we were both sitting back adding our quiet moans of contentment to the soft rumbling of the fans. It’s just as well the dessert menu is only fruit becathe mains were quite heavy.

If you want to get conversation flowing freely there’s a long list of French, Australian and Chilean wines ranging from VND111,000 (about $7) to VND385,000 ($24) per bottle. There is also a small choice of spirits and cocktails from VND25-30,000 ($1.5) if you want to spice things up a bit.

Full to capacity, it was a struggle to get down the stairs to the bar to pay. We were the last out but sensed no irritation or impatience from the staff who were kind and attentive to the last. Like a true gentleman, my friend refused my cash offerings for the VND165,000 ($10) bill, not that our meal lightened his pocket much.

 Cay Co Restaurant
Add: 92 Xuan Dieu St, Ha Noi
Tel: 04-71282141
Comment: Romantic dining for two that won’t empty your wallet (or your date’s).

Source VietnamNews