our starters were these Cambodian spring rolls (rouleaux) that were filled with pork, peanuts, noodles, and veggies. the dipping sauce was sweet and peanut-y. they were delicious and much lighter tasting than your typical spring rolls.
nicki is eyeing the delicious starter
tim eager to eat. mmm
crispy wontons with flambeed shrimp (crevettes flambees) - the shrimp had a nice crunch to them, but the crispy wontons got a bit soggy in the sauce. taste was a little off - a little too tart.
our second second course were mussels with red peppers, scallions, and onions. these were absolutely delicious. the flavor was very light and the mussels were falling out of their shells. nom nom nom.
nicki's entree was a pan-roasted atlantic salmon with a garlic and shallot cream sauce over a bed of potatoes (which are well hidden upon presentation). the topping on the salmon filet was Shiitake mushrooms, leeks, and tomatoes. the fish was cooked perfectly, the topping was different, and the potatoes were tender. the sauce wasn't great though - almost a bit sour for a cream sauce.
tim's entree were braised boneless short ribs (khar saiko kroeung) paired shanghai noodles sauteed with baby bok choy, asparagus, and bean sprouts. this dish was our second favorite of the night. the ribs were so tender and flavorful, and the vegetables were really refreshing. the noodles were a bit heavy though for such strong, savory flavors.
lastly, our dessert for the evening was a chocolate truffle cake (le peche au chocolat). paired with a raspberry sauce and some light whipped cream, this cake was very rich and dense. almost necessary to share with someone else.
Atmosphere
The restaurant was filled with warm colors and had a huge elephant on the wall--Jumbo! It had large windows on the side facing Mass Ave. and they had dividers in between rooms to make it feel more intimate. Overall, the restaurant was very cozy for a cold, winter night.
Service
It was pretty terrible - our server never gave us bread and never checked on how our meals were doing. When he brought over our appetizers, he didn't clear the dish that was empty from our starter. It was definitely frustrating and made the experience less enjoyable.
Food
The food was disappointing, especially all our French dishes. The French dishes had flavors that were strange and distasteful. If we do go again (and it's unlikely), then we're going to stick with the Cambodian dishes.
Rating:
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