Le Colonial Lake Forest — Restaurant in Lake Forest

Edited again 11/5/22: After seeing multiple other low-star reviews that have been responded to by management, I am taking back one of the two stars I had initially given. Deliberately choosing not to address issues that were clearly and honestly laid out by contacting the reviewer epitomizes a flagrant disregard for dissatisfactory patron experience.

This establishment opened its doors on July 7th, 2022. Any reviews written before then were done without dining here and should not be allowed or taken into consideration.

Rampant miscommunication and poor, hands-off oversight is the name of the game, in which case Le Colonial actually deserves seven stars. We had guests in from DC and celebrated the finish of their visit with dinner at Le Colonial Monday evening… and we will not be going back. The location is amazing. The decor is beautiful. The atmosphere is great. Unfortunately that is where the buck stops and despite all of its aesthetic success, the restaurant is a bit of a disaster. After arriving, I went to the bar and ordered a round of drinks for our party (5). Shortly after the bartender started making them, our table was ready (great) so I asked the hostess if I should close out or have the check transferred to our table. The hostess said “no you can’t do that- we don’t do that here.” No problem, so I went to close out our tab. The bartender refused to let me do so and said that it is no problem to send the drinks to our table and combine the tab with our check… okay, we’re off to an interesting start. There were so many people coming to/around our table that we had no idea who our server was which honestly was just more confusing than anything else. Our food runner couldn’t tell us what dishes were being brought… he knew the name but had no idea what the dish was (or whom ordered it). The food was uncooked (raw lamb, beef, and salmon), going far beyond the acceptable rarer temperature that Vietnamese dishes often use. The real píece-de-resistance came with the check, which was delivered for $xxx. As our spouses were settling up the check, I walked our friend outside. On the way out, she shared an unemotional account of what just happened with the manager or whomever was wearing a sportcoat and checking on guests’ experiences as they left. By the time our entire party was outside, we were told how the credit card slips came back for signatures and the total for our bill had somehow grown by half! Ready to get out of there and be done with a sad excuse of a farewell dinner, we closed out and left. Management acknowledged that training has been insufficient and that untrained employees are not supposed to interface with diners. This place appears to have ridden in on its own coattails (good for you) but the GFY that it delivers is not the ‘good for you’ kind.

TLDR; “location and patio does not a restaurant make, much less...

I recently had the unfortunate misfortune of dining at Le Colonial, a restaurant that claims to celebrate the "seductive spirit and vivid flavors reminiscent of Saigon in the 1920s." As a patron, I expected an authentic experience that paid homage to Vietnamese culture, but instead, I found myself immersed in a tasteless affront that disregarded the painful history of Western colonialism in Vietnam.

The about page of Le Colonial promised a celebration of the "seductive spirit and vivid flavors reminiscent of Saigon in the 1920s." Well, let me assure you that there was nothing seductive or vivid about the bland, uninspired food I encountered. The dishes lacked any semblance of authenticity, with flavors so muted and forgettable that they failed to transport me anywhere, let alone to Saigon. The ingredients seemed to have been sourced from a bargain bin, as if the chefs had no intention of honoring the culinary traditions they purported to represent.

Moreover, the atmosphere at Le Colonial failed miserably in its attempt to recreate the ambiance of the era it aimed to evoke. The colonial architecture and decor were not an homage to history but rather a shallow imitation. The restaurant seemed to prioritize aesthetics over substance, resulting in a superficial and soulless environment that lacked any sense of cultural sensitivity. It was evident that the owners were more interested in profiting from a distorted narrative of the past than in genuinely honoring Vietnamese culture.

What is particularly distressing about Le Colonial is its complete disregard for the historical context of Western colonialism in Vietnam during the 1920s. This was a time of immense struggle and oppression for the Vietnamese people, as they fought against foreign powers seeking to exploit and control their land. By romanticizing and commodifying this painful period, Le Colonial trivializes the suffering endured by the Vietnamese population.

The insensitivity and cultural ignorance displayed by Le Colonial is deeply troubling. From the appropriation of Vietnamese culture to the lackluster food, the entire experience felt like a mockery of a proud and resilient nation.

I urge all discerning diners to steer clear of Le Colonial. Instead, seek out authentic Vietnamese restaurants that genuinely honor the country's culinary heritage while respecting its complex history. Le Colonial is nothing more than a soulless, offensive establishment that tarnishes the name of Vietnamese cuisine. Save your time, money, and taste buds and look elsewhere for a true...

We just happened to be visiting the Lake Forest Market Square and were smitten with this charming restaurant upon first sight. The bustling and beautiful outdoor patio called to us, and with Vietnamese food being some of my favorite cuisine, their front door plaque advertising French-Vietnamese fusion was equally alluring.

We were a party of 8, with no reservations, so it was a kindness and a blessing they were able to seat us indoors, which was also beautifully decorated.

The menu featured a multitude of enticing dishes that are a bit different from the usual Vietnamese restaurant offerings. I was very excited to give something new a try. The people sharing my table had varying preferences and familiarity with Vietnamese food, so we tried to get dishes that would appeal to everyone.

We sampled the chilled vegetable roll, the sesame beef ravioli, pork and noodle dish, crispy brussel sprouts, grilled eggplant, and perhaps something else I am forgetting. My husband wanted a bowl of their pho bo, so I tried that as well. Table guests also ordered the two mocktails, Saigon Mint Colada and Le Diable. Both of those were good, but I'd say Le Diable was a little better.

All in all, the food was sort of forgettable. Nothing really stood out as exceptional, and especially for the price. The meat in the sesame beef ravioli was especially a letdown, and the dish was overall sort of bland. When I think Vietnamese food, I am expecting a certain intensity of flavor, which nothing we tried really delivered. I have had authentic French food, and authentic Vietnamese food, both of which I preferred much more to anything I had here. Maybe we just ordered all of the wrong stuff, but still, too many things for none of them to be a hit. If I had to pick, my husband's pho bo was probably among the best of what was at the table.

In summary, you are definitely visiting (and paying) for the atmosphere when you visit Le Colonial. I will also commend the service, which was gracious, kind, and hospitable to us. The food was fine, and inoffensive, but it won't be...