Rêu Dining — Restaurant in Hội An

I arrive at the restaurant by motorbike to be greeted with a Korean tour group leaving the premises.

They congregate in the way of all traffic and don’t seem to have a clue. I think to myself, oh, God, I must be sympathetic to the staff today. They have to deal with this type of customer.

Fine. Finally the cacophony clears and I’m able to find my way in, but not before being dismissed by the staff who seem to not want me to come to the restaurant.

Fine, I say I am a solo diner, not a tour bus of Koreans, looking to fill their gullet. My spending power is small.

By this point, if the restaurant was not a destination in the middle of nowhere, I probably would’ve left. (-1 for cold reception from the staff in the parking lot.)

The restaurant is reasonably beautiful, and I suspect that this is one of the reasons why they have had some limited recent appeal. A great place to check in for that Instagram je ne sais quoi.

Expectations are high, let’s try.

I glanced at the menu and see that they have many set menus, I choose one, but unfortunately the staff tell me that set menus are made minimum for two guests.

Unfortunate, I guess I go à la carte.

The honey glazed chicken is not available à la carte, I guess I have to skip that. I was looking forward to something like that, instead, I order what is described as tofu ot (chili) sa (lemongrass).

Mushroom banh mi.

Mi quang with beef.

The staff were also kind enough to deliver amuse bouche with no discernable flavour or character.

In the end, none of these dishes stood up to their name. In the 600+ meals that I experience and comment on per year, in the hundreds of restaurants where I’ve had similar dishes, this is by far the least inspiring. (-1 point)

Tofu ot sa is a disaster. Breaded and fried, has no character of the original dish you might absolutely enjoy. Try it at Hum Vegetarian in Saigon, for example.

The banh mi? There’s nothing Vietnamese about this dish. After explaining this to the staff, they mentioned that they are catering to Western clientele, and just wanted to dumb the food down. I don’t believe that this is an appropriate strategy.

Finally, the most famous specialty food of the region. Mi quang or quang noodles which has a very specific service:

Mì Quảng (also spelled mỳ Quảng), literally "Quảng noodle", is a Vietnamese noodle dish that originated from Quảng Nam Province in central Vietnam. In the region, it is one of the most popular and nationally recognized food items, and served on various occasions.

The main ingredients of mì quảng are rice noodles, meat, and herbs, most commonly served with a small amount of broth, which is generally infused with turmeric. Wide rice noodles are placed atop of a bed of fresh herbs in a bowl (or vice versa), and then warm or lukewarm broth and meat are added. The broth is usually strongly flavored and only a small amount of it is used, generally enough to partially cover the vegetables.

Unfortunately, in this instance, they delivered a stirfry that misappropriating the dish and the intent of the dish, and probably infuriating the ancestors who worked so hard in generations past to create this dish in the first place. (-1 dish for bait and switch and misinforming the public)

I appreciate the staff and the management that took my commentary and even went as far as trying to refund my money.

I appreciate the effort, but my intent was not for a free meal, and thus I refused. I’m happy for them to improve and remedy the situation and invite me back as I don’t believe revisiting a restaurant to incur additional risk that I may possibly have a bad meal should be my responsibility.

In the end, given the situation, I would not come back, but they have asked me to return at some point, and I will, once I am confident that things have changed for the better.

Advice to the restaurant? Be real. Be authentic. Be aware that we are in the age of the internet and social media. People want to eat what they order by popular definition, not a...

A very strange experience at this potentially wonderful restaurant.

Visited this place on the recommendation of a local. Looked at the website beforehand where they were promoting the fact it was more than a restaurant, the concept, the ethos, the grounds, the farmed vegetables, all that could be experienced when visiting them. So far so good.

We arrived at the restaurant car park and were immediately “greeted” by a member of staff asking if we were there for lunch. We said we were not sure yet, but we had come to see the place based on the recommendation and what we’d read. The member of staff then informed us that we couldn’t look around and that they would only do lunch and that we couldn’t just have a coffee etc etc. it was pretty blunt and a very unwelcoming first contact with this establishment.

Eventually they allowed us to sit and have a coffee whilst we looked at the menu and decided if we wanted to stay for lunch. The menu looked amazing, and based on that alone, we would most likely have decided to have lunch there even though that wasn’t our original intention for visiting. As we ordered the coffee, the waitress then tried quite firmly to upsell us to one of their desserts with coffees. At this point, given the consistently pushy, unfriendly, and strange service, we decided to just get a coffee, drank it quickly, paid the bill and left.

The location is amazing and it looked like it could have been a great experience, especially given the very interesting taster set menus that were on offer. However, the sense of snobbery and unfriendliness that seemed to permeate this establishment, in a way that seemed to go beyond any simple staff training issue, left a very sour taste as we left and we only hope this is genuinely a one-off incident and that the management can do something to prevent this from happening for other potential new patrons...

A Memorable Culinary Experience at Rêu Dining Hội An Nestled within the serene Trà Quế Vegetable Village, Rêu Dining Hội An offers an exceptional culinary journey that perfectly complements its sister establishment, Rêu Boutique Hotel. Despite its somewhat secluded location, the restaurant is a popular spot, often bustling with patrons. Therefore, it's highly recommended to contact them in advance for a reservation. This will also allow their helpful staff to guide you on parking options if you're arriving by private vehicle, and arrange for their electric buggy to whisk you directly to the entrance. The restaurant's design truly embodies the characteristic Rêu aesthetic: simple, rustic charm harmoniously interwoven with lush greenery. This creates an inviting, comfortable, and airy ambiance that instantly makes diners feel at ease. The thoughtful arrangement of natural elements provides a refreshing escape, enhancing the overall dining experience. As for the cuisine, the team at Rêu consistently delivers dishes that exceed expectations. Every offering is met with high praise, impressing diners with both its artistic presentation and remarkable flavor. From the first glance to the last bite, you're guaranteed to be delighted by the culinary artistry on display. Perhaps one of the most significant highlights of the entire Rêu ecosystem, and Rêu Dining in particular, is the attentive, thoughtful, and hospitable service provided by their professional staff. Their genuine warmth and dedication to ensuring a superb experience are a major plus, enriching your journey into the local culture, cuisine, and the people of Hội An. A visit to Rêu Dining is more than just a meal; it's a holistic immersion in Vietnamese...