La Villa French Restaurant — Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City

We joined as a party of three on a Sunday night – the La Villa Restaurant, in Chicago's Old Irving Park Area. Charming old school dining room, patio with a pool. All very nice and well maintained. We did notice immediately is a loud dining room – the ceiling and walls are hard surfaces; you hear everyone’s conversation - a little too much – hard to hear for a normal dinner conversation. Several of the local speak quite loud – but that is part of Vietnam – we got use to it. If they had other options, I would has selected an intimate and more quiet location. The restaurant is small. Nice modern bathrooms.

The staff was welcoming, there are several menus, and it took us a bit to digest all the material. The staff was not helpful when it comes to explaining the menu in English. They struggle with English and had difficulty understanding our questions and we really struggled to understand what they were saying in English. I understand the struggle – but a Michelin rated establishment should have the ability to explain the menu in English. We have visited several Michelin restaurants in Saigon and this was the first that lack a quality English speaking staff. The next problem is the start rushing us form the moment we sat down, pushing us to order champaign from the cart – we politely ask them to give is a moment to read the menu first. Next, they started service with canapés while we were trying to figure out the menu – next they told us to start eating before it gets cold - a bit pushy. Then they did it again, we still had not finished looking at the menu and the bring more canapés and push us to eat it fast – even without explaining the menu or taking our order. At this point I asked them to please slow down, that we need to understand the menu. They complied, after several attempts to understand the menu - they really struggle to explain the food and the wine pairing (they could not tell me which kind and names of wine that would be in the pairing)

Review Summary: Dining Experience

Initial Impressions - Service was lacking; staff struggled to explain menu options, leading us to order simple dishes without adequate guidance.

Food Overview:

MENU DE LA VILLA GOURMET FOOD (2,690,000 VND)

Amuse Bouche: Duck Foie Gras Terrine, Pear, and Brioche Perdue - Fantastic presentation and taste. 5 Stars.

Starter: Spanish Carabineros Prawn Raviole - Loved it! Great presentation and taste. 5 Stars. Main: Japanese Panfried Hirame & Smoked Eggplant Caviar Saffron Beurre Blanc - Nice presentation, flavor was underwhelming. 3 Stars.

Interlude: Sugar Cane - Kumquat and Gin Lady Trieu - Loved it, but the liquor was too strong. Would prefer less alcohol.

Meat: Grilled Australian Beef Tenderloin - Lacking quality and flavor. 3 Stars.

Cheese: Cheese Trolley « Les Frères Marchand » - Excellent variety and flavor! 5 Stars.

Dessert: Pistachio and Raspberry Religieuse - Nice! 4 Stars.

*MENU DISCOVERY FOOD (2,990,000 VND)

Amuse Bouche: Betel Leave Hokkaido Scallop - Yummy! 5 Stars.

Starter: Beef Tartare - Caviar Oscietre Kaviari with Wasabi Ice Cream - Overwhelmed by raw onions. 2 Stars.

Main: Japanese Akami Blue Fin Tuna Steak - Delicious! 5 Stars.

Interlude: Green Apple and Calvados - Liked it, but strong liquor.

Meat: French Canette des Dombes - Disappointing preparation (served with non-edible tendon and fat); tough and overcooked. 1 Star.

Cheese: Cheese Trolley « Les Frères Marchand » - Fantastic! 5 Stars.

Dessert: La Poire / The Pear - Spectacular flavors! 5 Stars.

Conclusion Despite a few standout dishes, the overall experience was marred by poor service and quality inconsistencies, particularly with meat dishes. Given the high price (approximately $450-$500), improvements in service and food quality are necessary for a more satisfying experience. I would not recommend this restaurant based...

Title: Disappointing Experience at La Villa: Unreasonable Reservation Policy

Review: I recently attempted to book a reservation at La Villa, a highly regarded and supposedly luxurious restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. However, my experience with their reservation policy left me extremely frustrated and disappointed. As a tourist, I found their insistence on a local bank account deposit completely unreasonable and impractical.

From the moment I called to make a reservation at La Villa, I encountered an unnecessary and unwelcoming hurdle. I was informed that in order to secure a reservation, I needed to provide a deposit from a local bank account. As a traveler, it was practically impossible for me to fulfill this requirement, as I didn't possess a local bank account.

When I explained my predicament and requested alternative options, the staff at La Villa remained inflexible and unaccommodating. They showed no willingness to understand the challenges faced by tourists like myself, who may not have access to a local bank account. The lack of empathy displayed by the staff was truly disheartening.

It is disappointing to see a supposedly high-end establishment like La Villa with such a rigid and exclusionary reservation policy. Instead of focusing on providing an exceptional dining experience, La Villa appears more concerned with bureaucratic hurdles and unnecessary obstacles.

In a city like Ho Chi Minh City, which thrives on tourism, one would expect a renowned restaurant like La Villa to be more welcoming and accommodating to visitors from around the world. Unfortunately, this was not the case. I felt unwelcome and discriminated against simply because I couldn't meet their impractical reservation requirements.

I would caution any fellow travelers and tourists against attempting to make reservations at La Villa. It is disheartening to encounter such a lack of customer-centricity and understanding. There are plenty of other dining options available in Ho Chi Minh City that appreciate and embrace the diversity of their clientele, without imposing unnecessary obstacles.

Overall, my experience with La Villa left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I would not recommend it to fellow tourists or anyone facing...

When indulgence must be guaranteed, there’s only one address: La Villa.

Tucked away in a serene garden oasis, La Villa offers not just a dinner, but a curated experience. From the soft glow of poolside lights to the crisp elegance of every plate, this is where precision meets poetry.

The Spring Seasonal Menu is an ode to seasonal creativity and technical finesse. The amuse-bouches set the tone with playful elegance. The spinach choux was light and savory, a perfect contrast to the creamy, briny amuse served in a glass sphere.

Among the early highlights, the crudo of calamari & kinmedai stood out boldly, peppery, fresh, and full of energy in each bite. It was both delicate and invigorating.

Then came one exquisite course after another: • The foie gras and quail tortellini in rich ginger consommé was pure silk. • The Saint-Brieuc scallop skewer with fresh verbena green sauce was bright and herbaceous. • The lobster with morel and cherry was a visual and sensory masterpiece, the shellfish jus infused with cherry offering depth without overpowering. • A pause came with the violet blossom sorbet—fragrant, palate-cleansing, and strikingly beautiful. • The New Zealand lamb ribeye was cooked to perfection, paired with a bold jus and supported by a whisper of liver mousse and tender spring vegetables.

Even the transition into dessert carried elegance the strawberry & rhubarb millefeuille was thoughtful and seasonal, but more importantly, it arrived with a birthday candle and handwritten note for Mimi. Because La Villa doesn’t just serve dinner: they honor moments.

When excellence is the only acceptable outcome, La Villa is the only answer. Every bite is a...