Highway 4 Restaurant is one of the popular mid- class restaurants for expats in Hanoi. I've been there several times with my friends and I was impressed the first two times. The third time I wasn't happy because the food and the service was missing something at the Highway 4 in Hang Tre street.
I went there a few weeks ago with some friends and we had trouble getting menus. The staff gave us 2 menus, and I asked her for one more so that we could choose our food quicker and easier than having to pass the menu around many times. The waitress told me that they had three floors here and couldn't waste so many menus at our table. After 5 minutes, she came back and wanted to take our menus even though we hadn't ordered. She was incredibly rude to me and I wondered if she would ever be so rude to a foreigner. I also wondered why a successful restaurant wouldn't just print a few more menus. It is not expensive in Hanoi to get printing done.
Finally, we ordered our dinner and, after the menu problem, I wasn't surprised when our main courses - mixed vegetable, squid and chicken dishes - came first. As we finished our main courses, the spring roll and salad starters arrived. It wasn't my night. But then the beers we ordered weren't cold and it all became a bit much to put up with. This is normally a fun restaurant where the food and service is great.
I'm not sure what's going on there but I think my last visit will stay in my memory for a while and I would think a long time before recommending Highway Four again.
10 comments:
sorry to hear bout your experience. although it does look yummy, but i agree with you, even if the food is good, you still think about how you were treated, and it stays with you for a while before venturing there again. enjoyed the post!
It's a shame the waitress was rude, I'm a regular and I know them all pretty well and find them very sweet.
Their service may be slipping, but the food looks wonderful!
Thank you for sharing recipes again...I learn so much here!
More than anything, I learn I need to travel!
alan
I just found your blog today & enjoyed it very, very much. Your English is so good. What an achievement!
I am Vietnamese and left VN a long time ago. My husband (not a Vietnamese) & I are going to VN in Dec for the first time. I don't know much about Viet Nam except my small home town in south Viet Nam. I am not sure if I know how to get around my own town again:-(
I've been "advertising" to my husband how wonderful the real Vietnamese food is (in my memory). Now I have to prove to him that it is true. I hope we can try the food from all the restaurants you listed. Food is one of the important factors of our travel. We don't mind to eat street food as long as it is good and authentic (not exotic). If you know more of these places, would you please let me know?
BTW, I think the "Su Su" veggie you mentioned in your Tam Dao blog is called "chayote squash." I only eat the squash but never its young leafty tips before. I am anxious to try it this time. Check the pix from the following website to see if the squash is what I think: http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/chayotes.htm
I look forwards to reading more posting from your blog. Keep up your good work.
Cheers.
Anonymous, email me to tuvancong2003@yahoo.com so that I can help you out, thanks for the link. You're right.
Yorkie,tweeboowee Maybe I had unlucky day!
Alan, don't you think I'm a good photographer :) just kidding.
I really appreciate this kind of post, I've been looking this information since 3 weeks ago, specially if you're writing about this performance.
Good blog, i really like to read it.
In my view everybody must go through it.
Wow, delious. I like food.
Wow, delious. I like restaurant.
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