Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant

"A serene little oasis and great food"

Situated in a 100-year-old home in the heart of Marigot, is the charming Mai's Vietnamese restaurant, one of the most romantic hide-away. For those who have never heard of it, it's easy to overlook this little jewel, as it's tucked away on the second floor of the house along the busy Rue de Hollande. But the interior uncovers a serene oasis that soothes all your senses as soon as you walk up the stairway.
We were a little bit too early, so when we rang the little copper bell, we were greeted by the chef who ushered us into, what at first glance looked like a private living room, but what was actually an elegantly decorated foyer furnished with lacquered furniture and numerous Asian artefacts.
The dining terrace was set amid lush embellishments of trees and scented flowers decorated in an antique colonial style with a touch of French sophistication. The area was pleasantly filled with a subtle aroma of flowers and incense that was present the minute we walked through the door. The interior alone was a treat for the eyes and the atmosphere alone was worth our spending.
The menu looked very attractive as well. The owner and hostess Mai has managed to give a varied sampling of her native cuisine. What I noticed was that the Vietnamese way of cooking entails much of the zesty lemon flavour along with fresh herbs, specifically lemongrass.
The tangy and flavoursome aroma of the asparagus crab soup I choose as a starter bowled me over at the first slurp. The soup was fresh, vibrant and the perfect combination of sharp flavour and texture and it offered a tingly sensation to the taste buds. The faintly lemongrass-flavoured broth was enriched with still-crisp pieces of asparagus, generous chunks of crabmeat and soft clear rice noodles.
My dining companion opted for the spring rolls. Filled with spicy bits of meat and vegetables, the four crispy rolls were wrapped and lightly fried in rice paper. The rolls were served with lettuce and mint leaves and a delicious sweetened nuoc mam (fish) sauce, which is the Vietnamese alternative to soy sauce. He was so pleased with the rolls he even considered ordering a second round.
But there was a lot more to explore, such as the main course of sliced beef marinated in lemongrass. The beef was served with bean sprouts on a sizzling hot plate and was given a final stirring touch by the waitress at our table. After the ingredients were well blended the beef was spooned over a bowl of warm noodles. The condiments included sliced green onions, crushed peanuts with roasted sesame seeds and, again, the sweetened nuoc mam sauce. According to my companion, the beef was tender and juicy and delightfully combined with herbs.
As I always like to explore new dishes I was interested in the mussels cooked in Huê style, but since I was a novice in Vietnamese food the chef wouldn't recommend it, so I went for the stuffed squid with saffron sauce and decided to leave the mussels for my next visit. The ingredients were fresh, light and in perfect balance on the plate. The subtle saffron sauce enhanced rather than masked the flavours of the dish and the three tender shrimps were a pleasant addition. This first introduction to the Vietnamese cuisine was truly a delight and it represents a field well worth exploring some more.
Other exotic dishes included stir-fried crabmeat with lily flowers and angel hair, red snapper paved with fresh tomatoes and lemongrass, Magret duck with mango sauce, Nem Nuong (barbecue chicken balls), Mi Sao (Vietnamese crepes) and fried crisp noodles. One section of the menu was devoted to vegetarian alternatives like coconut curry vegetables and angel hair stir-fry.
In addition to the enticing authentic Vietnamese dishes, I was very content with the presentation. The food was beautifully prepared and each dish was nicely decorated with flowers, a lovely touch that was ubiquitous throughout the evening. Not only did Mai personally sign the check with flowers, but even the paper smelled like flowers! Those little details together with the complimentary orange-flavoured aperitif made the evening memorable.
As a couple we spent US $80, but that includes first and main courses, drinks, coffee and Vietnamese sweets. The flavoursome food and the unique experience made it more than worth it.

Mai's is located on Rue de Hollande in Marigot and is open daily from 6:30pm and is closed on Tuesday.