We found The Green Tangerine on Tripadvidor when looking for a restaurant near our hotel in the old qusryer of Hanoi when we did not want to wslkvfar after a busy day trsvelling back from sn overnight trip to Halong Bay.
Thr Green Tangerine all week from Christmas to New Year was fully booked at 7.30 pm with tables coming free at 9 pm. We filled in the 45 minute wait in a clothes shop nearby in the same street.
The menu was in French. Two set meals at different prices lokef interesting but even more so eas a la carte - French for from the card or menu.
The wine list was impressive, including some rare wines at dizzy prices for rare people, such as those tourists working in finance.
We were given a table by the door - to be avoided as you get traffic fumes, tooting traffic. I swapped to the other side of the table and enjoyed a five minute mime with the trishaw drier parked outside grinning st me and raising his eyebrows and nodding hoping for my business. Other couples and a familr of eight stood in the doorway and the making eyes at me driver disappeared, replaced by another trishaw driver loking glum and puffing on a cigarette.
After our meal we re-booked for another night and tok a self-guided tour of the venue. The room by the front door has on the left a mural of old Hanoi. Sitting beside it and taking photos I realised that a mural is a good way to hide or distract the eye from a crack in the wall.
The other side of the room was busy with framed pictures some of which were restaurant awards.
I liked the central room open to the sky, the garfen room with plants. I eonder what they do if it rains. UMBRELLAS OR AN AWNING?
If you care then email to ask.
The back room snd upstairs were pleasant enough if you are not the sort to be fretting over I wish I were in the garden room.
French food
Now, the food. Everything was perfect exvept for the long wait. I loved the mixed fruit juice which seemef mainly mango. My companion was hungry forty fiv minytes to get a tanble then another 40 minutes wth just drinks. When the water told us our food would be another twenty minutes we demanded bread to keep us going.
Along came hot brown and white bread (needed salt which was on the table concealed unfer lids with pepper and toothpicks), The bead came with butter and our starter.
We should have had the bread or an amuse guele earlier.
THEN IMMEFIATELY ONTO YHE MAIN COURSE WITH NO BREAK. Beautifully presented, elegant and creative on shaped plates, snd good flavours. Dessert was a high point, we hsd the five little desserts enough for two.
I found a flirr which said present this before your meal to get a free cocktail.
As we left thre or four membrrs of staff were huddled nearby.
In an Indian restaurant in London or sometimes in New York the manager or nearest waiter would have escorted us to the door snd bowed pleade come agsin.
We certainly will. So far
Best food in Hanoi.
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