We’d been wanting to go to Mekong Baby since it opened but had not managed to secure a table – normally because I always left it to the day, or day before, to book and they were always booked out. And of course you have to contend with the “two sittings” – 6pm or 8.30pm.
Anyway I remembered that I should book when I was sitting next door at Diz having a coffee. So in I went and yes they had a table for the following Saturday night at 8.30. I asked for a table where Deb and I could sit side by side – very romantic don’t you think!! Actually I’m a bit deaf so need Deb sitting on my right so I can hear her (in noisy restaurants). Actually anywhere really! Didn’t want to have to resort to texting each other as we’d had to do in Prego one night haha.
So we rocked up at the appointed hour and were shown to a table in the corner (ok so far) that had the seating side by side (still ok) but then we realised that they’d simply turned the 2 person table around and expected us to sit side-by-side in a one person space (now not ok!).
Over comes Steve the manager to sort things out and eventually seats us at the 4 person table next door and side by side – after first telling us that there was enough space for two…..ah no there isn’t Steve!! Still they recovered the situation well and our first drinks were on the house. Well done Steve.
Gee this has taken a long time to get to the food!!
The Small Beginnings section of the menu provides an almost “impossible to choose from” range of wonderful sounding Asian influenced dishes. Deb settled on the Citrus Cured Wagyu, Peanuts & Chilli which she declared excellent. My Crunchy Oyster Omelette w green onions, sprouts, siracha (chilli sauce) was tasty and plentiful.
Sorry remembered the photo after we started!!! #classicponcentric
The Little Bigger section of the menu offered an equally difficult choice across an enticing range. Deb’s Green Fish Curry w okra, choy sum was delectable from the spoonful that I was allowed to have!
I was finding it difficult to choose between the Lamb Shoulder (recommended by Rebecca) and the Pork Belly. In the end I went for the Braised Pork Belly w caramelised chilli & soy, Asian slaw.
It was a good call – tasty, succulent and plentiful – I couldn’t eat it all which was a bit of a first for me! And we still had dessert to get through. We could skip dessert said Deb. Yeah right.
So after a bit of a breather we checked out the dessert menu and found it impossible to resist. Ice-cream Sundae for Deb (coconut & burnt palm sugar ice-cream w lemongrass jelly & peanut praline) didn’t touch the sides. I had the lime-papaya meringue pie which really hit the spot.
So our first experience with Mekong Baby was worth the wait and the weight – the portions are generous!
Happy campers. Excellent food, attentive service (special thanks to T-Ann; you were awesome) and an active Maître d (so rare).
Good onya Mekong Baby. We’ll be back.
Poncentric 