ANA BEACH HOUSE BAR & RESTAURANT
Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is a relative newcomer on the tourism scene, and a resort being open for 19 years is an impressive record indeed. The iconic 5 star resort, Evason Ana Mandara, has been present throughout this period, and its flagship restaurant, Ana Beach House Bar & Restaurant, is the epitome of seaside dining. Ideally located right on the beach, it is only 1km south of town, making it the closest resort to the city action.
One of the great joys of Vietnam is the world renowned cuisine. Fresh produce, especially seafood, is in abundance, and, here, it has captured everything that is good in both local and international dining. At the southern end of the resort, it is literally meters from the sand and ocean with incredible views of the bay islands and down to the port. The resort’s pool is also just a few steps away, helping make it one of the most relaxed and romantic places to dine in town. In short, the setting is without peer!
Renovated, upgraded and rebranded 2 years ago, the 5-star restaurant cuisine is described by Executive Chef, Mr. Derek Watanabe as “Grill and Flame.” The mains section of the menu is dominated by meats, seafood, poultry and vegetables prepared on the gas grill. Mr. Watanabe, ever sensitive to local traditions and ingredients, had ‘sense of place’ high on his list of priorities when he created his bill of fare. This attention to detail and dedicated approach comes from a chef with decades of experience, cooking across Asia, Europe and America. It is interesting to see Vietnamese, International, Italian and Mexican influences evident throughout the menu, prepared with flair and creativity.
For the meat and seafood lover, Ana Beach House is an absolute joy. It has some of the best steaks available in Nha Trang, with ‘Grade A’ beef and lamb imported from Australia and the USA. Other produce is sourced locally, taking advantage of farms and orchards along with the fishing and aquaculture industries which are so important to the region.The seafood is magnificent, featuring shrimp, fish, squid plus much more, and all the freshest of the fresh! Be sure to try the salad bar in the adjoining room to see just what can be brought to the table via local growers.
A unique feature of Ana Beach House is its salt selection: it has been developed as a central feature of the menu rather than as a simple afterthought. Mr Watanabe has concocted a number of fascinating blended salts to bring out the unique flavor of each dish. Pho spices, ginger, lemongrass, wasabi, thyme and fried shallot salts are just some of those available from the salt cart, and they really add to the taste experience.
The restaurant has a different theme each night: Tuesday is ‘Ladies Night’, Thursday features wine tasting and grilled specials are available on Saturdays. It is particularly fun on Saturday evenings, where every table receives Crepe Suzettes made right at the table from a mobile cooking station. No matter how many times one has had this iconic dessert, the flaming of the liqueur is always a great experience, especially when the lights are dimmed. To finish the evening off in style, it is well worth inspecting their range of top shelf single malts, cognacs, Armagnac and liqueurs.
Open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Ana Beach House Bar & Restaurant is one of the jewels in the Nha Trang culinary crown. The beachside views, superb cuisine, and elegant ambience make it an absolute delight to visit – a treat for anyone who takes their dining seriously.
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