AsiaLIFE

With a revamped look, feel and Menu and a new chef, the Riverhouse Asian Bistro & Lounge has redefined itself. Craig Gerard sat down with owner Stephen Nyirady to find out what this long-standing Phnom Penh hot spot has in store for us now.

“We created a restaurant that we wanted to be at,” says Stephen of the original Riverhouse established in 2000. Back then, there were very few casual dining facilities in Phnom Penh serving great food. The result – instant success. As the riverfront area grew, so too did the Riverhouse, adding the lounge upstairs, expanding the restaurant, including French cuisine and a fine dining atmosphere. After eight years of success, Stephen felt the need for a change.

“We’re not fine dining people,” says Stephen of he and his wife, who encouraged him into the restaurant business nine years ago. Instead of following the growing trend toward high-end, gourmet dining, Riverhouse has gone back to the basics.

The Food

So what is new at the Riverhouse Asian Bistro? According to Stephen, everything but the name. “It’s almost like opening a whole new restaurant,” he says. Being in an old French colonial building, he wanted the venue to maintain some of the European feel while using Asian influences as accents. The result is a fusion of the two cultures, which is reflected in the menu. Items like the Pork Penang Penne (US$5) being a perfect example.

The original Riverhouse served Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, which always sold well. The new menu is comprised of Asian food, and Western food with an Asian twist. With a wide variety of small plates, like the Duck Spring Rolls (US$4.50), everyone can find something to suit their fancy.

The Digs

For Stephen it isn’t all about the food – the ambience at Riverhouse is one of the best along the riverfront. “This will be the place to be in the coming months.” He may be onto something. The giant-paned windows let you watch pedestrians navigating Sisowath Quay. The décor is modern and comfortable, with deep-red-cushioned chairs, oversized couches and pillows. Riverhouse is the kind of place you can sink into a comfortable seat and watch the hours pass by. Possibly because of this reason, the bistro is staying open late - midnight on school nights and later at weekends. The goal is to more closely align the restaurant and the nightclub upstairs.

The Man

Over the past nine years, the Riverhouse has seen a number of transformations. The cards fall into place hearing Stephen talk about the restaurant in relation to his love for Cambodia. “I enjoy the process of building and developing places,” he explains of the constant remodels.

With plenty of restaurants along the riverfront, what will keep customers coming back to the Riverhouse? “It is good value for the money,” Stephen says confidently. He continues, saying really it’s the entire package of ambience, food, drinks, good music, and good friends. It is easy to see where his confidence comes from. Stephen pours his heart into Riverhouse and his passion is contagious. “And,” he says with a grin, “our bartender makes the best mojitos in town.”