Food

Chocaholics and fans of seafood should not miss out on this classy establishment, as Nora Lindstrom finds. Petite and tucked away from the tourist hoards, restaurant Ocean is a favourite among many expats. With a pan-European feel, it combines Nordic minimalism with Mediterranean fare.  With the emphasis on seafood, also featuring interesting antipasto as well as home-made pasta dishes. For starters, the oyster mushrooms with arugula salad (US$4) are an absolute winner. Fried with garlic, spring onion and fresh herbs, the mushrooms have a wonderful crispness about them, their subtle flavour i…

Kate Liana takes a ride to the riverside to one of the long-time stalwarts, where Werner Inauen has just taken the helm. Riverside Bistro is one of the first and oldest restaurants on the riverside, and fully reaps the benefits of its experience. The popular restaurant enjoys a thriving tourist trade. Indeed afternoons see the large patio space packed with tourists sipping Angkor and thumbing through guidebooks. In the evenings, it's a popular drinking spot for locals, many who make it one of their regular haunts.In an effort to raise the culinary bar, owner Andreas Stanke has brought in Wer…

Melissa Fisher has found yet another tiny hole-in-the-wall gem. Hidden behind Wat Saravon, the Khmer-Thai restaurant, Paratan sits on street 23, around the corner from St. 172. The two-story complex and outdoor patio makes this a Phnom Penh oasis, complete with a rectangular reflecting catfish pond and plenty of shrubbery.  The open air seating area provides large, sturdy wicker chairs for evening relaxation while sipping a glass of fresh carrot fruit shake for US$1.90. The ground-floor interior provides another refuge from the heat, where you can comfortably enjoy popular dishes like an order…

As one of the only true Pakistani restaurants in the Penh, owner and chef Majid Wazir takes pride in his country’s cuisine, making Saffron a dining experience instead of just a meal. Words by Craig Gerard.For two years Majid Wazir has been serving up Pakistani and Middle Eastern food at Saffron Restaurant located on the ever-popular Golden Mile. While the quality of the food has remained constant, the street has developed into a bustling expat corridor. Majid feels the difference. “We’re busier and busier all the time,” he explains. Saffron more than holds its own with other ‘Indian’ restauran…

Feb. 13 to 28 will see the Chinese of the Penh sitting down to quality meals to celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. AsiaLIFE finds out where you should go for some quality Chinese and Singaporean fare. Chinese FoodMan Han LouIf you want to celebrate Chinese New Year with a clean glass of fresh beer, there really is no better place than Phnom Penh’s first microbrewery. The four varieties – Gold, Black, Red and Green are brewed fresh daily and are worth a try. Gold is a pale ale with a strong, crisp finish and nice wheat taste. The black stout is not too heavy, has a rich, mellow t…