Quando Do - Hamburg

Authentic Vietnamese street food in the heart of Hamburg

Walking around in a sunny June afternoon, I discovered this delicious Vietnamese restaurant right in the heart of Hamburg. I was looking for a place where to have dinner, but I didn't consider one important fact: it was the day of Germany vs Portugal! All restaurants were fully booked, crowded and loud.

I didn't want to have dinner in the hotel - I hate dining in hotels, so depressing!. So I walked around in the city centre, from Rathaus to Monckeberstrasse, the main street of the city. At the end of it, close to the central railway station, sits a cute little square called Georgsplatz. As soon as I saw it, I couldn't miss to notice a beautiful, bright red-painted typical hanseatic house, with small street food style tables outside. A fascinating mix of northern Europe and Southeast Asia.

I stepped inside, happily finding out there were no big TV screens, no radio, no noise, just Vietnamese food, and the good one! A few wooden tables inside, red painted walls and an amazing smell!

I ordered mango salad, pho with beef - the most famous Vietnamese dish - and banana coconut sticky rice for dessert. Mango-coconut shake and green tea were my drinks.

The food was absolutely delicious, reminded me of the street food restaurants in Saigon. It was authentic, tasty and the atmosphere relaxed and friendly.

And guess how much the bill was: 20 €!

 Yes, starter, main course, dessert and two drinks for only 20 Euros.

I have seldom found all over Europe such a great food at that price.

So if you are in Hamburg, try Quan Do, you'll love it.

Georgsplatz 16

20099 Hamburg

germany

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Atelier Bistrot Liù

Tasty desserts and fancy dresses: a step back in the 50s

Where: Via giuseppe barbaroux, 12 - 10122 Turin, Italy Google Maps

Prize Level: Medium / High

Pets allowed: Yes

Dehors: Yes

Rating: 7.5/10

Do you like tasty, juicy sweets and desserts? Do you like movies of the 50s, where smart gentlemen enjoyed teas and coffes in classy bars and restaurants, and Marylin used to wait for his lovers trying on fancy dresses?

Well, that's what you can find at Atelier Bistro Liù, an original and curious cafè in Turin. Placed in the beautiful medieval roads around Piazza Castello, the bistrot can't be classified either as a cafè/restaurant nor as a fashion boutique. From the moment you get in, you feel like being in Paris: the colours, the atmosphere and the design bring you back in time, when life was slower, women used to wore classic dresses and men suits and ties.

This place is both a café and a restaurant. I tried it for an afternoon break, eager to relax and escape from working stress.

The first thing that hit me is the quantity of teas you can choose, all very unusual. I opted for an orange flower and vanilla tea, but I was very tempted by some others like: apricot and cherry, salt butter and caramel, bergamot and rheum, mint and chocholate and many others. 

Then I ordered two desserts: a creme brulee and a fruit verrine. The creme brulee was very well prepared: creamy, tasty and with a perfect custard on the top. The terrin was also very good, with a delicate and genuine taste. The waitress told me that it is made with seasonal fruit. It's winter so I got pears in it. It seems that it will be even tastier in the summer, as they told it will be prepared with apricots and peches.

The only thing you may not like is the service, a bit slow. But I think it comes from the atmoshpere of the place. It's not a crowded, chaotic coffee bar with lots of tv screens, loud music and managers working on their laptops. It's a place where you go to relax, slow down and enjoy what Mother Nature gives us to make our life sweeter.

For a tea, a creme brulee and a verrine I spent around 15 €. I took a look at the dinner menu, it seems very interesting, with lots of French and Piemontese tipical dishes. However prices are quite high, but I think if you look for quality you have to pay for it.

When you are done with your order, you can take a tour in the atelier. If you are a woman, you'll be amazed to see so many classy and elegant fashion dresses and shoes, all from famous designers such as Moschino, Armani and many others. If you are a man, you'll have many ideas to get a present for your wife, or to have a place where to take a girl for your first date. She'll love it for sure!

+ Unusual teas, delicate and tasty desserts, relaxed atmoshpere

- Service slow, price a bit high