Restaurant: Hanoi Metrolpole
Location: Hanoi
Date: March 28, 2014
Cuisine: International
Rating: Much better than at the Hilton
Moving north through the DMV into Hanoi we come to rest at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.
This is a seriously nice hotel. It’s up there with some of the best city hotels I’ve stayed in like the Tokyo Park Hyatt and the Four Seasons Istanbul.
Plus there’s that lovely colonial vibe. Back when labor was EVEN cheaper (read even more exploited) they really knew how to build.
The breakfast buffet is pretty impressive.
Juices. I’m partial to the mango which is like a mango lassi.
No place in Vietnam would be complete without pastries.
Lots of them!
And lots.
And more lots.
Or exotic fruits.
Yogurts and yogurts with fruit.
Or even a milk bar (sorry, no Droogs).
Cereal.
And a pretty good looking cold cut spread.
I don’t know who wants salad with their coffee, but I guess some do.
Cheese.
A cool “live” honeycomb.
Notice the giant vat of Nutella — and mysteriously, the Vegemite. Those Australians.
Now we get into the Asian section. Tofu, grilled fish, various Asian condiments.
The elaborate Miso and Congee station.
Some dimsum and sauces.
Like these pork shu mai.
Or steamed buns without any filling.
And the omelet bar plus others.
Veggies.
More veggies.
Fried rice.
Odd gelatinous rice “tamales.”
Pork stuffed sticky rice.
You can see one of the cooks unwrapping and cutting it here. Lotus leaf or banana leaf?
The all important Pho station.
Surprisingly, Pho works for breakfast.
And the jump start is rather necessary.
So decadent was their service that someone brought this tray around periodically to tempt you. Ho Chi Minh must be rolling in his grave. Wait, I checked out his grave and he was just lying there looking at the ceiling.
Yum flan.
And last but not least, bread pudding with creme Anglais!
All in all a great breakfast. More offerings, but the food perhaps wasn’t QUITE as on point as the Saigon breakfast. Close though, real close.