{Saigon Snacks} Date night and Moroccan delights

One of the best things about moving cities is exploring new places to eat and drink - something we didn't do a lot in Hanoi because we didn't have a reliable babysitter. 

Thankfully, our new housekeeper in Saigon is working out well and keen to work overtime (hurray!) so Friday is now "date night" - a chance to dine without the toddlers!

Keen to unwind after my first week of full-time work in 18 months (hence my lack of posts this week) we headed to Shri a funky bar at the top of Centec Tower in District 1 with possibly the best views in Ho Chi Minh City.


The view from Shri - at the top of Centec Tower 


 


Shri's outdoor terrace

 



















A couple of drinks later it was time for dinner. Being new to Saigon we decided to indulge in the many international cuisines either unavailable, or unpalatable, in Hanoi.

Tonight we went Moroccan! I love middle eastern food and Warda in District 1 came with very high recommendations from a number of people in my office. Rob had previously gone there with clients and was keen to return.

Happy to say I wasn't disappointed! I literally ate until I thought I'd burst (and then continued to stuff in more!).

For the budget conscious tourist this may not be the place for you, but if you compare the cost for a meal at Warda to the same type of food in your own country, you'll walk away happy (starters to main meals range from US$3 - US$13).

Food aside, this place is just a treat in terms of the journey to get there. Turn off Mac Thi Buoi Street into a roughly paved alleyway between the Goldfish restaurant and a tailor shop, and you'll have literally walked into foodie heaven.

By day the front half of this alley is crammed full of Vietnamese office workers sitting on low stools enjoying the street food served up by the kitchen halfway down, but at night this is place to go for a number of quality restaurants dotted along the way (Vietnamese, Thai and Moroccan).

Head to the alley's end and you'll find Warda. To the left of the entrance is Warda's bedouin tent where you can sit and enjoy your meal, smoking a shisha pipe while watching old black and white movies projected onto the tent walls.

The restaurant itself is a dimly lit, two-storey narrow (tube) house. We headed up to the second floor which was fitted out in true middle eastern style with comfy chairs and benches with many pillows to lounge on.

We started off with a Warda speciality - mint lemonade. Delicious! Of course we also ordered a wine chaser!

For starters we ordered a mezze platter with Persian baba ghanouj, marinated olives and fetta served with pitas and fried bread. Could have probably stopped here as the serving (even shared) was huge!

For mains we ordered the Kofta Kebab from the barbecue menu and the chicken and olive tajine. The tajine came with a side of fluffy couscous.

By this stage I was ready to burst and could not even contemplate ordering from the dessert menu - will have to leave that for another date night.

We tried:

• Shri - restaurant & lounge - 23rd floor, Centec Tower, 72-74 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 1.
• Warda - 71/7 Mac Thi Buoi Street, District 1