Once dim and decorated in tacky yellow, Gia Long has unveiled a sleek, new modern look. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows have replaced the huge yellow poles that stood in the front. Black and white have replaced the yellow. The spacious, white dining room is tastefully decorated with flower arrangements, comfy seating and pleasant lighting, while instrumental jazz music is usually the accompanying soundtrack. Luckily, Gia Long’s elegant atmosphere doesn’t translate to expensive price tags as the portions are generous and cost between B80-120, although the extensive menu offers up pretty much just the usual fare. Despite its name, Gia Long offers more Western and Thai dishes than Vietnamese options. One strange thing you should note: the appetizer page, for some reason, is located in the back of the menu, right before dessert. Caesar salad, spaghetti carbonara and ham & cheese sandwich pretty much sum up the Western options, while the Thai fare includes mostly hit-and-miss baan baan recipes like super-sweet pla priew waan (deep-fried fillets of sea bass in sweet and sour sauce, and flavorful tom yum. The somtam pla duuk fu, too, came with generous fluffy deep-fried minced catfish, but the accompanying somtam was too bland. They offer three set menus—Isaan, Western and Thai—but forget these. Your best and safest bet is to stick to the basics. The small Vietnamese portion of the menu features only 15 dishes with expected selections like pho and naem nuong. But there are some good choices there. Served with two dips, the Vietnamese muu yaw was chunky, firm and peppery; and the grilled chicken with deep-fried sticky rice balls was also pleasant. The chicken, though, was a bit dry, but oozed fragrant cumin and the accompanying sticky rice balls were crispy and addictive. The best thing about Gia Long, besides the inviting ambiance, however, is the gracious service. The staff, especially the manager, treats you like family—recommending dishes, explaining which sauce goes with what and continuously refilling your drink. Note: bring your sweater. It’s freezing in there.
