The wait appears to be over for the arrival of stalwart French-Vietnamese spot Le Colonial.
A post to the Le Colonial Facebook page indicates that it is currently taking reservations, and you’re going to want to go ahead and get your table secured early — this shiny new addition to the River Oaks District is divinely destined to become one of the city’s buzziest new spots.
While new concepts based on the theme of colonialism have drawn ire for opening in other parts of the country, the Le Colonial chain seems to be impervious. It first got its start nearly 25 years ago in New York City, and describes itself as an "upscale French-Vietnamese restaurant" that attempts to "recapture the beauty, romance, and spirit of French colonial Southeast Asia from the 1920s."
Houston’s own Nicole Routhier, who designed the menu for the original NYC Le Colonial, has been tapped to serve as culinary director for the spot’s newest outpost. Routhier, who was born in Vietnam, focuses on Southern Vietnamese cuisine, which she describes as "more refined." Executive Chef Dan Nguyen will oversee day-to-day kitchen operations.
The menus for Le Colonial reflect Routhier's "refined" approach to classic Vietnamese street fare – with upscale prices to match. The large menu is packed with takes on classic dishes like pho, banh cuon ($14), and vit quay, or Vietnamese roasted duck ($28). Scope out the full selection of dishes below.
Le Colonial - Dinner Menu by Eater.com on Scribd