Le Colonial is French, Vietnamese fusion at it's best. The whole meal transports you to another place and time. From the minute you find Cosmo Place and walk up to the door you feel like you are in the 1920's Colonial Vietnam. The restaurant is tropical in feel with some great details like the tile work. Huge palms are everywhere. The bar is tropical in feel. I suggest ordering one of the best mojitos or Saigon Slings in San Francisco.

The last time we went was with our friend Jane. Jane is a British Airways flight attendant and was here on a layover. It was freezing cold, windy and a San Francisco downpour outside. However being in Le Colonial you could imagine you were in a steamy, tropical 1920's Saigon.

That night we shared the tasting platter for $27.00. It gives you a sample of all the great starters you can order here and is a great way to share and taste a little of everything. The main meal also comes family style so you can share the different tastes at your table. My favorite is the Vit Quay which is similar to Peking Duck. However what I most remember is dessert. The Crispy banana Fritters are worth saving room for. They are bananas that are crusted with caramel and almonds and then served with banana anglaise and chocolate sauce. This dessert ranks top of the line for true eating pleasure and not to be missed!

Le Colonial is a great place. It's a bit hard to find as it sits on the end of an alley (Cosmo Place). It's not far from Union Square and most hotels will help you with directions and it's popular enough all cabs drivers know how to find it. You can check out their web page and make your mouth water with all the great Southeast Asian treats that Le Colonial offers. The web page is Le Colonial.