Crowd pleaser: The fully packed dining hall with modern design. VNS Photo The Nomad Quynh

Among the newest eateries to enter the bustling HCMC foodie scene, casual fine dining spot Quince is one name that everyone is raving about. The Nomad Quynh went to find out if it lives up to the hype.

As the newest branch of the popular Quince Eatery in Bangkok, Quince Saigon got every international foodie in HCM City excited even before their opening.

My partner and I decided to check it out on a date night. It was a weekend evening, and anticipating it to be fully packed, we made sure to make reservations in advance.

The restaurant is located in a French colonial style building at a relatively quiet part of the city’s downtown. The dark yellowish grey wall with a minimalist golden sign bearing its name gives its exterior a posh look, while the interior space, albeit not too big, is modern and chic. We were ushered to a table in front of the open kitchen where the magic happens.

Now comes the most important part – the food. Quince categorizes itself as a casual fine dining restaurant, where every dish is created from a creative and unique combination of fresh local produce and high-quality imported ingredients.

Winning combination: Beetroot salad – a good choice for your starter. VNS Photo The Nomad Quynh

This concept is clearly reflected through their menu. At first glance it appears quite simple with only one page; however, none of the options are typical or ordinary.

We started with a salad that includes all my favourite ingredients – beetroot, mulberries, feta cheese and cashew granola (VNĐ190,000++). The delicate sweetness of the beetroot goes nicely with the mild sourness of the berries, the richness of the cheese and the crunchiness of the cashew, making this a good beginning to our meal.

Next comes the Veal sweetbread with parsnip “ajo blanco” and walnut crumbs (VNĐ390,000++). In case you aren’t familiar with the term, sweetbread refers to the organ meat from the pancreas or thymus gland, which is often considered a delicacy because of its small quantity and amazingly soft, rich taste. It’s my personal favourite special treat along with foie gras, and Quince’s version is a good one. The sweetbread itself was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth like butter, although I would prefer a lighter or different sauce to balance the meat and add more depth to the taste as the sweetbread itself was already very rich.

For the main course, I opted for the 300g Flat iron steak from grain-fed Australian black angus beef, which came with salad and sauce at VNĐ590,000++. Steak for me is one dish that a highly praised Western restaurant absolutely must get right, and indeed Quince’s version couldn’t be better. The beef was of high quality, very juicy, flavourful and cooked exactly to medium rare as I requested. As for the side, their “Not so mashed” potatoes with smoked truffle butter (VNĐ140,000++) is a good choice. Truffle always makes everything better!

Sweet treat: Yogurt and cardamom panna cotta with pomegranate sorbet. VNS Photo The Nomad Quynh

For folks with a sweet tooth like me, Quince’s dessert menu also looks very tempting. My stomach was already quite full so I decided to go with a light one – Yogurt and cardamom panna cotta, which comes with pistachio praline, pomegranate and rosewater sorbet (VNĐ190,000++). As I expected it was very refreshing, with the sorbet being my favourite part.

Last but not least, the staff brought us some special complimentary gummy bear candy in different coffee and alcoholic flavours. It was a nice way to wrap up our lovely meal.

The drinks were another part of the menu that’s worth mentioning. As a cocktail lover I was delighted to see several interesting choices. I decided to go with the Holy Berry – made with rum, homemade raspberry and rosemary syrup (VNĐ180,000++). People with a sweet-tooth like me will certainly enjoy it. On the other hand there is certainly no lack of choice for good wine, both by the glass and bottle.

By the end of our meal, I was fairly convinced that Quince is indeed a great addition to the booming HCM City food scene, and the team behind it deserves the high praise they have received for such a high-quality and creative menu. I’m already looking forward to going back to sample more dishes!

Must-try: The perfect and juicy grain-fed Aussie flat iron steak. VNS Photo The Nomad Quynh

QUINCE SAIGON (Eatery & Bar)

Address: 37bis Ký Con Street, District 1, HCM City

Tel: 028 3821 8661

Opening hours: Monday - Saturday from 5.30 -11.30pm; Sunday closed.

Comment: Casual fine dining Western restaurant with a creative menu made from high quality ingredients. Reservation highly recommended.