Man Chu F.
Google
We had the Epicurean Menu at La Maison 1888 (InterContinental Da Nang), spending about USD 700 for two people, and it turned out to be one of the most disappointing fine dining experiences we’ve ever had.
The restaurant itself is beautiful, and the service was impeccable — warm, professional, and attentive without being intrusive. Unfortunately, the food quality and flavour simply didn’t match the restaurant’s reputation or Michelin-star standard.
Course by course
Nos Délicates Bouchées – The appetisers were visually creative but tasted odd. One literally looked and tasted like dish soap, while the rest were overly salty with no depth. Even the pistachio ice cream was salty, and the broth added nothing but more saltiness.
Gnocchi Soufflés de Pomme Ratte Safranés – No trace of potato flavour. The texture was strange, filled with liquid inside — like biting into a fish-oil capsule. Salty, slightly sour, and confusing overall.
Noix de Saint-Jacques Soufflés, Granité aux Herbes – The scallops were bland, while the herb granita was sharp, sour, and grassy. The jelly garnish had no taste but left a weird gelatin aftertaste.
Médaillons de Homard à l’Eau Végétale – Two tiny pieces of lobster so heavily seasoned that the natural sweetness of the lobster disappeared completely. A jelly garnish added a strange aftertaste — again, no harmony, no “wow.”
Caviar “Kristal” & Smoked Salmon – A complete salt overload. The salmon was salty, the caviar was salty, and even the buttermilk sauce — which should have softened the dish — was salty but thin and flavourless.
Gratinée d’Oignons – The waitress explained that 3 kg of onions were reduced into tiny spheres to create “intense flavour.” She wasn’t kidding. It was intense, heavy, and overwhelming, so much that we needed bread just to tone it down.
Tranche de Bœuf Wagyu – The main course was underwhelming. The beef itself was fine but forgettable. The small tart next to it, however, was truly unpleasant — chopped mushrooms in a sour, mouldy-tasting sauce that made me almost gag.
Givré Laitier – Dessert #1 tasted like sour, yeasty milk, sitting on an almond-flavoured shortcake. Not refreshing, not pleasant — just confusing.
Croustillant Fleuri Chocolat et Noisette – Bitter and overly nutty. The flavour was flat and forgettable.
Kouign-Amann – Ironically, the only truly tasty dish of the night. A buttery, sweet pastry that was comforting and delicious — a reminder of what good food should taste like. Sadly, it came too late to save the meal.
In summary:
La Maison 1888 is a stunning restaurant with exceptional service, but the food was shockingly disappointing. The menu felt experimental for the sake of being different, not delicious. Every dish leaned too salty, too sour, or simply strange — with little balance, warmth, or joy.
At this price and level, you expect refinement, flavour harmony, and a memorable experience. Instead, it felt like style over substance, and certainly not Michelin 1-star standard.
Wouldn’t recommend this restaurant for anyone expecting true fine dining — go for the view, not the food.
