pianomania: SUKA MAKAN: LE MANOLIS @ POST OFFICE SQUARE, PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

This has to be Suka Makan's restaurant of the year. While schlepping around Phnom Penh's Post Office Square, I discovered this old school French restaurant at the corner of what has to be the city's grottiest looking building. Located just opposite the old Post Office was a square block that used to be The Grand Hotel, later Le Grand Manolis after being bought by a Greek businessman.

Le Grand Hotel gained some notoriety in the 1920s after it housed the young Frenchman Andre Malraux, who had been arrested for stealing reliefs from Banteay Srei Temple near Angkor Wat. Pending trial, he and his wife stayed in this hotel before he ran out of money and pushed off elsewhere.

See, no Richard Clayderman here!

The Old World decor of Le Manolis restaurant which occupies its northwestern corner of the Grand complex looks like it's still existing in the Belle Epoque. One might even imagine Andre Malraux still lounging here for a smoke and drinks. This represents the height of French elegance, oozing atmosphere and class from every pore. It even has a decent classical vinyl collection, sure sign the owner has good taste.

Mediterranean squid,
with garlic and parsley.

Burrata with melon and Parma ham.

Baked mussels with cheese and garlic.

We had a leisurely Sunday lunch, which turned out to be the finest on our trip to Cambodia. Ordering tapas rather than main courses was a good choice, if only to sample the variety of dishes on offer. Here are the photos, of what was perhaps and most likely our most memorable meal of the year!