Four Stars for Blue Lagoon

I'M SO NAUGHTY!! I was looking for a spot to have dinner tonight. I'd done breakfast & lunch off the street, so I was planning to enjoy a civilized sit down meal somewhere decent to close out the day. As I walked down a side street I'd never been on, my eyes were instantly drawn to a beautiful upscale looking spot called "Blue Lagoon." I was sure it was going to be out of my price range, but when I viewed the menu, it was hardly more than the basic (read: grimy) sit down spots I've been visiting on the main drag. I grilled the host with a ton of questions about whether or not they accept credit cards (with no ATMs in this city, my cash is getting low!), then I grilled him about seating options (I'm a total chicken about dining alone - especially in nicer spots!).

As soon as he seated me, I pulled my notebook & pen out of my bag (I always try to look busy and occupied when dining alone. On this occasion, I was going to make my to-do list for tomorrow: pick up clean laundry, pick up bus ticket, buy extra bag to hold all the shopping goodies, etc.). As soon as I put pen to paper, the host came back over and said in broken English, "OH...I see...you writer." Without thinking much about it I replied, "Yes, I'm writing." At that same moment, I was presented with a menu by my waiter, and when they both walked away from my table, I noticed the host grab my waiter, speak to him in Lao, and then the waiter came back over with a big smile asking if I was interested in a "...special Chef taste menu. He give you taste all his best dish. Is no on menu, but he can do." I thought that must be today's special, and just quickly said, "Oh, no thanks. I'm not hungry enough to take all that on. I'll just order from the menu."

A few minutes after I placed my order, I picked up my pen and resumed work on my to-do list. That's when the manager came over and sat with me. She welcomed me graciously, complimented me on my selections (grilled eggplant starter, and grilled Mekong Fish Fillet with vegetables and a Dijon sauce for my main course), and gave me a history of the place in her broken English (it's only been open 1 year, so it's not in most of the guide books yet....she's the chef's girlfriend...she's French, he's Lao, and they conceived of the place, built it and wrote the menu to compliment both of their backgrounds...). AND THAT'S WHEN IT CLICKED......THEY ALL THOUGHT I WAS A TRAVEL WRITER THERE TO REVIEW THEIR RESTAURANT!!!!

And what did I do?? NOTHING! In fact, I started playing into my role. I made notes in my pad each time someone left the table. I EVEN PHOTOGRAPHED MY FOOD!!! Everyone fawned over me, the chef even prepared me a special desert sampler! I even heard an American couple a few tables away talking about how I was there to review the place, and wondering which book I wrote for (thank goodness they never asked me!). WHAT AN IMPOSTOR I AM, but once the situation had started, I didn't know how to turn the wheels back. I also figure that writing this blog is as close as anything to a "job" for me right now, so although my readership doesn't extend beyond a small circle of family & friends, I'll finish the job and give my review:

Blue Lagoon Restaurant, Luang Prabang, Laos. Open daily for dinner 5 - 11pm.

Delightful, new spot in town with the best in Western-style service, and a menu that will suit those who crave East or West. The fish dishes are especially fresh and well-seasoned, and the vegetables are perfectly cooked even if they're not very imaginative (is it necessary to include potato in mixed vegetables when all dinners are served with a side of rice?). The staff is friendly and attentive, and the prices are right - a huge quality step above the average cafe on Sisavango St. without a huge step up in prices. And don't fill up on the scrumptious, warm, freshly baked baguette with herb butter that they bring you before your meal, because the deserts are not to be missed!

xoxo,

Mere