What does your ideal Sunday look like? For us sleeping in works like charm and dreams come true in the form of the Sunday brunch. Sunday brunch is special in all aspects! It lifts the spirit just by thinking of it and once it’s happening, it’s impossible not to have a great time. Looking for the best here in Hanoi? Sofitel Metropole buffet is an answer for you.
We love the Sofitel Metropole buffet for many reasons. The spirits were so high that, we felt we are on a celebration. Actually, a few people really were, so maybe we caught some of their festive joy. Regardless if that is possible or not we were happy, Sunday brunch happy. So am I only overhyping everything or… Make your opinion and check this review.
The Ambiance of Le Beaulieu Restaurant
The historic charm of the Sofitel Metropole Hotel building is felt throughout the whole hotel. In sync with the purpose, each part differs a little from the other. For example at the Le Beaulieu Restaurant dominates the friendly feel and ageless appeal. The design is contemporary French executed with Indochina touch. Pillars across the whole dining room where sophisticated French effect is topped with marble floors and dark wood interior. Right in the center of the Beaulieu Restaurant is a foodie paradise surrounded by dining tables.
Make Sure You Make a Reservation
When we are saying full, we literally mean it, note that the Sofitel Metropole buffet is the busiest in town. Needless to say, a reservation in advance is a must to enjoy one of the best buffet brunches in Hanoi with live uplifting music. Basically, the Sunday brunch buffet in Hanoi is popular with locals, expats, and visitors.
A glass of bubbles doesn’t hurt, right? Plus it goes well with oysters. Cheers, my dear!
Sofitel Metropole Buffet Food Review
For the best breakfast in Hanoi, one has to have some fresh seafood delicacies, crunchy salads, and flavourful vegetables. But also a few dishes that fit into the western breakfast and complement local food. The Legend Hanoi has it all. Even topped with champagne if anyone wants more than just wine. However, even with your standard buffet, you will get one glass of Louis Roederer.
Seafood
Besides the classic shellfish such as clams, tiger prawns, brown crabs, and oysters, there were also sea snails and a huge salmon. At the base were also all the condiments including a tasty sauce that went wonderfully with snails. But you know how it is, snails are snails, the sauce makes the difference. At the Sofitel Metropole buffet, the sauce is heavenly. It is seasoned just right with a nice acidic and fresh citrusy taste.
Appetizers
For more Sunday brunch menu ideas we didn’t have to look far. A few steps away we found many different dishes including lobster, scallops, vegetables, and fruits. We started our fancy Sunday brunch with a martini glass full of lobster, papaya, and tomato.
Equally delicious and juicy, but completely different was the scallop salad with kohlrabi and roasted hazelnut. Both were gently seasoned to keep the flavors fresh and vegetables crunchy. To point out, scallops and hazelnuts go great together and who would have thought that kohlrabi is a great company here.
Then there was a tasty portion of the duck liver with apricot and ginger compote. Here the compote is a huge surprise – I would never guess it is ginger. Amazing appetizer! Another bold combination I liked was the marinated sea bass with almond sable and goat cheese. Very impressive how the strong goat cheese was a supportive seasoning to the gentle sea bass.
Classics
We didn’t miss out on the classic brunch dish served in a shot glass – the scrambled eggs with asparagus and mushrooms. At the buffet we always go all in, so don’t be alarmed if you see me eating the scrambled eggs with paté. It is a delicious combination anyone should try.
Besides that, the liver pate at the Sofitel Metropole buffet was really creamy with a hint of vanilla. It also complimented the beautiful Parma ham wrapped around Da Lat asparagus. Nowadays the sushi is almost a staple in a world food chain and here they offer three different sushi types. Sushi had a company of the tuna and salmon sashimi with condiments.
A flavorful tribute to the country we were in, was the famous Vietnamese spring rolls; traditional with a shrimp and vegetable as well.
Vegetables
The Sofitel Metropole buffet also includes many vegetable dishes. Some are clean like baby leeks, artichoke and green salads, while others are more complex. Those are ratatouille stuffed eggplant, gourmand salad with mushrooms, tomato, and greens. Mixed vegetable with a name tag the Macedoine is appropriately diced into perfect square cubes as the term Macedoine applies. By the way, the term Macedoine is in use when one wants perfectly cut ¼ inch cubes.
Cheese and Cold Cuts
Ok, here we must be honest and admit that at Intercontinental Landmark72 Sunday brunch, you will get a much richer selection of imported goods. Actually, that big offer is a rarity even in Europe! But, don’t worry cheese selection at Sofitel Metropole buffet is more than decent.
French classics, terrines, rillettes, and pate are exquisite. The homemade meaty terrines at the Sofitel Legend were moderately seasoned and presented in a cut that showed nice meaty chunks. Next to them was a rillette that warmed up my belly and urged me for a glass of red wine.
While I cherished the cheese plate with rillette, Ian went for the duck foie gras terrine with confit leg and chorizo stuffed pork cutlet. By all means, I didn’t keep him from my cheese plate consisting of Brie, Four’d embert, Cheddar, soft goat cheese, Comte, Gouda, and Emmental. Apart from that he especially likes the Comte with beef carpaccio and black olive tapenade.
Even More
It goes without saying that there are more cold cuts such as prosciutto, salami, ham, chorizo and mortadella to name a few. Besides the meaty cold cuts, there is also salmon gravlax (Nordic salmon cured in salt and dill) and smoked fish like seabass or tuna and salmon.
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Main Dishes at Sofitel Metropole Sunday Brunch
Already the food list is extensive and warm dishes are yet to be listed. So many options make it one of the best places to have brunch in Hanoi. I must admit that I was already pretty full of ambrosial entrees, so I almost skipped the mains. To put it differently, I was saving some room for desserts.
Despite that, I couldn’t skip the Nicoise ratatouille. On the table, we had the perfect base for this slow-cooked vegetables – the fresh house bread and premium butter. However, it was also a nice side dish to the crispy rissole potatoes and grilled spring chicken with four spices.
Ian enjoyed a tidbit of the pan-fried foie gras with mango chutney and pan-fried beef tenderloin in pepper sauce. Although, he also liked the roasted lamb leg with fresh herbs sauce.
Desserts
At the buffet, I try to stick to the one-bite-of everything rule, but it never goes through. We eat with the eyes, right? I must admit that my eyes are greedy, especially when it comes to desserts. At Sofitel Metropole buffet is no way I could hold back. Especially when I saw the beautiful Fraisier cake.
Those delicious strawberries with fluffy vanilla creme are top notch. Other fruity sweets were also a gentle mulberry cake with raspberries on top, a fruit cake, and berry tart. Apart from cakes, there were also different varieties of fruit jelly and mixed tarts.
Out of the chocolate sweets, the chocolate mousse bomb took me straight to the chocolate heaven. With this one every chocoholic hits the jackpot, I sure did. Additional chocolate cakes are the white chocolate cake and a dark chocolate cake. Another outstanding treat is the opera cake, with luscious chocolate ganache and coffee butter creme
O-ou we missed one
On our last legs, we realized that we hadn’t tried the French petits fours. At that time it was also near the end of the brunch and my beloved macarons were gone. That was slightly disappointing because the one we had for the afternoon tea impressed me. Still, drowning sorrow in hand made chocolate bonbon also isn’t awful. Have I mentioned the homemade ice cream? OMG, it is delicious!
Fruit
Sincerely, I glanced to the fruit baskets full of passion fruit, grape, and mangosteen at the beginning of this Sunday brunch buffet. But as it turned out, there was no room for fruit in my appetite.
Outstanding Service
Very professional staff kept tables and brunch offer in place. Their care resulted in a clean look for the duration of the buffet brunch. Not an easy task with a full restaurant. When you will be at the Sofitel Metropole buffet brunch your table will be tidy all the time.
Critique
Sofitel Metropole buffet is a must do in Hanoi, period. The Sofitel hotel by itself is an icon, not only in Hanoi but in whole Southeast Asia. However, our sharp eyes always find some bits which are meant for constructive critique. The first flaw is Pho Bo.
This iconic noodle soup is far cry from a decent one. Especially when you have only a few blocks away from one of the best in this world. They should employ one aunty from the street with her family recipe or simply take it out of the menu. It’s really not good.
The other fault is a supply. I absolutely agree and support the idea to minimize waste in hospitality. We all know buffets aren’t the best practices here. I am totally happy when I see that I missed on a baked duck. But when you don’t get something, which stays good for a week is another thing. Here we didn’t have a chance to try out macarons and also mangosteen ran out in the middle of the buffet.
Conclusion
Frankly, if you are thinking about Hanoi hotels and are tempted for some memorable brunch make a reservation at Sofitel Metropole hotel. Their famous Le Beaulieu Restaurant has a praised reputation, by maintaining the classic French and local dishes at the scrumptious level. Sofitel Metropole buffet is legendary and we can see why. Food is delicious, an offer is big, all ingredients are of high quality and service is impeccable.
What I liked besides the very tasty food, was the neat display of buffet dishes. Especially the wooden boxes, which formed a relaxed base for food display. Way to keep the cold platters cold was done by the shredded ice, which also looked very nice. All in all, it was classy, tasty and entertaining. We highly recommend this Hanoi Sunday brunch.
Metropole Hanoi Buffet Review Card
- ATMOSPHERE – 9.5/109.5/10
- FOOD OFFER – 9.5/109.5/10
- PRESENTATION – 9.5/109.5/10
- SERVICE – 9.5/109.5/10
- FOOD TASTE – 9.6/109.6/10
- VALUE – 9.2/109.2/10
Price and Location
The Sunday Brunch here at Metropole Hanoi Hotel will cost you about 80 USD per person, if you add a free flow of wine it’s 115 USD and 145 USD with free flow of Champagne. For simple navigation, here is a link to the Metropole Hotel location.
Le Beaulieu Restaurant Dress Code
Before joining the Sunday brunch obey the smart-casual dress code. Honestly, think about what to wear is the least you can do. If you do it wisely, you will benefit greatly and feel awesome avoiding super tight dress.
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