Absolute 5-star party last night. Threw surprise 50th birthday dinner at Duc's Bistro and it was an awesome experience! Don't let the exterior of the restaurant fool you..,it's beautiful inside and AIR CONDITIONED! I know, I know..,Chinatown? At night? For dinner? Parking? lol...believe me...you'll be impressed! Parking, btw, FREE street parking after 6p AND if u prefer, there's a paid open lot right across the street...$3.50/hr. Anyway, back to my experience, Ian was very accommodating with us dropping items off items ahead of time and helping create a menu. It's a family owned business, which makes it even more special, and the food is next level ONO! Started with steak tartare (sooo good...even tho I like my steaks well done) and escargots and spring rolls. Dinner entrées were lamb chops, prawns. beef curry, crispy fish (soooo amazing!) and lemongrass chicken. Everything was perfectly cooked and seasoned! I pre-ordered the food and everything came out at the perfect pace! Ian actually adjust the potions of food to an appropriate level...he adjusted the amount DOWN so there wouldn't be tons of leftover food! How's that? lol. Such a great family! Great good/great value! Will def be back...maybe a regular!!! read more

We enjoyed one of our best meals *ever* this week when we had dinner at Duc's Bistro in Chinatown. It's a long-established family-owned restaurant that serves Vietnamese-French cuisine - emphasis on French, with clear Asian fusion. We were so impressed! Definitely "upscale" quality, with a warm welcome, and it didn't break the bank either. We had a lovely onaga fish dish done to perfection, with a beurre blanc/white wine, caper and dill sauce; sliced duck breast in a Grand Marnier sauce; a vegetable dish done with bok choi; and one of the very best saffron rice. It was the perfect amount of food for two people to share, finely prepared with quality ingredients. Before our meal we enjoyed a Trappist Belgian beer and a solidly alcoholic and delicious house cocktail called "Madame Vu", as well as a warm baguette basket. After the meal, we enjoyed a signature Vietnamese coffee - as good as the ones I remember from Vietnam. I wish that we had had room for dessert, but alas, no. The wine list looked very good too. The service was impeccable, the decor is simple, clean, with beautiful photographs, soft piano music in the background, and well-spaced tables for safe distancing. Thanks Ian, we will be returning. read more

Duc's Bistro - Duck with Grand Marnier sauce, bok choi, onaga fish with beurre blanc sauce, saffron rice. All delicious! - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Friendly atmosphere, nice staff and delicious food. The lobster bisque was great. The ribeye steak with spicy lemon grass was delicious. read more

Duc's Bistro - Ribeye with spicy lemon grass - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is one of my most favorite restaurants in Honolulu for the last 20 years. The quality of the food is extraordinary, the ambience is fantastic, and the two owners are amazing people that are filled with love and aloha. They happen to also know how to cook and have fun as well. I highly recommend coming here! Bring your family, bring your friends, or have a party. I promise you this is, service in atmosphere will be amazing. read more

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Absolutely fabulous from the second you walk into this beautiful restaurant......Exceptionally friendly staff, superb food (everything we ordered), and I highly recommend this for your fine dining pleasure. I might add that this is ideal for a "special occasion" however isn't being alive a special occasion? We started with the best papaya salad I have ever had in my life, spring rolls, and escargot. Our mains were the chicken curry, rack of lamb, and the special fish of the day. Each was perfection! Can't wait to go back! read more

They don't make places like this anymore. Nor will they in the future. Stepping in here Ducs makes you feel transported to another time. If you like the feel of an old school fine dining restaurant and the service and quality of food that comes with it look no further. A gem of chinatown and one of the oldest restaurants on the island. Duc and his family have kept magic alive for decades at their establishment. Perfect for dates Perfect for sitting alone Doesnt matter the occasion ,you have to experience it for yourself. My go to order is: Foie gras Banana blossom salad Bread Rack of lamb(best on the island) imo Duck saigon Saffron rice Ducs wife makes all the pastries/desserts in house. I hold this place dear to me as i consider them family. This is not a biased opinion though. Go there and have a meal. Youll feel like family too. read more

"Bistro" is the perfect word to describe Duc's, with their white linen tablecloths and classic style. Located in Chinatown, Duc's Bistro is reservations only. We came in on a Saturday night, and they were busy that night. I tried: -Banana Blossom "Hoa Chuoi" (Poached Prawns, Fresh Herbs, $18, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=k_bJOPhii3tLTAIwdQ9XeQ&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg): Unique, and so fresh! I loved the crunch of the banana blossom, and the prawns were perfectly cooked- recommended! -Green Papaya Salad (Tossed w/Prawns, Fresh Herbs, Mild Piquant Dressing, $18, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=c0O-TKHw_2OjL14fRJsP6w&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg): -Mahi Mahi (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=kk9kXkgFeYtiEJVEvJ1z6w&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg): Just ok, but our least favorite of the meal. The mahi was very fresh, but the sauce was too tart, and I didn't think it complimented the fish. -"Cari Ga" Chicken Curry (Spiced Coconut Curry Sauce w/Taro Shoots & Pumpkin, $20, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=gdNy_2UV11lW1YHo5oYJfg&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg): This was a great version of Vietnamese chicken curry. The curry was creamy and slightly spicy, and I loved the pumpkin- recommended! -New Zealand Lamb Chops ($35, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=RNfPSfvVNDojBl-QTV-RFQ&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg): Yum- this was our other favorite dish of the meal, next to the chicken curry. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly, and the sauce was great- recommended! -Vine Spinach (Sautéed w/Garlic & Olive Oil, $10, https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=roAdXSgcoD4naK6c_rk0hw&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg): Solidly cooked vegetables. Service was excellent, and they are very attentive. I would recommend Duc's for a nice dinner out, especially if you're looking for upscale Vietnamese cuisine. Parking in this area is easy if you park in the lot across the street (you do have to pay at the meter machine). There is also street parking available, but spots are more limited. read more

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Duc's Bistro is one of my favorite restaurants in the US. This place is AMAZING and so very very DELICIOUS!! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The ambiance is perfect. The restaurant is nice and intimate. The service is always on point. AND there's parking across the street. Duc and Ian make this place extremely special and true gem in Hawaii. read more

Duc's is probably the one location that I've been to that I feel like I'm at someone's home coming over for dinner. They're very welcoming and I was introduced to the family. They really make you feel welcome and have allot of aloha to offer. For the food, we had Foie Gras and oysters for the starters. As weird as it sounds they did go with each other and were very tasty. We then had the green papaya salad and that was great also. But, the best to me was the main. That was the New Zealand lamb chops!! They were cooked perfectly and was accompanied with red wine demi-glaze sauce. To be honest the lamb didn't need the sauce and were great without it. The sauce added to the flavor and you can get it on the side. I will be back to dine with them again!! read more

I decided to update my review since someone who is affiliated with the restaurant started to harass me over my post. A guy once wanted to take me a date to this restaurant. I told him if he took me here, I would not come. Prior to this, I came here with a friend and we found the food to be lackluster, unpalatable and small portioned. The owner tried to upsell us on everything, including bread. Yes, bread! We found the food to be unpalatable and lacked a lot of flavor. Don't be confused, this place is not fine dining. It is a mix of cheap looking decor, and they slapped white linen to call it "fine dining." I've been to 40+ countries and this is by far one of the worst Vietnamese and "French" restaurant I've ever been. read more

Still as awesome as I remember! We had a family dinner here to celebrate my grandma's birthday. Hadn't been to Duc's in a long time but was reminded how amazing the food and staff are here. The escargot, spring rolls, crab cakes, Saigon steak, mahimahi, and shrimp curry were delicious. The staff is very friendly and professional. I will need to come back here soon. Chinatown has lots of trendy restaurants but Duc's will continue to thrive. read more

Duc's Bistro - Escargot and bread - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The best ever. Hospitality was just amazing You can't beat having the owner greeting & serving as if it was a grand opening. Hard to find excellent food a good price with star service like family kine. I will recommend this restaurant & go back again. read more

A vendor took me to DB's, so I don't recall everything we ate and the cost points. We ordered family style. I only took two pictures, but I recall we had the Green Papaya Salad $20, Fire Roasted Eggplant $14 and Filet of Basa $24. All were good. Restaurant is located in a seedy part of downtown Honolulu. Metered parking is a across the street. read more

Duc's Bistro - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Very interesting Vietnamese restaurant on the makai side of China Town area. The menu is relatively small, with a couple of specials available (today they had Mahimahi in a lemon caper butter sauce and a dozen oysters on the half shell) in addition to a good sprinkling of family style entree dishes. Started with the lettuce wrap veal spring rolls then a really nice papaya salad followed with a tasty chicken curry. Loved the food and one of my friends said the cocktails were well made, so overall good place to eat. Note if you use the parking lot across the street don't forget to tell them which stall you are in so you don't get a parking ticket. read more

Duc's Bistro - Seating area at the front looking on to the street. - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Terrrific, family-owned French-Vietnamese restaurant. Great decor and ambience, paired with fresh, smartly prepared dishes. And so welcoming, from the moment we were greeted & seated by the founder, Duc, to being served by the son, Ian. A wonderful culinary experience read more

First time dining here. They take care of the parking fee at the Public parking lot across the street which is a nice touch in Chinatown where street parking is hit or miss. At first I was worried that my vegetarian GF wouldn't have a lot to eat but the owner came out and recommended dishes he could make for her such as vegetarian spring rolls, lemongrass stir-fry, and the roasted eggplant. All of the dishes were tasty. Service was good. Nice atmosphere for a romantic dinner. read more

27 years old this year. No no not me, silly, Duc's Bistro! They've been in Chinatown since 1992! Sheesh I didn't realize that. It's been a while since I was last here, maybe 3 years? So I thought that it was a great idea when the suggestion arose to dine here to celebrate a friend's birthday. I've always liked the inside of this restaurant. It's casual, cozy, and charming. We ate here on a Sunday and because they're only open for dinner from 5pm - 9pm, I wanted to make sure that we had an adequate amount of time to relax, chill, and enjoy our meal without feeling rushed. So reservations were set for 6pm. The escargot we got was super good. Especially with the fresh bread that came with it. Use it to sop up all of that liquid cholesterol of butter, garlic, and herbs, babe! Yum! Definitely something I'd get over and over again. The fois gras we got was equally delish. Just wished that we had a little bit more of it. I wasn't a big fan of the Duck Saigon though. It was a little too gamy and lean for me. Perhaps if there had been a little fat left on it I'd feel differently. I dunno. Lastly, the lamb chops. Although it was prepared a little rarer than I would prefer, I still thought that it tasted great and would get it again. The birthday girl, Sherrie K., got a slice of ginger cheesecake, and we also got a thing of banana tapioca to share. Both were good in my opinion. I hope Sherrie can say the same :) So there were some hits and misses with some of the food. But not a deal breaker. Overall, I still like it here. Service was good, my drinks were strong, and I had great company. Furthermore, what makes dining here even better, is that parking is a cinch. Park in the lot across the street, note your stall number, and let your host or server know and they'll take care of the cost of your parking. Sweet! Anyway, check these guys out. They're located just off of King St on Maunakea. read more

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Love this French Vietnamese Bistro located in Chinatown. The food was amazing and Duc and his staff was so very attentive and kind to us. I loved everything about this restaurant and will definitely be back. read more

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Best dinner I've had out in a while! Went for a family birthday dinner-it was delicious, service was friendly, ambiance was warm.

Very classy and nice, Vietnamese with classic French cuisine fusion, very vintage-like décor, dinner spot in Chinatown. Seems like a place the older crowd would appreciate, maybe because it is more of a fine dining spot with a relaxing and quite atmosphere. Don't let the quaintness fool you...the cocktails here are strong and taste top notch! The pate was delicious (and we LOVE high quality pate) and the raw oysters were just as flavorful (and we are serious oyster connoisseurs!). We ordered the Steak Saigon, an eggplant dish, and some shrimp item, all were very, very delicious. I highly recommend dining here if you appreciate high quality food made with love. Support local, these people are passionate about their dishes. Staff is the friendliest and very personable! The menu is upscale, definitely make reservations. Each table is seated only once per evening. read more

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Unassuming quaint little restaurant in china town. Convenient parking located right across the street since. Inside the decor is vintage. Pretty pictures on the wall and the ambiance warm and inviting. Kind of reminded me of to restore the old my grandmothers old kitchen. Vintage wooden chairs with classic flora tapestry. The service attentive but not overbearing. The food not overly done. Perfect because it was simply made. Saffron rice perfect flavor and texture. I would like to come back for the steak. The pork belly soft and savory, honestly kind of reminded me of adobo. The fish crispy and light flaky sizzled with a tangy salty fish based sauce. The foie gras creamy and the roasted eggplant soft and smoky. I would definitely come back. read more

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A very elegant and yet informal, comfortable, and intimate dining establishment, featuring French and Vietnamese inspired cuisine. My friend Daniel reviewed the restaurant and his assessment peaked my interest. Had an opportunity to dine with some out of town friends and we selected this place. The atmosphere is as I mentioned, very well decorated but not pretentious. It has a warmth and feeling of old time solitude. Soft jazz music playing in the background made it even better. We ordered the eggplant appetizer and it was so good we wished we'd ordered more. The eggplants were tender and roasted to perfection with basil topping so fresh, you could savor both the aroma and taste with each bite. Next course was the banana flower salad with prawns. Equally sublime, and served in a "bowl" made from the outer casing of the flower. Very well done with a ginger vinaigrette dressing. Lastly, we had the main course... the rack of lamb with asparagus. The lamb was perfect in all aspects. Done medium, and super tender. We made a joke with the owner asking if we could order another rack to go! Final note on parking... if you park across the street in the Diamond Parking lot, it's free... just don't pay the machine, and tell the staff the number of the stall and they will take care of it. Definitely recommend Duc's for any occasion that requires something different than the usual Oahu restaurants. You won't be disappointed. They also have live jazz on Saturday nights. Definitely worth a try. Mahalo for reading my review. read more

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I loved this place for a lot of reasons; the food is delicious, the owners are friendly and knowledgeable with the menu and the atmosphere is like a European cafe. there is a full bar and a parking lot right across the street. it is in Chinatown which can be an adventure in itself and it has been there for something like 30 years which says it all... read more

This may very well be my new fave restaurant. Hubby and I shared: - veal spring rolls, amazing...wanted to lick the plate - jabong salad (special of day) out-of-the ballpark, again, plate licking desire - sourdough bread, sooooo good - fried basa w/green mango, indescribable! - fresh ehu (special of day), lemon caper sauce, moist, rich, and yummy Despite being stuffed, I had the tapioca and hubby had the ginger fantastic. We were both in hog heaven. Our server was Ian, son of owner. Between his exceptional service, and frequent visits from dad, we were so taken care of. Will be back, again and again. read more

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Old school ambiance with classically delicious food in a modestly sized restaurant. Not fusion, but a throwback to French colonial Vietnamese cuisine. Green papaya salad in an elegant presentation, the best spring rolls I've ever had, absolutely delicious beef tartare and a delicious fire roasted eggplant- had two kinds of fish (the Vietnamese dish with green mango was outstanding. Had a Vietnamese tapioca with banana desert that was perfect. Servings are generous, but not gigantic. Service is attentive, friendly but not obtrusive. If you're lucky, Duc himself will stop by. He's the embodiment of warm, properly done hospitality. This is a classy, but not fussy restaurant with absolutely delicious food. read more

We love to go there. We took our friends from Idaho and they loved it. The ambiance, food and welcoming staff.

Service started off ok then I was forgotten. Was waiting 20 min for bill after eating so I finally had to get up and go remind the waiter I was ready to pay. I had the duck. It was ok and a couple pieces raw. Chinese duck is the BEST when skin is crispy and duck is cooked all the way through of course. I'm hoping my experience was a one off and not typical. read more

Father's Day review: I have literally been wanting to try this place for years and FINALLY made it happen and boy! do I wish that I came sooner. Pulled up onto Maunakea St. and was second guessing myself for a moment. It was a tinge seedy, but nothing too overt. Out comes this gentleman talking story with us and exuding all this wisdom upon us. Just as it happens it was Mr. Duc himself...he warmly invited us to come in and the exceptional night began. We ordered the veal spring rolls (dad could not stop eating them) and crab cakes (chunky with a perfect balance of the sauce) to start. Fabulous. For dinner we ordered the ginger duck breast, rack of lamb, the fish of the day in a lemon caper sauce, saffron rice, and of course the famous string beans. I mean it wholeheartedly when I say everything was cooked to perfection and brought each of us smiles of satisfaction. We also got a glance into the kitchen every time the door swung open and my dad was so impressed by the cleanliness. You could drop your food on the floor and still eat it. No joke. Service was amazing. The owner who also took care of us was knowledgeable about the food (obviously), drinks, and LIFE in general. This place did not disappoint and I will be making regular visits here! :) read more

I feel bad only giving them 3 stars but I didn't feel like the food had a lot of flavor. The foie gras was the highlight of our meal. Making it the best thing I've had on this trip. We also had the grand mariner duck which I felt was flavorless and gamey. The papaya salad was okay as was the curry prawns. The people here are very nice. read more

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amazing food in a great ambiance! the service is outstanding! i've been twice now and will continue to go back.

The menu has been pared down a little, but Duc has never disappointed us. Our favorites are duck Saigon and the roasted eggplant. The steak tartare is a generous serving. It is a treat when Duc is in front greeting guests, but the entire staff are welcoming. read more

A few weeks ago, I finally tried this longstanding French Vietnamese restaurant! This is a small family run business with amazing friendly service, where the food is served family style. I love the pupus (banana flower salad, escargot, oysters, and seared foie gras) and the tender juicy pork belly entree. Ooh, and the house-made fresh bread is soooo yummy. Also, the martinis are deliciously potent. What's interesting, is that they have several entrees where you can go either a Vietnamese or French style. Definitely need to come back to try the duck (and feast on some of those yummy pupus again). read more

Duc's Bistro - Fresh French bread, oysters, sting beans, fish in caper sauce, banana flower salad, seared foie gras, escargot, miso eggplant - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Amazing Food and Great Service. Highly recommended and definitely going back again. Thank You Ducʻs Bistro for treating us like family.

Had dinner with a friend and had escargot, spring rolls, pate & banana flower salad, lemon grass chicken, & cream brule. I brought my own bottle of wine and paid the $25 corcage fee since their lowest cost bottle was $54. All the food was excellent, service was superb, ambiance was quiet and enjoyable to have a nice conversation. It is a great place for a romantic dinner with your special someone. Parking is right across the street & free with a code they give you to enter at the pay box when you call to make reservations. I will definitely be going back soon. read more

Duc's Bistro is the best of French Vietnamese food. Please take the time to go Chinatown and get the best lamb chops, the best duck and THE best tartare around. And it's so freaking charming. It's a sophisticated family-run joint. Usually Duc or his wife are there serving up elegance. Go. Now. read more

Duc's Bistro - a glass of wine on a table - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Duc's Bistro has been our go-to for special occasions, anniversaries, birthdays, or just because we are craving the delicious variety that Duc's Bistro has to offer! The ambiance is lovely for date night, or to celebrate a special occasion. Food selection is excellent and I've tried almost everything on the menu and have never been disappointed. My favorite items are the escargot, pork belly, and pho! The pho is not always available so make sure to ask before ordering. Wonderful family-operated business. Every single dining experience has felt like home for us. Thank you Duc's Bistro! read more

Duc's Bistro - Pho - French Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The food is exceptional and the restaurant is a nice, quiet relaxing setting. The staff are each outstanding. A family owned restaurant, Ian (the son) is a superb host, bartender and all around great server! The food is very well prepared and the bar is well stocked with anything you might like. The steak tartare was perfectly prepared. Dessert options are outstanding. The restaurant has parking directly across the street. Make a reservation. All in all-- very, very highly recommended! You can't go wrong at Duc's Bistro. read more

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Great food and gracious attention from the owners. We let the owners order for us. They asked about our likes and dislikes, and took it from there. Be ready to share the smaller plates and enjoy the taste adventure. read more

One word.....Wow! All the years I and the family had been visiting Honolulu, and all the times my father had been taking his meals in Honolulu's Chinatown, never ever did we ever expect to stumble across this amazingly wonderful gem of a restaurant....and in of all places, Chinatown! My father had a hankering for a western style roast duck, but for the life of me, I couldn't find any good places in all of Honolulu.....then, Duc's popped up on Yelp....not quite what we were expecting, but they had duck, so off we went to give it a try on our final night on the island. Wow, it's like we just went back in time to old world Saigon.....actually, I've never been to Saigon, but the interior kind of reminded me of old Singapore, where similar styled restaurants still exist today......with the old world charm, dimly lit bar (seemingly frequented by more mature group of regulars) and dining areas......yes, a very classy tablecloth fine dining restaurant. Service throughout was so warm, friendly, and personal......we had several chats with our server (Kenoa), and the owner (Duc) himself......they all made us feel so welcomed which gave us a good feeling that this dining experience was not going to disappoint us. We were first greeted and seated by Ian, who was just wonderful in explaining how their menu worked and what recommendations he had. The dishes here are family style and usually served with either Jasmine, Saffron, or Aromatic Red rice....however, the featured (and comp'd) rice for the evening was saffron, so that's what we ordered. Everything on the menu looked and sounded so yummy, but we had to make the best choice for just the two of us......went ahead and ordered the Tomato Lobster Bisque, Green Papaya Salad (Goi du du) , Breast of Duck Marnier, Cari Ga (chicken curry), and for dessert, the Tapioca and Crème Brûlée.....also ordered some vino for myself and a couple of signature martinis that my father enjoyed very much! Again, Wow! Everything was prepared to absolutely delicious perfection! My father's lobster bisque was delicious.....so hot, fresh, with very nice and comforting flavor. I also loved the perfectly cooked saffron rice....so fluffy and fragrant.....and went perfectly with the delicious curry.....oh, it may be easy to simply ignore, but I particularly liked the Rau Ram (Vietnamese coriander leaves) garnish used on the curry, which really added a mild yet distinctive pop to the flavor. My plate was spotless by the end of it all. Then there's my father's duck.....ok, I'm not a duck person and will usually never order it for myself. However, my father has a small appetite and couldn't finish the dish on his own, so I got to try some. The gamey taste of duck doesn't quite appeal to me, but I must admit that the pink'ish juicy tenderness of the meat was so perfectly done....very nice. We also enjoyed the green papaya salad very much too......lovely textures and distinct flavors of spicy, sweet, sour with crisp, fresh, and refreshing shreds of papaya....yum! As for the desserts.....Wow, yet again! The Crème Brûlée was so yummy....crispy caramelized surface with milky smooth custard texture on the inside, and not too sweet! My tapioca was also d'lish.....warm, comforting, and a great way to end my dinner.....Yum too! Judging from the clientele that dine here, it seems to be a popular place with regular locals for both drinks a the bar and dinner. I would highly recommend making reservations. Love this place and will most definitely be back during my next visit. In fact, I kind had a strong feeling my father would really like this type of old world nostalgic decor and ambiance very much.......so much that he too insisted he wanted to come back again during his next visit. read more

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One would never think there is a Classical French restaurant located in the heart of Chinatown, especially on Maunakea Street; yet, there is. Duc's Bistro has been open in the same spot since 1992, and after 24 years of just walking by, I finally came in, and a treat it was. Right when you walk in, you will see and feel a sense of refinement and sophistication with the uniform table settings, the low lighting, the quietness, and the overall light colors of the décor. The ambiance is cozy and comfortable, and intimate and romantic. Definitely an excellent place to take a special someone on a special date. Looking through the menu, it consisted of mostly Vietnamese dishes than French dishes, and most of the French dishes are appetizers, so don't expect Coq au vin or souffles all around. We started with the Foie Gras that's seared with cognac and served on toast with papaya slices and preserved cherries, and a mint leaf. The fatty duck liver was rich, decandent, creamy, and just melt in your mouth goodness. The papaya was very sweet and really cut into the savoriness of the foie, and the preserved fruit added the acidity to balance out the richness. The mint really rounded out the whole dish because it added a much needed brightness. I wish there was more than one leaf! As good as the Foie was, I was more astonished with the toast! Not sure if the Foie made it more flavorful or what, but the toast was ridiculously good and had a very nice crisp on the outside. Next was the escargot served in the typical herb butter with bread. This was very disappointing. The escargot was overcooked and ate tough and chewy, and the pieces I had were small. The button mushrooms were larger! The biggest disappointment was the lack of flavor. The herb butter lacked any herb flavor or aroma; the butter lacked the buttery taste. Odd, I know. The only positive of this dish is the bread. The bread was simply amazing. The inside was soft and pillowy, the crust had a nice light crisp, and the bread was tasty. I could just eat a meal of this bread with the toast in between and be totally satisfied. The Butter Lettuce salad was very good. All the ingredients were fresh and well prepared, and the vinagarette was nicely seasoned and was very tasty. The Steak Saigon is NY Steak is cubed and served in a "French Shoyu," and it was below average. On my very first bite, I was in a bewilderment because my first thought was how it tasted exactly like "American Gravy." I took my time smelling it and eating it, and I was still confused! Why does this taste like gravy? I'm trying to pick out any distinct flavors and aromas, but each time, it smelled and tasted like gravy. I got nothing "French nor Shoyu." The cubed steak was bland. It desperately needed salt and pepper. This dish is a definite pass. The Rack of New Zealand Lamb was another disappointment. The lamb was overcooked to medium and medium well than medium rare. The meat was tougher than I prefer. It also lacked salt and pepper, and severely lacked char. I'd guess they were just basting and basting and basting their arm got tired. With all that said, the sauce was delicious. It was light and subtle, which is odd considering it's supposed to be a red wine demi-glace. This dish could have easily been better. Next we had the Steamed Chilean Sea Bass. The fish was either not very fresh, just taken out of the freezer to defrost, or just overcooked. I'd say it was just defrosted. The fish was firm, but not moist, not rich, nor was it tender. The sauce was your basic soy, ginger, and hot oil combination, so nothing special at all. We had the Saffron Rice. It was tasteless and lacked aroma. We also received a bowl of Pho. This was a very simple Pho with just raw beef, onions, scallions, and cilantro. The broth was very rich with strong and heavy flavors, and thicker than what you find normally. It was good overall, but it needed something to cut into the richness of the broth. Finally, we ended the meal with dessert, Crème Brûlée with a madeleine on top. They nailed this one. It had the perfect hard sugar crust at the top that nicely cracked with your spoon. The custard was light and creamy with the perfect sweetness. Overall, the food was okay. It wasn't very refined or impressive, but still acceptable. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and ambiance of this place. It felt cozy and comfortable, and intimate and warm. The staff here are friendly and very attentive. The owner is even more friendly and attentive. He's very hospitable and personable, and will make sure you are having an excellent time. This place has been unique to Chinatown for decades. Definitely a nice place to have a special meal with a special person or persons. read more

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