Gerado Dereviziis is a well known figure in the Vientiane restaurant scene. For quite a while he ran the Aria resturant before deciding to sell his shares and open his own place just next door in 007 Rue Francois Nginn.
A few weeks ago Acqua opened. It is Italian fine dining at it's best. Luxurious interior, on of the best services available in Vientiane and still reasonable prices: Acqua made it to the top right from the start.
Still, there is a lack of high class dining in Vientiane. Le Silapa is on top as well with french cuisine, but that's basically it. The top hotel restaurants are far away down the list.
So let's get back to Acqua. You have an outside area where you can smoke and watch the tourists passing by, but I preferred to sit inside for two reasons: Aircondition and the ambience. The name Acqua is a clever choice: You still get it because its close to the English name, it also symbolises Italay somehow, and it is s synonym for freshness. As most italian restaurant trying to get you the terracotta touscany feeling, Gerado opted for blue and this was a wise decision.
His menu shows what he can dobest: Finest Italian dishes, from basics like spaghetti pomodoro to lobster and oysters. His pasta are all homemade, and so are the desserts, the ice cream and even the bread you get with the bread basket.
All ingredients he can not get at local markets he has to import, but for the sake of quality he doesn't want to make any compromises.
While the dining area downstairs is spacious but doesn't make you feel lost, there are private rooms for functions upstairs available.
A good restaurant owner spends a lot of time for details and so did Gerado. The toilets are 5-star-hotel standard, Chairs and tables are finest quality, air-condition is well temperated, powerplugs for energy hungry phones are available everywhere.
Biggest issue in the Lao hospitaly industry is getting skilled staff. Gerado is facing this problem since he opend his first restaurant and he is certainly not alone. He did his best hiring a Vietnamese restaurant manager, and he made a good choice with her. You get a 5-star greeting when you approach the restaurant and propably the best restaurat service in town.
Having said this, there might be a hickup here and there in service, just due to unexperienced staff. Training in Laos is still a longterm project.
Usually you don't go for a pizza to a fine dinign place, and Gerados other place Ai Capone just next door on the left might be a good place for it, you still get the best pizza in town at Acqua.
So, if you want to go out for a special occasion and get best quality in food and service, pay a visit to Acqua. You will not find something better in Vientiane, still.
Reservations: 02028117888
Facebook: www.facebook.com/acqua.laos
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