Melissa H.'s Profile

I have been to Huynh a handful of times now, but my visit a few weeks back was hands down amongst my best dining experiences in Walnut Creek to date.

The main dining area seems cramped, but I am seriously in love with the dcor.  The muted greens and soft lighting is calming, and the table place settings are just formal enough to give one a proper anticipation for the food to come.

This chosen evening, we let the server suggest the shrimp rolls as a starter.  The Imperial rolls are usually our choice, but the fresh ingredients and delicate preparation made me happy we trusted her.  Because she hit a home run with the first course, we let her pick a second course of the Spicy Beef Salad.  Wow.  Super delicate beef perfectly seasoned to a spicy that lingered just long enough to enjoy.  

To complete our meal, we stuck with our tried and true Ga Sai Gon.  The offered side order of brown rice is cooked in an oyster sauce and is a perfect accompaniment.  The last piece of chicken on the platter is something always negotiated over.

So when shall I dine again at Huynh?  Not soon enough.

With more curiosity than baited anticipation, I checked out Maria Maria this evening.  What did I learn? To not be a guinea pig for a newly opened establishment.

The service was spotty, we waited an hour for our entree to arrive (in a less than half full dinning room), and our selections were more misses than hits.

The meal began with a server presenting us with 'fresh' chips and a selection of three salsas.  The chips were disappointing, and reminded me of those large bags of tortilla chips one can buy at Costco.  (According to our server, they make their own chips on site daily. ???)  For starters, my date and I ordered the house margarita and an appetizer selection of 'baked cheese'.  I quote 'baked cheese' because I had no idea that it would be taken so literally.  What I perhaps imagined would be a more nacho cheesy sauce.  What we got was goopy, greasy inedible slop.

The margarita was satisfying, if perhaps a bit weak.  I do want to note that not once was my water glass refreshed, although dozens of staff members were milling about constantly.

But things turned around a bit for the long awaited entre.  Perhaps the chicken enchilada tasted so good because after an hour wait I was famished.  But I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt and give the place props for a seriously unique and tasty dish.  Unfortunately, my date did not fare to great in his selection of carnitas.  Luckily, my entre was extra large and we easily shared the singularly edible creation.

So, would I go back?  Maybe.  It is a neighborhood staple location.  The margarita showed promise (I am a sucker for a margarita), and I am sure the server selection will be refined - along with hopefully a more than a few of the menu items.  Sadly, however, one of the last few unpretentious neighborhood spots is no more, and it its place is just another yuppie establishment with valet parking.

Serene setting and landscaping.  Rustic but charming country cottage furnishings.  The suite rooms are accommodated with high ceilings, large jetted tubs, balconies, fireplaces, and comfy beds.  Idyllic spot for romantic getaway. Some oddities in room included some peeling paint on the walls, a smelly fridge, and empty TV cabinet (the TV was placed next to the cabinet on the floor).  They should have just took the TV out all-together, because in a place like this, who's watching the tube?