Da Sandro Panini Bar, Phnom Penh

Here we go with yet another food adventure! There's absolutely no doubt that the majority of my time  here in Phnom Penh has been spent food tripping... I'd been itching to try out Da Sandro Panini Bar ever since my parents mentioned it to me a few weeks back, and so I was pretty psyched to finally check it out last night! Oh boy, you'd think that after eating at Malis the night before I'd call it quits on stuffing my face...but no, I'm that weak-willed when it comes to saying 'no' to food. Then again, who isn't?

Apparently the place was named after the owner's grandfather Sandro, who's 'cooking art' involved 'only love and respect for food, quality and... simplicity'. And I can totally see - well, taste really - it! 

As grandfather Sandro (apparently) said: "Simple and delicious. That's the secret!"

I couldn't agree more. Maybe that should be my new motto in life, no?

Da Sandro's is a small and cozy Italian place that definitely has that cute, rustic Western charm to it - wooden chairs of different pastel-y colours that have that worn-out look, a few slabs of white brick, potted plants, white walls and mirrors. Shabby chic if you will; I'm totally in love with the place! 

I tell you, it's the little things that absolutely thrill me! The simplicity of the decorations totally adds to it's charm. 

Different kinds of cold cut meats... hmm...

They've also got chalkboards with their specials on (well, as well as their menu), and a few polaroids of the 'Panini Family'. 

You can watch the staff in action as they put together everything to make delicious paninis!

I got myself their carrot, apple & ginger fresh juice ($3) - absolutely tasty! I've never had ginger in a juice before, so this was a first for me. Definitely glad I tried this one out!

My mom tried out their pineapple, apple & lime fresh juice (also $3) - she gave it a two thumbs up!

As for my panini, well, I ordered the Mau ($6.90) - pork sausage, grilled onion, iceberg lettuce and mustard on ciabatta bread. I was initially going to go for the Anto with tuna mousse and mozzarella, but when I saw the Mau had mustard, I just had to try it out. If you're like me and love a little kick of mustard, I'd definitely recommend the Mau! For sides you've got a choice of salad or roasted potatoes, and no surprise, I went for the potatoes. Yummy!

Mhmm...

Both the parentals went for the Sandro panini ($6.90) - cooked ham, fresh mozzarella and Sandro's eggplant sauce on panino bread. As they were out of cooked ham, my dad replaced it with salami and my mom with err... some sort of ham with mozzarella bits in it (the name totally escapes me). I did have a bite out of my mom's and I can tell you, it is GOOD. It is 'softer' to bite into than the Mau, so if you like those kinds, I'd say go for the Sandro. 

We also got the beef lasagna ($8) to share amongst the three of us - tasty little guy too. The paninis themselves are actually quite filling (I only finished half of mine), so you may opt to just stick to those, unless you're really famished and want more. To that, I say, go ahead! 

Price-wise, I'd say: WORTH IT! Granted, $6 seems a little much for a sandwich, but it is gourmet and absolutely delicious, so in my book, it passes with flying colours. 

It is a really quiet, homey place so it's perfect for unwinding after a long day of sight-seeing around the city. However, according to one of the waitresses we were talking to, it can get quite busy during lunch time (12-3pm) and because the place is quite small, seats can fill up quickly. Definitely suggest that you pop by for that drool-worthy panini and cool drink later in the day (or in the evening like we did) to really appreciate the peaceful ambience at Da Sandro's. 

162 eo, St. 63, Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang 1, Phnom Penh 

Da Sandro Panini Bar is opened daily, from 11am to 9pm. You can check out their website here, or their Facebook page over here. 

I'd definitely suggest you try out Da Sandro's Panini Bar if you're ever in the city! It's such a charming little place with delightful meals that you will no doubt fall in love with and want to visit again, and again until you've tried everything on their menu. 

Happy discovering!

Teehee, this cute daschund (who we we assumed was the owner's dog) lounging inside Da Sandro's totally melted my heart - I wanted to take him home with me!

Malis Restaurant, Phnom Penh

I'd been dying to check out Malis Restaurant since my parents mentioned it to me on my first night here in Phnom Penh, and I made them promise to take me there before I left. Alas, the time finally came, and after the rave reviews I had heard about this place, there was no doubt in my mind that Malis would leave a lasting impression on me... especially my stomach!

Malis opened in 2004 and became the first upscale Cambodian restaurant serving traditional Khmer cuisine with a contemporary twist, with the help of 'masterchef' Luu Meng. Meng and his team are apparently leading the way in bringing back the almost forgotten traditional recipes from during the Khmer Rouge regime, making Malis the place to go for a taste of both the past and present.

And boy, did they deliver!

Malis does have an outdoor and indoor dining area, and personally I don't think you can go wrong with either option! The outdoor seating area is so lush and gorgeous - with the ponds, plants, candles and statues - that you'll probably forget that there's a pretty busy road just past the walls of the restaurant!

My photos really do not give this place any justice- it's just so beautiful!

One of indoor dining areas of the restaurant - they do have two floors, so there's plenty of seating areas. I love the whole earthy, warm ambience of the place! I'm a sucker for those kinds, where you just can't help but feel so 'in the zone' and relaxed while dining on mouthwatering meals... hmm...

 Ordering time!

How delicious do those appetizers look? I'm drooling as I write this, no joke.

Takeo sausages ($8) - pork sausages infused with Malis's mix of spices and coconut shaving, served with a sweet chili sauce. This was my star of the night - I immediately fell in love with these babies that I almost begged my dad to order another one. Absolute heaven in my mouth, especially with that sweet chili sauce! Mhmm... You have got try this out if you dine at Malis!

Chunky prawn cakes with turmeric leaves ($7.50) - bite-size, deep fried prawns in a mic of spices and turmeric, served with salad. Like the sausages, these prawn cakes had their own sauce to go with it, and it tasted amazing!!! Definitely eat this with the sauce though, as it gives the prawn cakes a little bit of a kick.

Left: Korko fried rice (about $8.50 if I recall correctly) - caramelized braised beef with galangal and tomatoes, mixed with wok-fried rice, enhanced by freshly crushed garlic and fish sauce. They do have a variety of 'rices' to choose from, that my dad and I did a bit of eenie-meenie-miney-moe to decide! Finally settled on this, and super glad we did! It's definitely not like the other fried rice 'meals' I've tried.

Right: Saraman beef curry ($8) - beef with hand-picked kroeung and curry spice cooked slowly, with extra coconut cream. Again, another must-try if you're a fan of curry! It's not too spicy, and my mom definitely loved that.

My second star of the night! Fish amok ($7) - a traditional dish made with goby fish fillet on lemongrass curry paste, steamed in a banana leaf basket. Urmfff... this tasted so amazing! A tad bit spicy, but that's what made it so delicious. Just remember to eat the veggies (I think it was spinach?) that lines the bottom of the basket with the fish, as it really completes the whole dish. Definitely order this at Malis!

The portions do look quite small, but they're so uber filling! I'd almost wished that I had worn a skirt with garterized-waist instead of one with a zipper!

My diet is so screwed... I mean, just looking through these pictures makes me want to dash over there, at one in the morning, to have another plate-full of these!

Also got myself an avocado smoothie to wash down everything - pretty darn tasty!

For dessert (because I couldn't help myself as everything tasted so delicious it felt wrong to leave without trying one), I tried out their pumpkin creme brulee which tasted soo good! There's actually a touch of red chili skin and coconut in it, which made it so unique. It also wasn't too sweet, and the pumpkin flavour wasn't too overwhelming - a great ending to such an amazing meal!

My mom's dessert - palm fruit with tapioca and yellow bean. She absolutely loved it, and recommends you try it out, provided you still have space in your belly!

I couldn't help myself and put another photo of the scrumptious appetizers here. I'm sorry, did I make you drool a little more? Because I just did, woops!

The menu is pretty extensive, and I do have to say though, you probably won't go wrong with whichever  items you pick! My parents had already tried this place out before, so they'd already gotten a taste of the other items - what we ordered was what they considered to be the best of the best. I would definitely want to come back to try out their other curries and appetizers... and of course order another plate of ... all for myself, of course.
You can check out their website here, and Facebook page here.

Although the menu is a tad bit pricy, it is ABSOLUTELY WORTH EVERY PENNY! You're not just paying for the ambience, mind you - it's everything, and my God, it's an amazing package deal. The food, the atmosphere, the staff - Malis does not disappoint.

Malis Restaurant
#136, Street 41, Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh
Open daily, from 6am to 10pm

I've been making quite a big deal of places a must-visit here in Phnom Penh, but I'm dead serious about it being an absolute sin to come to Phnom Penh without dining at Malis! It'd be so wrong! Because of the price, I'd definitely suggest that you splurge on Malis on your last night in the city - you won't regret every dime spent here. So you know, save up for this luxurious treat! If that means eating by the little cafes they have set up by the side of the road at the beginning of your trip, then so be it. Your meal at Malis Restaurant will be so worth it. I kid you not.

I would definitely recommend you make a reservation at Malis before dropping by, as even though they do accept walk-ins and the place big, it can get pretty full especially during peak dining times (lunch and dinner). We made our reservations for 6:30pm on a weekday, and so it wasn't as busy (yet) and we were also given the choice of seating at either the outdoor or indoor area.

Having gone and tried quite a number of restaurants here in Phnom Penh, I have got to admit, Malis Restaurant was the absolute best! In my opinion, you won't find anything better. Yes, I realize I'm probably getting a little ahead of myself as I do still have a few days left of sight-seeing here in the city, but in my honest, honest opinion, I don't think anything else will be able to live up to the beauty that is Malis. 

Happy discovering!