A little off the beaten path in District 7 is an oasis for foodies and sports fans
LOST BOYS HIDEOUT (147, 2B-3C Le Van Luong, D7, www.facebook.com/lostboyshideout) is indeed hiding out down a corridor set back from the main street. Walking into the spacious sports bar, Lost Boys Hideout is an open, airy space with multiple levels of seating, with cushioned chairs and benches around tables in nooks and crannies that allow for more privacy. In the center of this large seating area is a pond with a fountain and beside it a fullgrown tree weaving its way up into the night sky. It’s as if Lost Boys Hideout has fused together the concept of a garden coffee with a sports bar, a juxtaposition that creates an inviting place. The venue also houses a stage where comedy open mic night happens every other Wednesday and live music plays every Thursday and Saturday night. The main bar runs the length of the room where the head bartender, who comes from years of experience at high-end hotels, creates signature cocktails. At the back is a large, closed off, air-conditioned room with two well-manicured pool tables and more seating. Here they host pool tournaments. Also in the main area is a massive projector screen that comes down for big sporting events. They will even open on special mornings when there is demand for viewing events like UFC cards or football matches. Above it all is a movable canopy to cover the area during inclement weather.
I chose to sit in the room at the back with the air-con. While the main area had many fans and as relatively cool, based on the heat wave currently afflicting Saigon we were in search of maximum coolness. Once seated, a bubbly, affable server came over and introduced herself and explained the menu.
I started with the Dinner Salad (VND70,000). This was a bowl of fresh greens with radicchio, onion, tomatoes, carrot, cucumber, a handful of croutons and tossed in tangy balsamic vinaigrette. The bitterness of the radicchio and the bold acidity of the raw onion were the dominant flavors complementing the balsamic.
For appetizer I went with Chili Salt Squid (VND120,000), fresh pieces of squid battered and fried to a golden brown and served with sweet chili mayonnaise. The squid was tender and flaky, cooked to perfection. And even better washed that down with a bottle of Heart of Darkness Loose Rivet IPA (VND105,000), a New England style IPA with a subtle fruity aftertaste. Beyond the long list of spirits and wine, Lost Boys Hideout features Heart of Darkness craft beers.
For main I chose the Chicken & Pork Burger (VND150,000). It was a good sized patty of mixed ground pork and chicken that was lightly seasoned and cooked through, sitting on a soft, warm bun and topped with shallots, sautéed onion, sliced cornichons, melted cheddar and Dijon mustard. The burger was served with thick, home-cut fries and zesty, homemade citrus coleslaw. Between the seasoned meat, the toppings and the sharp cheddar, this was a succulent burger loaded with flavor that hit the spot. It was the right choice, though I do plan on going back to try Kila’s Killer Pizza (VND240,000), a woodfired homemade pizza topped with Italian sausage, pepperoni, onion and jalapeno and chili peppers.
For dessert I picked the Tinker’s Homemade Apple Crumble (VND95,000). The stewed apples were sprinkled with cinnamon, coated with crunchy crumbles and dashed with crispy shavings of piquant orange and ginger, and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with caramel sauce—what a sweet sensation.
Lost Boys Hideout is a great D7 oasis with a wonderful atmosphere, friendly staff, great food and drinks and lots of activities for singles, couples and families (and dog friendly too).
Images by Vy Lam
