Ana Mandara Restaurant

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Citysearch

The Scene
The name means "beautiful refuge," and the place absolutely lives up to it, from silk-uniformed staff to potted palm trees. It may be in Ghirardelli Square, but it's tropical grandeur all the way--the ceiling is sky-high and the space is defined by dark carved-wood detailing. The sweeping staircase even has its own koi pond.

The Food
French-accented Vietnamese dishes meet utterly fresh ingredients with gorgeous, delectable results. Wrap the deservedly acclaimed crab, shrimp and shiitake imperial rolls in a lettuce leaf with mint for extra crunch. Striped bass seviche, draped over cucumber and shallots in rice vinegar and chili oil, is a revelation in taste and texture. An entree of enormous freshwater prawns with a rich turbinado sugar glaze flecked with chili pepper is superb. Moist, marvelously flavorful quail with plum sauce is architecturally presented with sweetish black sticky rice.