Having tried Casablanca (Moroccan) Restaurant last week (see review), it was the turn of Bahdja (Algerian) Restaurant this week. Although close to Nguyen Hue and the centre of Saigon, it is on a street that does not see many tourists. The restaurant itself is attached to a modern hotel, and is, in fact, below street level. The signboard was not very easy to see, and the restaurant was empty when we arrived at about 8 p.m., although a few people came in during the course of our meal.

In comparison with Casablanca, the decor is less attractive or distinctive. So in terms of atmosphere, we gave Casablanca 5 stars and Bahdja a generous 3. I am sure that much could be done to make the atmosphere more intimate and genuinely Algerian. Since this is a restaurant that clearly takes its food and service seriously, it's a pity that the decor is not of the same standard and lacks appeal.

The service, however, was excellent. We were looked after by the Russian wife of the Algerian chef (the owners of the restaurant), and very well looked after too. The chef also came to our table towards the end of the evening to ask us whether we were enjoying the meal. Yes, thank you. Although the price of the meal, including two large pots of mint tea and a dessert, came to over 40$ for two, which makes it unaffordable for a lot of people and a very occasional treat for others, the complimentary glass of sparkling white wine and the plentiful home-made bread with spicy harissa and aubergine paste dips were very nice touches.

Since we wanted to make a comparison with Casablanca, we ordered a lamb couscous and a beef tajine. The couscous was good, and the lamb cutlets (served separately) were excellent. The tajine was wholesome, and had the interesting ingredients of apple and prune along with the beef. The portions were plentiful - a make or break issue for me.

We had a plate of Algerian desserts to finish up with, which were delicious. So it was altogether a very pleasant evening with excellent service and good or very good food, only let down a little by the rather uninteresting decor.

It's a class act and is definitely recommended.

Bahdja is a basement, smallish restaurant so you have to look down and to the right of the hotel that it is under. Not so difficult to find. I started off with a tomato and bell pepper salad that was absolutely wonderful. Perfect actually in size and flavor. I then went with the first "tagine" I have ever had, the lamb and beef with potato, carrot. Flavor was fantastic, the meat was melt in your mouth, and the portion size was just right for me. The service was perfect, with the chef's wife running the show out front. Chef stopped by to ask how everything was, wich is always a nice touch if possible. The menu is quite limited to Couscous plates and Tagines, with some interesting starters. Wine list is not extensive but it is good and very reasonably priced. Bahdja, across the board, is priced along with other better restaurants in town.This is the second restaurant in Saigon I have been to this week where the music, interesting though it was, was a touch too loud. It should be part of the atmosphere, not be the center of attention. All in, a great find. I will be back for sure.

We found this delightful oasis by accident when exploring Saigon one afternoon. We went back the following evening for what I can only describe as the most heavenly food in Saigon. The Metwa tagine, lamb chops and home-made sausages where divine as were the Algerian pastries we shared for dessert. The European (Russian?) waitress was delightful and very attentive and just before the conclusion of the meal, the chef came out to meet and greet us and gave us some great tips on how to prepare couscous at home. All in all, it was a delightful evening and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone. It is a calm oasis in an otherwise bustling, manic city.

After 3 weeks of Vietnamese food (mostly excellent), we were ready for a change of pace upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City. As usual, we relied upon Trip Advisor and tried Bahdja. We were greeted by the hostess/owner (her husband is the chef) and treated to a complimentary glass of champagne. The food and wine were superb and the staff friendly and accommodating. The portions were large and the menu authentic Algerian food. We ended our meal with delicious mint tea. From start to finish, it was a meal to remember. While slightly more expensive then we were used to paying in Vietnam (which is true for everything in HCMC), it was worth every penny. We highly recomment this restaurant.