Siem Reap: Meric (February 2009)

My spouse and I ate dinner at Meric Restaurant in mid-February 2009. We were staying at the Hotel de la Paix at the time, and Meric is the hotel restaurant. Our nightly room rate included a tasting dinner at Meric, which was an impressive feast of several course. We had the 7-course Khmer tasting dinner at Meric one night, which was an interesting experience because we got to try a variety of Cambodian dishes (if there’s something that you just can’t eat--like me with the stir-fried eels--they will make a substitution). Each course was presented in an interesting manner with unique serving utensils/plates. This Art Deco-themed restaurant is stylish and trendy, offering both Khmer menu and a good selection of Western dishes. Meric is also known for changing its menu daily, as it depends on the produce available from local farmers and growers. Still, American chef Bryan Gardner and his team make sure that they offer off-the-beaten path specials and some other memorable dishes. A distinct feature of the restaurant are the outdoor dining swings set around the central water feature, which are perfect for romantic dates. Traditional dining tables and Japanese style wooden tables are also available indoors.