Doneview Garden of Lobster serves up great northern food and views

Doneview Garden of Lobster is a relatively new restaurant but the venue is already being frequented by locals in Huayxai district, Bokeo province who are lured by the great food and relaxing setting.
Huayxai may be a small town but it’s the capital and also the most well-known area for tourism in the province with many interesting drawcards nearby such as the Gibbon Experience, old French Fort Carnot, hilltop temple (Vat Chomkhao Mamirath) and others.
The town has many interesting restaurants operated by both foreigners and locals but if you are interested in regional cuisine, Doneview Garden of Lobster is the place to be.
The restaurant is located at Ang Nam Bia (Nam Bia Dike) in Hoatai village around 5-10 minutes’ drive from Huayxai town.

Khoung Tent ready to enjoy.

But you need to park your car outside and then walk for a few minutes across the wooden bridge to the restaurant on an island.
There are some 20 bamboo huts standing along the river which cater for around 12 diners in the smaller ones and 20 customers in the larger ones and you also can occupy even bigger tables in the main restaurant if you wish.
If you want some musical entertainment you only have to bring along your smartphone and connect to the venue’s Bluetooth loudspeakers and there’s also free Wi-Fi.
The owner of the restaurant, Ms Yeng Soythong said her customers during weekdays are usually officials or office workers for lunch, especially on Fridays when they come together to share a meal.
But on weekends most of her customers are groups of families and friends just relaxing.
While Huayxai is in northern Laos the weather can still get quite hot but you don’t have to worry about that at the venue as the wooden huts receive plenty of shade from the abundant trees.
The restaurant is open daily from 9am to 10:30pm and the top order is Khoung Tent (small spicy and sour prawns) with other local favourite dishes being fish, bamboo or chicken soup, as well as grilled shrimp and snakehead fish.
The freshwater prawns sell well at the restaurant because they’re raised on their own farm.
Actually, there are three restaurants on this small island but Doneview Garden of Lobster is the best known because it combines a relaxing natural setting, great views and plenty of fresh air. Visitors love taking photos and other activities such as fishing and kayaking.
A visit to Doneview Garden of Lobster will leave diners feeling they have enjoyed the best of local food and environs and most importantly northern hospitality.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update December 15, 2018)