Most visitors to Phnom Penh, even those on a short trip, have heard of Friends restaurant. Starting out as an NGO concerned with providing practical hospitality training to ex-street children, Friends has earned itself a well-deserved reputation for friendly staff and tasty, reliable food.
However, less people know of Romdeng, tucked away on street 278, just behind Lucky Supermarket. Run by Mith Samlanh, the same organisation that started Friends, Romdeng promises customers "a taste of the provinces". Knowing that traditional Cambodian cuisine is not renowned for its wide variety of vegetarian options, I decided to check out Friend's sibling restaurant.
A lovely subdued atmosphere accompanies the smiles and som peah (traditional Cambodian greeting) of the friendly and attentive staff. Descriptions of each dish on the menu provide a brief history of their origin - whether it is Marinated Grilled Beef Salad Kampong-Cham style, Grilled Sun Dried Fish with Mango and Watermelon from the Tonle Sap Lake or the one vegetarian dish on the menu, Spicy Mushroom Dip with Vegetables and Crusty Bread from Battambang.
The menu claims that although Cambodian cuisine is not traditionally vegetarian, the kitchen staff can adapt any of the dishes on request. Being reluctant to find out what a vegetarian version of Crispy Tarantulas served with Lime and Pepper Sauce would be (Hmm, maybe just some lime and pepper sauce??), I decided to play it safe and order the Kampot Rice Noodle Salad with Dried Shrimp in Coconut Milk Vinaigrette - without the dried shrimp. My meat-eating friends graciously agree to share the Mushrooms from Battambang and one of the specials, Crispy Flower Cakes.
Our meals came quickly, and during the brief wait for our food, we enjoyed some rather impressive drinks. I recommend the Fresh Honey, Pineapple and Orange Juice any time you feel like you are coming down with a cold - it's so healthy, you can almost taste the vitamins. Less healthy is the shot of Honey Flavored Khmer Rice Wine - definitely worth a try, but I recommend sipping over shooting! The Sweet Tamarind, Guava and Honey Milk Shake was a unique, refreshing combination of flavours.
The Spicy Mushroom Dip lived up to its name - it was very spicy, but fortunately we had the sweet tamarind drink on hand to Friends restaurant
Just like the original Friends restaurant, the service here was impeccable - friendly and responsive. The training the staff receive here is obviously effective and by the time they graduate from the training academy, they will be well-equipped to serve in any prestigious restaurant.
Although Romdeng is a touch more expensive than some of the other restaurants you may find in Phnom Penh, the food here is definitely worth the extra few dollars and it is still an absolute bargain compared to restaurants you may find at home.
Romdeng offers great service, a decent vegetarian selection and an opportunity to experience some truly Cambodian flavours. In case this isn't enough, just remind yourself that the money you spend here is being used to support some of Cambodia's most vulnerable children - a combination that is sure to satisfy your stomach as well as your conscience.