Family Friendly Restaurant: Cyclo

By Manaz Javaid, Sep 08, 2017 14:55

Manaz and her two daughters are on a search of a family friendly Vietnamese restaurant in Shanghai. See what she has to say about Cyclo at Found 158.

The Place and Vibe

Set in a newly established and trendy restaurant and bar underground complex, Found 158, Cyclo offers a bright and relaxing atmosphere with colorful decor. Seating is available both indoors and outdoors, boasting plenty of open space throughout the restaurant. Best of all, kids can play safely outside the restaurant at the center of plaza and you can keep an eye on them if you’re at one of the outdoor tables.

The Food

The menu offers a wide range of Vietnamese dishes, including a substantial vegetarian selection. As we are a family of pescatarians, this is very suited to our tastes. Thankfully, there were more than enough dishes for us to choose from. We cooled ourselves down from the heat of the day with a drink called Lemonada (RMB35); its fresh mint and citrus was as refreshing as its light green color.

An authentically spiced green papaya salad (RMB60) set a high standard for the meal. Though the flavors might be a bit too intense for the kids, it was a pleasant starter to kick off the meal. Those who are not a fan of fish sauce should try the Vietnamese fish cake (RMB65), which was the kids’ favorite and a perfect dish for sharing. It was nicely seasoned and lightly fried to a perfect golden color and a tender and almost springy texture while the dipping sauce was sweet but not overpowering.

The star of the meal had to be the fried cod fish (RMB188), which pan-fried and covered in a specially black pepper sauce. The fish was succulent and flaky, and with the fiery yet balanced sauce it was the perfect match made in heaven. Every dish was beautifully presented and the sides and sauces all worked well to compliment the main ingredients.

Kids approved

The food is certainly more suitable for older kids as it requires a bit of knowledge and skills to pair each dish with the sauces, salads and other accompaniments, which can be a bit tricky for younger children who don’t follow instructions well. A special kids’ menu would work wonders for little ones who prefer finger foods and small snacky meals. Overall, the staff were very attentive and helpful. While there’s no play area within the restaurant, colorful crayons are offered to keep children busy, which was a thoughtful addition.

The washroom facilities were located at the top of a short staircase, so an adult would need to escort younger kids back and forth. Changing facilities are available in a public area outside of the restaurant.