The name says Italian, but Contro d’ Oriente, the cutesy new eatery behind the Royal Palace on Street 184, is far more artsy Asian mash-up than smoky mob hangout where heavyset enforcers burn Macanudos and argue over the optimal slimness of the sliced garlic in the tomato sauce. At Contro, floor-to-ceiling murals cover the walls – a Venice riverscape to one side, a bucolic Mekong waterway to the other. The ceiling lights are covered in Pich Sopheap-esque woven rattan artwork and Khmer-style long chairs sport oversized pillows covered with local fabrics. Most pastas are less than $5, the gelato is a delicious $1.5 per scoop, and the staff like to keep the music turned up, which makes it harder for the G-men to listen in on the caper.
Contro d’ Oriente, #20 Street 184.
I don’t recommend this restraurant : the first time I went, it was very long to be served but we had what we had ordered.
2 days later, we had to stay more than 2 hours: the waiter brought the plates one by one, waiting around 15-20 minutes between each; moreover, after having brought 4 pizzas, he came to tell us the cook didn’t have anything to do more pizzas!!! he could have told when we ordered! he was out of every italian food we wanted to order after that. Finally, one of us decided for a cambodian meal, and even that wasn’t prepared properly and not cooked enough. A real disaster, and nor the waiter nor the cook looked at least a bit sorry or stressed a little bit!