Vietnam Restaurant - Amazing Food, Amazing Prices
Written: Jun 17 '03 (Updated Jun 17 '03)
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Pros: Excellent food, great prices
Cons: service can slow, often VERY busy
The Bottom Line: Vietnam Restaurant is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants I've been to, all at exceptional prices!
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| martytdx's Full Review: Vietnam Restaurant |
EAT AT VIETNAM? YOU BET!
When it comes to ethnic food, my wife and I are rapidly becoming experts. We're both avid lovers of different cuisines (as is our son), and we like to go out to different restaurants as often as time and budget allow. One of our favorite places to go is Vietnam Restaurant.
The restaurant is located on 11th St near Race - only a few blocks from Chinatown. Situated across the street from the renovated Hawthorn Suites, Vietnam restaurant is a popular restaurant for those 'in the know'. First introduced to it by some climbing friends of my wife, we tried it out one Friday night - and have been coming back, and bringing friends, ever since.
FOOD
Vietnam is a full-service restaurant, offering drink and a multitude of menu items (check out the menu at www.eatatvietnam.com). When my wife and I go, we almost always start with one of the BBQ Sample Platters, a mixture of several of their appetizers which feeds four people easily. The sampler includes:
* Chargrilled Chicken
* Stuffed Grape Leaves
* Grilled Meatball Rolls
* Spring Rolls
* Rice Vermicelli
* Lettuce, Carrots and Cucumber
* Rice Paper
* 2 types of dipping sauces
All of the items are excellent, and provide for innumerable combinations. For those of you who are not familiar with Vietnamese food, much of the food is about mixing different flavors and textures together. For example, from the sampler, I often take a piece of rice paper, add some chicken, vermicelli, the vegetables and some of their brown sauce (I forget the name of it), and wrap it up into something vaguely resembling an egg roll. The mixture of the warm meat and cool vegetables provide a delicious starter to a great meal. We often also get the Charbroiled Pork Rolls, tender pork wrapped in rice paper, and dipped in a spicy fish sauce (known as Nuoc Mam). The Nem Nuong Cuon ($3.95) and Bo nuong la ($6.50) - grilled meatball rolls and stuffed grape leaves, respectively - are excellent
When it comes to entrees, there are far too many to go into here (the menu lists 81 items). My personal favorite is Bun Dac Biet - House Special Vermicelli ($8.95) - a bowl of rice vermicelli topped with many of the same things in the BBQ Sample Platter, and served with the Nuoc Mam sauce. I prefer the brown sauce, and get it on the side, but both sauces are great. The vermicelli is a subtle taste next to the stronger pork and beef, egg, peanuts and carrots flavors layered on top. The bowl is huge, and is enough to fill up a hungry person, especially if you had appetizers.
In the dozen or so times we’ve gone there, many people follow my lead with the Bun Dac Biet, but I have tried several other dishes – and my wife tends to try different things each time. The Bun Mi Phuoc Kien (Fukien Noodle Soup - $6.25) is a delicious noodle soup filled with pieces of shrimp, pork, squid and vermicelli. Heo Kho Tu (Pork in Claypot - $9.95) is delicious - pork cooked in a traditional clay pot with vegetables, and spiced up with black pepper. Bo Xao Xo Ot (Beef Lemon Grass - $8.95) is more of a Thai dish, but is still excellent.
If you are familiar with Asian cuisine, you know that many of the dishes designate ‘hot’ entrée items. Don’t believe it – as is usual most of them may be ‘hot’ from a child’s point of view, but they aren’t really that spicy. However, you can get almost any of the dishes spiced up a bit – although we have to emphasize we want it ‘hot, hot’ not American hot when we order spicy.
In addition to the food, there is a full service bar, which offers such family-oriented umbrella drinks as the Suffering Bastard and the Mai Tai, or the two-person Flaming Volcano. But watch out, these aren’t your grandmother’s mint julips – they pack a punch. For those who are a little less adventurous, they also offer a variety of beer and wine, including four Asian brews (such as '33' and Saigon Export - both from Vietnam).
SERVICE
If you are going to go on a weekend, make sure you get there early – the place gets PACKED on Friday and Saturday nights. They don’t take reservations, and they won’t put your name in until everyone is there. However, once you are on the list, getting seated is relatively quick. Larger parties will end up in the middle of the room, most likely.
Every waiter we’ve had has been very good, although they are usually running around the whole time we are eating. Trying to flag one down can be difficult when it isn’t busy – and even worse on weekends. But they are friendly and will do what they can to accommodate your requests (such as my brown sauce thing).
The food is generally brought out together, but some dishes that are more laborious to prepare will come out whenever they are ready to preserve their flavor. We’ve only encountered this once, and it really isn’t that big a deal, since we often end up eating family style.
DÉCOR
The restaurant is actually decorated very tastefully, with large amounts of stained wood throughout. The tables are comfortable if not overly large, but you have space to have a private conversation, if needed. There are numerous Vietnamese accents, but not really an overload of decorations. The restaurant is pretty quiet for a Philly favorite, and you rarely have to speak up to be heard.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you like to try new foods - or you are already a fan of Vietnamese - you need to try Vietnam Restaurant. The menu is diverse enough to satisfy anyone’s tastes, including a bevy of vegetarian items. Moreover, the prices are reasonable enough that you can try a number of new things every time you are there and still feed a family of 4 for less than $60. So, if you are in Philly and are having an urge to try something new, check out Vietnam Restaurant.
For More Information
www.eatatvietnam.com
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations The Bun Dac Biet (House special Vermicelli is excellent, and more than enough for one person. Also great is the Heo Kho Tu (Pork in Clay Pot). If you go with a group, get the BBQ Sample Platter.
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
martytdx
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Marty
Location: New Jersey
Reviews written: 481
Trusted by: 179 members
About Me:
Doing what I can to try new places, restaurants, books and beers.
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