Steven writes:
Small Vietnamese restaurant that does take-aways & delivery also.
Seating inside is limited. 1 table that will seat up to 8 (but they will
seat multiple smaller groups there when busy), about 3-4 tables of 4,
and 2 or 3 tables for 2. If you arrive with a group of 4 or less, you
shouldn't have a problem, for more than 4, I would recommend booking, as
there's only 1 table that big.
Menu is Vietnamese focussed, but with some dishes from other countries,
because they are popular and expected for an asian restaurant
(chinese-style rice & soups, singapore noodles, satay chicken, aromatic
duck etc).
Expect to pay 15 pounds per head for a good starter, main, side and 2
drinks. Eat-in menu is priced the same as the take-away menu, which is
priced to compete with the local chinese takeaways, so value is good.
Portion size is good (starter, main & rice leaves me feeling very full)
To be recommended are the pancakes for starters, a bit messy to eat, you
end up with chilli oil running over your fingers (don't wipe your eyes!)
or the steamed rolls. For main course, I've not had a bad dish from the
vegetarian section of the menu, my favourite being "sea-spice tofu with
aubergine, bamboo shoots and chilli". Their "sizzling" dishes are
spectacular when served, incredibly aromatic and tasty, but be warned
they take a few minute to cool down to a temperature you can eat without
losing skin in your mouth.
I keep meaning to try a dish from the section marked "Pho and Bun in
soup" which would seem to be a ramen-style dish with a large steamed
dumpling in the stock with the noodles and {{I:insert main ingredient}},
based on the description.
To be avoided are the fish dishes. They are all whole fish, very fiddly
to eat, and not particularly worth the effort.
Service is always fast and friendly. Some dishes come in multiple parts
and aren't clear how you should proceed, and the wait staff are always
happy to give instruction, without being condescending about it (ex. The
pancake starter = take lettuce leaf, break off section of pancake and
filling, put in lettuce leaf, add pickled cabbage & carrot, pour on
chilli oil, fold up leaf, eat with fingers).
Drink choice is very limited, 3 bottled lagers (Tsing Tao etc), a few
wines (3 reds and 3 whites, IIRC) soft drinks and teas, but reasonably
priced (1 pounds.10 for a can of coke in a glass, rather than the
1 pounds.50-2 pounds.00 most places scalp you for. 2 pounds.30 for the bottled
beers)
OpenStreetMap - Bing - Streetmap
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200 yards WbN: The Hermit's Cave |
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300 yards SSE: Denmark Hill (British Rail) |
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0.5 miles NWbN: Kyrgyz Kazakh House |
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0.7 miles SWbW: Loughborough Junction (British Rail) |
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0.8 miles EbS: Peckham Rye (British Rail) |
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0.8 miles SbE: East Dulwich (British Rail) |