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Friday, 03 August 2007 |
| Type: | Vietnamese | | Address: | 157 High Street
Wanstead
London
E11 2RL |
One of the first restaurants we visited in our local area and recommeded by the TimeOut Cheap Eats in London book given to me when I left Sycamore (thanks Paul and Nicky). The restaurant is situated on the high street next to a large Weatherspoons close to Wanstead Tube Station. The outside is dressed to look like the enterance to a traditional buidling or temple and when you walk inside the decor continues to amaze. The whole restaurant is themed to look like traditional asian bulidings complete with bamboo on the walls and coi carp pond - and the decor really gives this place a nice atmosphere!
The staff were friendly and immediately seated us at our table. The restaurant was fairly empty at 6.30 on a Friday evening but soon began to fill up as we continued our meal. The menu is extensive, possibly too extensive to easily pick something that you like, although it is split into sections depending on the meat. We had a starter to share that included chicken satay, spring rolls and other small treats served with seaweed - it was very nice, if not a little expensive at £6.50 each. The main courses range in price from around £6-10, with fish dishes at the top end. We orderd a fish in chilli sauce, along with roast duck and a special fried noodles dish. The bar serves Vietnamese beer at only £2 a bottle, which is nice and very light - it hardly tastes of beer at all. The food was all served in a colourful style on individual plates made for sharing. The restaurant includes a number of large round tables that encourage the traditional communal dining found in Asia. The meal was filling but we ordered a rice to go with the main dishes. After the meal some a complimentary fruit plate was brough including melon, orange and kiwi - a nice touch at the end of a large meal. The total bill was £44 including service for two people, not cheap but not exactly expensive either, although this only included one bottle of beer and a coke. A very nice restaurant with a good atmosphere that serves somthing a little different from the normal chinese restaurant that most people visit. Very nice food and plenty to try so I think I would definitely go back to eat more! |
