This place is an institution. My dad remembers going there 30 years ago.
I must say, I really don't think that the decor or furniture have changed either.
DON'T BE PUT OFF BY THE DECOR or the plastic menus.
Sunday night, so much of Crows Nest is dead but this place, despite the green walls, tacky chairs and dusty lanterns was 75% full.
The menu is predominately Vietnamese, but there is a Thai section of the menu.
We had the rice paper rolls (prawn and pork, and vegie)- served with a traditional bean sauce (not satay) beautifully fresh and tasty. We had the crispy chicken with lemon and pepper (basic but yummy, oh and served retro-style on a bed of prawn crackers) and the seafood in oyster sauce (Vietnamese oyster sauce, rather than the regular salty Chinese or Thai form. Squid and prawns were cooked perfectly.
The menu may be pretty basic, but has variety. Service was fantastic, even if the waiter was busy looking after most of the tables, with the occasional hand from the barman.
I would have really liked some S+P squid, but they have the more traditional pork stuffed squid tubes. NEXT time, I'll be trying one of the sizzling dishes- I swear, every table in the place ordered one, but us- so I figure they must be worth a try.
Tip: Restaurant is licensed and BYO- but the wine they sell is cask(!) read more