The most eye-catching element is a beautifully restored piece of machinery. It holds pride of place in the corner of the small non-smoking section, under a painting of the original Vietnam House in Ho Chi Minh City. Lovely watercolors set into the walls and illuminated by brass gallery lights all came from Vietnam. The kitchen dearly wants its guests to love its food, so everything comes to the table mild, along with various sauces to perk things up. The faintly orange sauce that seeps into the rice beneath makes the whole dish more festive.
Barbecue is lean and sweet, a tasty foil to the grilled foods.
Shellfish and seafood are everywhere, simmered, steamed, roasted, in one of several fondues, and above all, in any of the marvelous pho-like soups. The operative word for virtually all the food, however, is tender. Needless to say, Vietnam House would not be a place where one would want to linger if the food were not good. But the food is quite good. So when you go, you might want to take a book.