The restaurant is so beautifully designed that diners will feel as if they're living in the lap of luxury, at least for a restorative couple of hours. One of the top wine experts in the United States, Larry Stone, who also works at Rubicon, has put together a somewhat esoteric but delightful list that enhances the Vietnamese food crafted by Khai Duong. With 130 wines, it's far from pretentious and perfectly designed for the creative menu. But with many unfamiliar labels, the list's success depends upon the staff. Although Stone conducts regular training, the staff still hasn't learned the finer points, which can frustrate diners.
Markups are a bit high, although there are wines in most price ranges.
In addition, there are a dozen wines by the glass, a dozen beers and a section of sweet wines, whiskey, single malt scotch, brandy and Cognac. Another alternative is to try one of the innovative cocktails such as the Tapari Poison, a blushing pink drink loaded with ginger, hot chiles and rum, or the vodka-based Ana Mandara, a cross between a margarita and a lemon drop flavored with mint and lemongrass. Reservations and credit cards accepted. Amazing prices for the quality. Top-flight wine list.