Banana Palm

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  7     

We were curious about this place. As soon as we entered we loved it, and will definitely go there again, even if for a drink at the inviting bar out front.

The service was great, very attentive staff. We had the prawns and fresh rice paper rolls for entree, which were both nice but, perhaps, a little too 'normal'. I had the crispy pork for main, which was not what I was expecting. It was more like a salt and pepper pork! A bit too much batter for my liking. Standout dish was the lamb-shank curry. We will come here again.

May 26, 2012 

7.3 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

Excellent Vietnamese food, worth paying a little more than you would in Marrikville for the quality, service, and very nice decor.

The servings are slightly small, but 3 entrees, 3 mains and side of vegetables among 4 adults was more than enough, and at $135 including corkage really not bad value. The ban xeo was very small, but delicious, fresh and not greasy at all. Salt and pepper squid still not as good as tre viet in Newtown, but excellent non the same.

Quail on papaya salad bursting with fresh flavours, a definite stand out.
Mains we had lovely tender flavoursome lemongrass beef, duck salad, and crispy pork. The pork, while delicious, was also fried like salt and pepper style, which wasn't what we expected and too much deep fried after the squid to start. The duck salad was spicy and a good accompaniment. Garlic beans were fought over they were so good. Will definitely be going back.

Aug 25, 2011 

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  6     

Went here with a group of friends (there were 12 of us) last month for the first time. From the outside the restaurant is a bit bland but when you enter, the atmosphere is buzzy and the staff are very friendly. A couple of people in our party had eaten here before so they organised a banquet.

The service was good and the food came out fairly quickly. There was enough of each dish for all of us to try everything (just). Its BYO so the price of drinks wasn't a problem, however, for food, I left still feeling hungry and was a bit disappointed about the amount of food we got for the price.

Also its great for groups but I wouldn't go there if you're looking for a romantic dinner for two.

Aug 03, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  7      Value  8     

A friends birthday banquet brings me to this dimly lit and beautifully decorated restaurant on the outskirts of Coogee Bay far away from backpacker central. It was also recommended to me by a work colleague so I was looking forward to the opportunity of trying. It has a respectable 7.5 (45 reviews) on Eatability but many of the negative comments have been about slow service in particular.

After the initial hurdle of our group working out the dishes for a custom made banquet for 21 guests our dining and friendly service experience was very smooth and within a reasonable time without feeling too rushed.

The impressive sized Deep fried stuffed prawns with minced pork, served with spicy plum sauce ($13) were a good tasty starter although I think it could have benefitted from a home made classic Vietnamese nuoc cham dipping sauce rather than using a bottled sweet chilli sauce. The salt and pepper chilli squid ($13) was delightfully crispy and tender as hoped but a bit more freshly fried chilli and shallots wouldn't go astray to add some extra flavour depth and punch, one of my favourites is still from Pho 236 in Newtown.

The Fresh Vietnamese rolls with pork, prawns and fresh herns wrapped in rice paper ($10) were wrapped very differently to what I usually see but still worked well delivering the right amount of balance of fresh ingredients. The Vietnamese fresh rolls at Thanh Binh still reign supreme for me, especially their fried version.

A reasonably priced salad of lotus stem with chicken breast, prawns and peanuts ($12) provides delicious slivers of lotus stem which reminds me of the beef salad with lotus root at Saigon Saigon. Stir fried beef with lemongrass and chilli ($19.50) is dressed with refreshing coriander and the Wok tossed crispy pork with chilli and shallots ($20) has a similar crispy coating as the Salt and Pepper Squid.

Warm roasted duck breast salad with mixed herbs and chilli ($22) has tender meat as does the Braised stuffed chicken with mushroom and water chestnut ($21.50) which I'd happily order again. Good depth of flavour is appreciated in the lamb shank curry with sweet potato and eggplant ($22) with fall-of-the-bone meat to be had. A crowd favourite of Seared scallops with shitake mushroom, pine nuts and ginger ($25) goes quickly and a must for any scallop and mushroom lover like myself.

Thanh Binh has been a long standing favourite of mine for Vietnamese, especially for their fried Vietnamese Rolls and Green Papaya Salad but I'd be happy to return to Banana Palm to explore more of their interesting dishes, especially the Soft-Shell Crab which I didn't get to try this time.

Simon Food Favourites review: http://simonfoodfavourites.blogspot.com/2010/07/banana-palm-vietnamese-cuisine-coogee.html

Jul 31, 2010 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  6     

Nice food. We shared the savoury pancake as a starter followed by crispy pork with chillia and shallots and king prawn with crispy basil. Corkage at $7 per bottle and wine only seems pricey. We are visitors to Australia from the UK and are surprised at restaurant prices in general.

Jul 29, 2010 

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  3      Value  7     

We went to this restaurant last night and had mixed feelings. The ambience was good but the service extremely slow! The drinks and the food took forever to come. When the entree finally arrived it was cold but we were too hungry to send it back.

When the main finally came after about 45 minutes it was exquisite my partner had the spatchcock which he loved and I had the delicious snapper highly recommended. We made the mistake of ordering dessert and it was very disappointing a split creme brulee pretty bad really. Maybe we just went there on a bad night you never know. The mains were fantastic for very reasonable prices.

May 30, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Interesting comments about the slow or non-existent service from some users. Maybe this varies with different staff on different days? We went on a week night, restaurant was half full and service was pleasant and professional. Food was lovely, ambience is quiet and relaxed and lets you focus on conversation and food. Will definitely return.

Apr 29, 2010 

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

Good food, the service needs to be improved upon they did seem slow on delivery of drinks but the food came out in an impressive flow good place for something other than thai and chinese. We will go again.

Mar 23, 2010 

5.5 Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  4      Value  6     

Service was cold and indifferent, slow and inattentive. Food was tasty, however, not the best vietnamese I have had in Sydney. Would I return? ... no.

Dec 20, 2009 

5 Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  4      Value  5     

You need to bring your own flares (not the trouser variety) to get service in this place. Went mid week, there was one large table of around 20 people and 3 smallers tables of between 2 and 4 people. After seating us, no one came to offer a menu. I started by trying to catch eyes with either waiter to no avail, then waving, reservedly at first which graduated into signalling I was in need of a beach rescue at Coogee, finally I whistled.

Yes readers, ill mannered I know but it was too cold to break out a strip tease and I was quite hungry by that stage. I doubt I'd come here on a much busier weekend. The food was okay but nothing to rave about, portion size was seemingly small too.

Feb 12, 2009