Haiphong Harbour

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

First time eating here after friends invited me and went in with some trepidation as I prefer Vietnamese from Marrickvile, was pleasantly surprised.

Beef noodle soup was delicious, not overly sweet and full of MSG. Had a try of my friend's salt n pepper squid and although not traditional was still really great. Also tried the campfire chicken on the waiter's recommendation - yum and kinda novel rolling your own ricepaper.

May be making this place a regular visit if next time is as good.

Feb 27, 2012 

5 Average

Food  4      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  3     

I think we might have ordered the wrong thing here as it was very disappointing. I ordered the stir fried prawns with vegetables which was completely bland and my husband ordered the chef's recommended stir fried beef with garlic and chilli which had a Lot of garlic (not a bad thing). Both dishes, however, were very un-inspiring and really overpriced for what we ate.

Overall left feeling a little let down. Dishes on other tables looked much nicer than our choice. Service was prompt which was great as we were in a hurry to get to the theater but overall I would say that I have eaten better elsewhere.

Jan 29, 2012 

5.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  6     

I went there after walking past it for so many years. However, the toilet was pretty atrocious: bins overfilling with tissue, smelly, oh dear not a good look. The food is ok: not the best but not the worst either. The beef in the pho was gristly, and the veggie curry was abundant with beansprouts. The pancake was soggy. This all sounds negative.

I so wanted to like this place, being the only Vietnamese place in Glebe. If I am pestered, I may come back for the pho: only if I am pestered badly.

Apr 04, 2011 

7.8 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

A nice place, friendly and consistent. My only complaint is that the food is sometimes a bit dumbed down, it needs a bit more spicing and is too sweet. So please, more chili and less sugar!

Nov 19, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  9     

Went here for dinner on Friday night and really enjoyed it. The food was lovely and fresh, lots of fresh vegetables and a great choice of meals. Service was very good. Meals came with just the right timing, they were efficient keeping our water topped up and then when we got the bill it was only $25 a head for 2 entrees, 4 mains (including seafood) and rice for 4 people. The campfire chicken was delicious and fun adding the ingredients ourselves into thin wraps. Would definitely return and perfectly placed to have coffee just across the road afterwards at Badde Manners.

Nov 07, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

One of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Sydney. Great decor and ambience to suit the style of restaurant. Great tasting food. Clean and great value. Been here twice, on the first time service was great and on the second, service was not good (I think the waitress was new). Notwithstanding this, given the value and the stunning food I will be back for more! No doubt!

Jun 10, 2010 

3.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  1      Value  3     

I would not eat here again purely because the service was the worst I have ever experienced in Sydney. We booked ahead of time for a table for 8 and the restaurant seemed fairly busy when we arrived. The food generally met my (low) expectations, as I really love Vietnamese cuisine and I would say it was only just above average but quite pricey for this quality.

We should have known what was coming when the drinks order took over 30 minutes (for mainly canned drinks). The waiter seemed not to have much knowledge or experience and seemed aggravated. Also, there seemed to be a lot of bickering and fighting coming from the downstairs kitchen. Then, 30 minutes later, they brought out both the entree and main meal for one person only leaving the other 7 watching him eat. Another hour later and a few more dishes started to trickle in and then after 2.5 hours, all of our dishes arrived (except for one), which we cancelled in disgust.

Despite the obvious impatience we had shown and repeated requests that we had to leave soon there was very little recognition from the staff that anything was wrong or unusual. When I asked how long the food would be after about an hour of waiting I was told by the waiter it was on it's way. At least it'll provide some amusing conversations in future... "remember that joke of a Vietnamese restaurant which took two and half hours to serve our food...?"

Jun 02, 2010 

7.8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  8     

We came here initially by accident, thinking it would be worth a try. Very pleasantly surprised. Since then, we have dined in and had take-away numerous times. The spring rolls are probably the best I have had in a long time, crispy outside and good filling inside. Campfire chicken is tasty, and a fun mess to make. The satay is quite nice, up there with the best, but not officially the best. The basil beef is spicy at first but very very tasty. The traditional curry was nice with a coconut flavour but gave one of us a headache afterwards.

The staff are attentive and nice. A proviso about seating though. Don't eat upstairs, it's a bit depressing and the colour of the lighting is a bit sickening to the eye. Downstairs in summer they open the front windows which is nice until people from other restaurants come and stand right there and smoke so that it blows in your face while you eat. The staff don't ask them to move on so it diminished the experience.

My advice for a good time there is to choose a table downstairs but more inside the restaurant (in summer anyway). Overall this is a good place to eat in or get takeaway as we have done several times. We have a friend who now rates it as his favourite vietnamese in the inner west.

May 30, 2010 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  9     

I love this place. Best Viet I've had in a long time. Campfire chicken is amazing!
Excellent service, knowledgeable and friendly hostess and it wasn't expensive.
Looking forward to going back. Highly recommended.

May 08, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  8     

This really is a wonderful little restaurant. After reading all the reviews, my friend and I decided to go. There were very few tables, but those that were there were regulars. A good sign!

We ordered our food, and it was promptly served, fresh and delicious! The Veg Summer Rolls were great, not the best in the world, but still great! We also ordered the Veg Noodles, and the Veg Vegie Satay. Both of which were amazing and delicious.

I'd recommend going to this place if you were after a really nice casual affair, to relax and enjoy the food, which is a nice price above all!

Aug 25, 2009