Saigon Blue Vietnamese Restaurant

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  9     

This place does have some chinese items on the menu so yes if you order them you will obviously get chinese tasting food, and chilli squid not on the menu. I order it with extra chilli and shallots as I like it hot.

I recommend the following: Entree - The beef wrapped betel leaf - yum 8/10
Chilli squid, add extra shallots and chilli for a mouth explosion 7 - 9/10 depending on how oily it is, sometimes its a bit oily, thats my only complaint, maybe the cook gets rushed sometimes and adds too much oil.

Salt and Pepper pork its great similar to chilli squid, again I add extra chilli and shallots. Chilli lemongrass chicken this is excellent 8/10, my only complaint here is that it has been a bit sweet a couple times, but obviously my taste buds a wired to the chilli side.

The pho (beef noodle soup), is really good, just like any other vietnamese I've been too, and the lady told me it takes a very long time to prepare the stock, it is definitely not hot water and five spice. The good thing about the pho is that the meat is lean and not fatty. 7/10

I'm not much of a vego but the snake beans in garlic butter sauce are great too - 8/10. Ohh and I nearly forgot the quail is excellent. So crispy and the lime pepper salt they give is again divine, my mouth is watering while I think about it.

Anyway you guys get the gist.. I'll stop here. Also if you do book, ask for the front area next to the window, its the best spot in the place, not saying that the view of victoria is anything special but you have your own corner over there and its nice spacious, can fit 8 people.

Dec 08, 2011 

6.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  6     

We tried this Vietnamese rest. We were very surprised. We had the salt and pepper squid - delicious, also the fresh spring rolls-quite bland and very small. For mains we had the beet stew and claypot rice, the claypot rice was a standout, the service was quick, food fresh and manager went out of the way to help us. Needless to say I definitely will be back.

Sep 15, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  9     

This was our second visit to Saigon Blue and again we were completely satisfied with their interesting menu. Last night we had their chilli squid which is seasoned with chili and salt. The dish seems to be a very popular one. It is quite salty, but the squid is very fresh and the serving size is enormous, thus it was great for sharing.

For mains we had ginger and shallot scallops with vegetables which were quite divine. Our other main was a crispy skin poached chicken, again this was very flavoursome and generous. It is recommended that you leave enough room though for their yummy creme caramel, which is totally different to the usual type in both appearance and taste. A note about the service here, the restaurant was busy, yet the very young waitress managed the entire floor virtually on her own with the aplomb of a roomful of staff at a top restaurant.

Recommended not just because Vietnamese is rare in the North but also because of its taste, variety and efficient service.

Aug 14, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

There's a reason this gem in Gladesville is rated so highly, the food is always fresh and consistently good. Value for money and friendly 'local' service make this restaurant an enjoyable place to dine. We do so at least once a month!

Jun 12, 2011 

5.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  2     

Had dinner in the restaurant after reading some positive reviews. Unfortunately, the quality and variety of their so called "traditional vietnamese cuisine" were far below my expectations. Their menu is more like Chinese cuisine rather than "Traditional Vietnamese".

We were the first customer there at 6.30 pm. They received a maximum of 3 take away phone calls while we were there.

What we had: Beef noodle soup, Sizzling Beef, Chicken and pineapple fried rice

The "chili squid" mentioned in the above overview was not on their menu. There is only 1 (one) type of beef noodle soup, the soup tasted like it was a mix of hot water and a few drops of Chinese Five Spice. I believe that they used meat tenderiser (baking soda) in the sizzling beef.

The fried rice was probably the best of what we ordered. The food court in Sydeny Chinatown would offer better variety and taste with much lower price.
With that price range on their menu, I felt like I was helping them paying the rent more than anything else.

Try Saigon Express in Lyons Road, Drummoyne. Not as pricey, but it's worth paying for.

Jun 11, 2011 

6.8 Recommended

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  8     

From the positive reviews I expected it all to be a bit fresher tasting than what was put on the table. Entrees - beef in betel leaf was smokey and interesting but the pork stuffing in the chicken wings was like undercooked porridge. Mains - prawn crepe was ok but not many prawns, too many bean shoots and not nearly enough flavour; crispy flounder was the best of the night with sparkling chilli, well cooked flesh and probably too much salt for most people. Service was fine - mainly by the young grand-daughter of the family.

Jun 05, 2011 

3.8 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  3      Service  3      Value  4     

Ended up eating dinner here on a Friday night when the restaurant was pretty packed out.

Food, Entrees of spring rolls were more pastry than filling and no where near as good as most Viet restaurants, however, the crispy prawns were quite nice. Mains, the scotch fillet beef cubes were adequate but not as tasty as I would have liked, however, the Pho beef was tasty and well done.

Ambience - "Romantic & Intimate" this place most definitely is Not. Had table of loud rowdy slightly tipsy males right in the middle of restaurant that made it difficult for surrounding couples to enjoy their dinner, am hoping this was just a one off incident and who knows may be better on other nights. But I find it hard to see why this would be classified as romantic and intimate as the lighting is brightly lit and tables relatively close together.

Service - service was nice when you got it, however, it did take awhile to take our order and receive our food and at the end rather than wait for the bill ended up walking up to just pay and go. Problem really was it was understaffed with only one person on the floor at any one time.

Value - have received better tasting food at better value at the Vietnamese restaurants in Drummoyne, Auburn and Parramatta.

Sadly was really hoping this place was good, as I live local but not so sure I would return if I wanted good Vietnamese food.

May 14, 2011 

7.8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

We we went here it was a busy Saturday night, so its understandable that the service wasn't as quick as a week night. The food was amazing, it was so fresh and tasty, we have been back twice in 3 months. They also do takeaway. We would recommend any discerning Vietnamese food lover try Saigon Blue.

May 14, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Very tasty Vietnamese food and very fresh ingredients. A lot of original regional dishes on their menu. My friends come here often and recommend the vegetarian dishes. A must try if you are up this way.

Apr 21, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  7     

This is my favourite Gladesville restaurant, and quite possibly my favourite Vietnamese restaurant. The food is always fresh, the service is great, ambience good, however, can be a little noisy when packed. I recommend the salt and pepper squid, the green beans in butter, fresh rice paper rolls, and the crispy chicken. However, there are lots of other great dishes. Serves are quite small, but still good value for money for this area.

Mar 21, 2011