Baie d’Halong

This family-​run Vietnamese-​Chinese restaurant was a godsend on Monday night as we searched for a soothing dinner at 10pm after a long day of travel. It’s a simple, no-​frills neighborhood kind of place with an extensive but affordable menu, delicious food, and best of all, a real neighborhood and familial atmosphere.
The father of the family took our orders while his daughter, standing less than 2 feet tall and looking to be about 4 years old, did her best to help by carefully wiping the one edge of our table that she could reach on her tiptoes. Later, she entertained us by playing dress-​up with her friend, the son of a couple dining at the kebab place next door.
I had a bowl of phở, which was great spicy broth, meatballs, and generous, tender slices of beef still pink at the center. A few more herbs and some bean sprouts would have been nice, but other than that, I was perfectly happy. The beer selection is also a nice touch to go with the food, they have one Chinese and one Vietnamese beer, as well as a Thai selection. My friend had sliced duck, which came with onions and vegetables in a hot foil packet. We were both delighted with the place and I can only recommend it!