Robert P. wrote: >Well, the subject says it all. > >As a part of my continuing search for "the best" Vietnamese restuarant >in the area (especially the East Bay), I'd like to hear your thoughts, >experiences and recommendations.... Well, I'd hardly say my experience is in any way definitive, but I've had good luck with Le Cheval in Oakland. Their "Seven Kinds of Beef" special, as well as their more classic dishes are very good. Last I knew there were actually two "Le Cheval" restaurants [ Les Chevaux? ;-)] in downtown Oakland, one on Clay and one on 20th. --Karl
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
E. Bay Vietnamese recommendations
Karl W. wrote: > Last I knew there were actually two "Le Cheval" restaurants [ Les Chevaux? ;-)] > in downtown Oakland, one on Clay and one on 20th. The one on 20th is in the Kaiser Center. It is open only for lunch. Other East Bay Vietnamese recommendations: Vi's at 724 Webster in Oakland has very good soups. The broth is among the best I've tasted. Pho Hoa Lao at 333 10th Street in Oakland serves Pho and other types of soups. I like their Pho better than that at Pho 84. Pho 84's best dishes are not the soups, but the seafood and chicken dishes, in my opinion.
I prefer Pho 84 to Le Cheval. I think the food better, although Le Cheval is OK. I wouldn't describe the service at Pho 84 as 'curt', since that implies some degree of disrespect. It is very cut and dried, and once your food arrives you get no further unsolicited attention. But I like this.
There are two Pho 84's, one on 17th and one on 13th.
-- roy
> Le Cheval (Oakland). Elegant surroundings, gracious service, great beer
> selection, very good food and cheap.
>
> Pho 84 (Oakland). Hole-in-the-wall, curt service, good mango drink, food
> sometimes has a very slight edge on le cheval, cheap.
>
> I go to Le Cheval way more often than Pho 84 - it's just a nicer
> overall dining experience.