Ha Long Bay: A Taste of Saigon in Bryn Mawr

in Bryn Mawr has been open for more than four years, but not too many people know about it. There is no obnoxious signage, the store front is simply a huge window, and there is only a small neon sign letting you know it's there. I've had conversations with people who assured me that the only restaurants near the were and . I assure you that Ha Long Bay is situated between those two eateries. For this review, I took another non-believer with me for a Vietnamese feast.

The extensive menu even includes dessert. I ordered aggressively and directed the server to just bring things out as they were made. First to arrive were "summer rice paper with shrimp", a.k.a. summer rolls, and the charbroiled sliced BBQ pork baguette or banh mi. The cool summer rolls (they are not fried) were brimming with rice noodles, lettuce and some small shrimp. They were a refreshing start to our meal. The dipping sauce provided a rich and savory note, although I wish there were crushed peanuts on top. 

The BBQ pork baguette was outstanding. The pork was savory and tender. The jalapeno slices, pickled carrots and daikon, radish, red onion and cilantro provided a symphony of different textures and flavors that complimented the pork. The sumptuous mayo enhanced it all. If you've never had a banh mi sandwich, you're in for a surprise. I consider it one of the world's perfect sandwiches.

Next, the bowl of steaming hot pho emerged from the kitchen. This noodle soup comes in many varieties, but we chose the basic beef eye round. Right before the pho came out, our server brought over the traditional garnishes--a small plate of jalapeno slices, bean sprouts, cilantro and lime so that we could customize our bowl of soup. I like just a few pieces of jalapeno for heat, a healthy squeeze of lime for some acid and some cilantro for a grassy note. I rarely add the bean sprouts, not because I don't like them but I just don't like them in my pho. The velvety pho broth was rich and complex--it had obviously been simmering for hours. The thin slices of beef cooked quickly in the hot liquid and were enjoyable in the soup or dipped in sriracha sauce.

The spring roll with rice noodle (bun) was very good. A mountain of noodles covered diced cucumber, lettuce, pickled carrots and daikon, ground peanuts and even some slices of fried garlic. Fried spring rolls which were cut in half were place in a ring on top of the noodles. They were crisp and delicious without or without the tangy dipping sauce. A successful bite incorporated all of these components. This rendition of one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes was among the best I have tried. The pad thai was good (even though not actually Vietnamese), but since it came out last we barely put a dent into it. My friend's husband enjoyed the savory and sweet noodles bursting with vegetables and that slight tang from the tamarind and lime.

The service was friendly and polite. Our server was patient with our large order, answered our many questions and clarified whatever we didn't understand. She quickly filled our glasses and cleared our dirty plates. As it is a BYOB, it was nice of our server to immediately open our bottle of wine while we looked over the menu. The owner's two daughters were also very nice, and we enjoyed speaking with them extensively after dinner about Vietnamese food and restaurants in general.

The decor is understated with a wooden floor, simple table settings and various works of art on the walls. The paintings include landscapes, portraits, floral arrangements and cityscapes. The subdued interior make this place an ideal date setting. It's quiet and romantic with low light. A couple can actually hear one another. It might not jump out at you, but Ha Long Bay is a great place to have a meal. Never tried Vietnamese food? You'll like it--it's one of my favorites. If you don't believe me, Anthony Bourdain loves Vietnamese food, too.