This place is excellent. We went on a Wednesday so I can't speak to what the weekends are like, but the service and pacing was on point. The food...wow. Everything was delicious. That short rib grilled cheese, mochi dumplings, chicken salad, turmeric branzino. Yum! I had the White Tiger cocktail and it was perfect -- great way to kick things off. I also appreciate that the music volume was not too loud (an ongoing issue across NYC dining), and the 90s rock jams (Pixies, Sonic Youth, etc.) added a nice vibe to the evening. Definitely planning to go back and will recommend to friends!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Banh It Ram Crispy Mochi Dumplings, Pho Short Rib Grilled Cheese, Goi GA Free Range Chicken Salad
Noah Kopp
The food was excellent--we ordered a wide variety of dishes and each one was unique and delicious. The atmosphere was charming any cozy, albeit a bit loud. The kitchen was backed up and our food took a while to come out, but the owner proactively comped us an extra dish for the table and apologized. We'd absolutely return here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bryan Teoh
Absolutely stellar experience in a style of cuisine you don't see every day. I went here on a date night with my GF and we had an incredible time. This is the flavors and ingredients of vietnamese cooking, but approached from a modern western fine dining perspective. Dishes are plated beautifully and courses were delicious but chic. My girlfriend and I did a prix fixe here for valentines day and were absolutely stunned. Despite the modestly sized portions of each course, we ended up leaving feeling quite full. At the end, they ended up gifting us a little jar of duck fat which, as enthusiastic home cooks, we were thrilled with. We haven't stopped talking about it since and have been looking forward to coming back.
Jamie
The food was quite good but not worth the prices. A few dishes were very nice - the sweet potato shrimp fritters and the grilled cheese in particular. Service was very slow.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Pho Short Rib Grilled Cheese
Lisa Peterson
Nice cocktails and flavorful food. Set menu provided a good variety of food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
John C.
Great food, great service and a nice setting. Definitely a gem in the city that shouldn't be missed.
Kevin X.
Van Da, nestled in the bustling Lower East Side of New York, offers a modern twist on Vietnamese cuisine that is both intriguing and delightful. One of the standout dishes is the Banh Beo - steamed rice cakes adorned with minced shrimp and scallion oil. This dish, priced at $10, perfectly encapsulates Van Da's approach of reinventing traditional flavors with a contemporary touch.The menu at Van Da is a blend of street food charm and refined royal cuisine, offering something for every palate. For appetizers, the Free Range Chicken Salad ($15), flavored with rau ram and ginger fish sauce, presents a fresh and vibrant start. The Pho Short Rib Grilled Cheese ($15) is a creative fusion dish, combining the comfort of grilled cheese with the rich flavors of pho.In the main course section, the Turmeric Noodles ($16) and the Cha Ca La Vong ($28) - turmeric skate served with fresh dill and coconut rice - are notable for their authentic flavors and subtle use of spices. For those seeking bold and modern flavors, the Mi Vit Tiem ($29) - roasted five-spice duck with thin egg noodles - is a delightful choice.The restaurant also offers a range of cocktails, like the Ho Chi Smokey and Huê of the Dragon, each at $16, providing a perfect pairing for the meals. The drinks menu includes a selection of sparkling, white, and red wines, along with beers from local breweries, catering to diverse preferences.While the food at Van Da shines, the service experience may vary. During my visit, the interaction with the host was less than stellar, bordering on unwelcoming. However, the overall service from the rest of the staff was satisfactory, with no major complaints.The location, slightly off the beaten path for those traveling from Midtown, adds a sense of discovery to the dining experience. Once there, the ambiance of Van Da, with its modern decor and cozy setting, makes it a great spot for both casual dining and special occasions.In summary, Van Da is a commendable choice for those looking to explore Vietnamese cuisine with a modern twist. The innovative dishes, coupled with a decent selection of drinks, make for a memorable dining experience, despite the occasional service hiccup and its somewhat secluded location.
Mandy
Had a good dinner at Van Ða!Downstairs had more seating, but the other table of 4, was way too loud or high that it was bothering to enjoy the meal.Fish was very crispy, and the sauce was so good?? duck was a little too sweet, in my opinion.I wish the noodle portion was a little bit bigger.Service was really good and informative.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Noodles
anorth52
Very friendly and welcoming. Very good service. The food was delicious and they have a very good range of cocktails. Definitely worth a visit.
Matheus Winter
Had dinner last night and it was DELISH! The dishes are well balanced, complex and packed with flavor.We didn’t do the set menu and kind of regretted it.. we ended up paying just as much without trying as much.The pho broth with the grilled cheese and the duck were my highlights.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pho Short Rib Grilled Cheese, Stir
Came here with a friend for dinner, and got the short rib grilled cheese, tumeric noodles, and banh beo. The atmosphere was very quaint and nice, and attentive service as well. I knew this was a tapas place, but was still a bit disappointed by the quantity to price ratio. My favorite dish was probably the short rib grilled cheese. The food tastes authentic, but nothing exceptional!
Victoria Geh
Food 7/10Everything we ordered was solid. Maybe because so many people hyped it up that I don’t quite remember that much from the food itself. We obviously ordered the pho grilled cheese, which had a very rich broth, a little too oily. The grilled cheese was nice to dip in the broth though. We also got the duck, which came to be smaller than we thought. We also ordered some of the mochi dishes, but the one I wanted they sold out that day :(Atmosphere 6/10Only one bathroom in this bustling restaurant. Downstairs seating has no service, and because I had to pick up some calls at that time, it was annoying to go back upstairs. Guess it’s good for people to fully immerse themselves in the meal? Quite dark and dim lighting.Service 7/10Nice and informative service.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
DJF
A lovely NYC restaurant in the heart of Alphabet City. The appetizers were quite amazing and earned the reputation that we have seen written about. The shaking beef was a bit scant on beef, but succulent and flavorful. I ordered a side of rice to sop up the gravy. We would give it another try and maybe this time elect the "fixed price" menu option. Service was cordial and attentive on a very busy evening. Thanks Van Da...we enjoyed your cuisine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
R Horsch
Amazing food, great service. Nice location, go for the duck anytime, it’s worth it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
K
We had a mixed experience here. The food, although flavorful, was definitely not up to Michelin quality. The shaking beef was not very tender at all, which was disappointing considering the amount of time it took for our food to arrive. We also had the duck, which was cooked to perfection, but for a pasta dish, 4 bites of noodles left us hungry. To top it off, the service was just ok, nothing special at all. Meh.
This place is excellent. We went on a Wednesday so I can't speak to what the weekends are like, but the service and pacing was on point. The food...wow. Everything was delicious. That short rib grilled cheese, mochi dumplings, chicken salad, turmeric branzino. Yum! I had the White Tiger cocktail and it was perfect -- great way to kick things off. I also appreciate that the music volume was not too loud (an ongoing issue across NYC dining), and the 90s rock jams (Pixies, Sonic Youth, etc.) added a nice vibe to the evening. Definitely planning to go back and will recommend to friends!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Banh It Ram Crispy Mochi Dumplings, Pho Short Rib Grilled Cheese, Goi GA Free Range Chicken Salad
The food was excellent--we ordered a wide variety of dishes and each one was unique and delicious. The atmosphere was charming any cozy, albeit a bit loud. The kitchen was backed up and our food took a while to come out, but the owner proactively comped us an extra dish for the table and apologized. We'd absolutely return here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely stellar experience in a style of cuisine you don't see every day. I went here on a date night with my GF and we had an incredible time. This is the flavors and ingredients of vietnamese cooking, but approached from a modern western fine dining perspective. Dishes are plated beautifully and courses were delicious but chic. My girlfriend and I did a prix fixe here for valentines day and were absolutely stunned. Despite the modestly sized portions of each course, we ended up leaving feeling quite full. At the end, they ended up gifting us a little jar of duck fat which, as enthusiastic home cooks, we were thrilled with. We haven't stopped talking about it since and have been looking forward to coming back.
The food was quite good but not worth the prices. A few dishes were very nice - the sweet potato shrimp fritters and the grilled cheese in particular. Service was very slow.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Pho Short Rib Grilled Cheese
Nice cocktails and flavorful food. Set menu provided a good variety of food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Great food, great service and a nice setting. Definitely a gem in the city that shouldn't be missed.
Van Da, nestled in the bustling Lower East Side of New York, offers a modern twist on Vietnamese cuisine that is both intriguing and delightful. One of the standout dishes is the Banh Beo - steamed rice cakes adorned with minced shrimp and scallion oil. This dish, priced at $10, perfectly encapsulates Van Da's approach of reinventing traditional flavors with a contemporary touch.The menu at Van Da is a blend of street food charm and refined royal cuisine, offering something for every palate. For appetizers, the Free Range Chicken Salad ($15), flavored with rau ram and ginger fish sauce, presents a fresh and vibrant start. The Pho Short Rib Grilled Cheese ($15) is a creative fusion dish, combining the comfort of grilled cheese with the rich flavors of pho.In the main course section, the Turmeric Noodles ($16) and the Cha Ca La Vong ($28) - turmeric skate served with fresh dill and coconut rice - are notable for their authentic flavors and subtle use of spices. For those seeking bold and modern flavors, the Mi Vit Tiem ($29) - roasted five-spice duck with thin egg noodles - is a delightful choice.The restaurant also offers a range of cocktails, like the Ho Chi Smokey and Huê of the Dragon, each at $16, providing a perfect pairing for the meals. The drinks menu includes a selection of sparkling, white, and red wines, along with beers from local breweries, catering to diverse preferences.While the food at Van Da shines, the service experience may vary. During my visit, the interaction with the host was less than stellar, bordering on unwelcoming. However, the overall service from the rest of the staff was satisfactory, with no major complaints.The location, slightly off the beaten path for those traveling from Midtown, adds a sense of discovery to the dining experience. Once there, the ambiance of Van Da, with its modern decor and cozy setting, makes it a great spot for both casual dining and special occasions.In summary, Van Da is a commendable choice for those looking to explore Vietnamese cuisine with a modern twist. The innovative dishes, coupled with a decent selection of drinks, make for a memorable dining experience, despite the occasional service hiccup and its somewhat secluded location.
Had a good dinner at Van Ða!Downstairs had more seating, but the other table of 4, was way too loud or high that it was bothering to enjoy the meal.Fish was very crispy, and the sauce was so good?? duck was a little too sweet, in my opinion.I wish the noodle portion was a little bit bigger.Service was really good and informative.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Noodles
Very friendly and welcoming. Very good service. The food was delicious and they have a very good range of cocktails. Definitely worth a visit.
Had dinner last night and it was DELISH! The dishes are well balanced, complex and packed with flavor.We didn’t do the set menu and kind of regretted it.. we ended up paying just as much without trying as much.The pho broth with the grilled cheese and the duck were my highlights.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pho Short Rib Grilled Cheese, Stir
Restaurantji Recommends
Came here with a friend for dinner, and got the short rib grilled cheese, tumeric noodles, and banh beo. The atmosphere was very quaint and nice, and attentive service as well. I knew this was a tapas place, but was still a bit disappointed by the quantity to price ratio. My favorite dish was probably the short rib grilled cheese. The food tastes authentic, but nothing exceptional!
Food 7/10Everything we ordered was solid. Maybe because so many people hyped it up that I don’t quite remember that much from the food itself. We obviously ordered the pho grilled cheese, which had a very rich broth, a little too oily. The grilled cheese was nice to dip in the broth though. We also got the duck, which came to be smaller than we thought. We also ordered some of the mochi dishes, but the one I wanted they sold out that day :(Atmosphere 6/10Only one bathroom in this bustling restaurant. Downstairs seating has no service, and because I had to pick up some calls at that time, it was annoying to go back upstairs. Guess it’s good for people to fully immerse themselves in the meal? Quite dark and dim lighting.Service 7/10Nice and informative service.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
A lovely NYC restaurant in the heart of Alphabet City. The appetizers were quite amazing and earned the reputation that we have seen written about. The shaking beef was a bit scant on beef, but succulent and flavorful. I ordered a side of rice to sop up the gravy. We would give it another try and maybe this time elect the "fixed price" menu option. Service was cordial and attentive on a very busy evening. Thanks Van Da...we enjoyed your cuisine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Amazing food, great service. Nice location, go for the duck anytime, it’s worth it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had a mixed experience here. The food, although flavorful, was definitely not up to Michelin quality. The shaking beef was not very tender at all, which was disappointing considering the amount of time it took for our food to arrive. We also had the duck, which was cooked to perfection, but for a pasta dish, 4 bites of noodles left us hungry. To top it off, the service was just ok, nothing special at all. Meh.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3