Mien Tay (Battersea)

We are Vietnamese and we can tell you, this place does the worst pho and bun noodle soups ever! Obviously those other viewers haven't had better quality Vietnamese food elsewhere. So disappointing!
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Minh
1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Monday, January 25, 2010

Great food, great service, great value.
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9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Sunday, January 24, 2010

Since my last review on November 9 2009, we have been back for the lunch special and the evening a la carte menu on numerous occasions. Our last visit on Saturday 2nd Jan was amazing. Arrived at 6.30pm with only one other couple but by 7.00pm the restaurant was full of customers with a great vibe.

We had the chargrilled scallops which was divine and the pork and prawn rolls which was great followed by Bun Bo Hue and stewed fish with steamed rice. The fish was cooked perfectly with a lovely sauce which wasn't too salty as with so many other oriental restaurants. The Bun Bo Hue was so tasty that I could have eaten it again.

Mien Tay, if you are reading this please open up in Balham. We desperately need a good Vietnamese restaurant in Balham. We have Paddyfield which is ok and the newly opened Bun which is not so good.
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PANDAHEAD
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, January 05, 2010

I don't often write reviews but feel I had to. This place is A M A Z I N G!!! In one weekend I actually had dinner there and went back for lunch the next day. The pork and prawn pancakes are delicious as are the curries, everything...I've tried lots on the menu now. Ingredients are so fresh too. Interesting purple mint leaves to try. Love trying new things so this place is a delight. I'm totally gutted as am moving to Oz and I don't have enough time to try everything on the menu!! Well anyway you can guess where my leaving party is. Must also mention it is good value and the staff are very attentive and friendly. They obviously take pride in their restaurant. Why couldn't this place have opened years ago?
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Nikki
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, December 23, 2009

After reading all the great reviews on different sites, my partner and I decided to visit this new restaurant.

What a brilliant choice it was too. Had the lunch special which includes a free soup. We shared a portion of Mien Tay (pork and prawn) spring rolls served with fresh salad, herbs and dip followed by rice vermicelli with grilled pork and rice vermicelli with grilled goat. Both pork and goat was tender and well flavoured.

Had to travel from neighbouring Balham but well worth it. Don't have to travel all the way to Purley Way for An Nam (also good Vietnamese), as Mien Tay is better, closer & friendlier. Prices are also more reasonable. Our lunch for food only came to £14.00. Definitely visiting for lunch and for the evening a la carte menu soon

Also noticed on the window they had a sign for BYO (not sure for how long so check with the restaurant) and a photo of international Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat visiting their Shoreditch branch.

It's such a shame we had to wait for so long for a great Vietnamese to open this side of the river but that long wait is finally over.
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PANDAHEAD - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, November 09, 2009

I went to try out Mien Tay after the Clapham fireworks last night. I have to say it was packed but they coped really well. We didn't feel rushed and I really felt for them zipping around but the food was quick, service was great, nice wait between courses that we were not expecting, all very good.

Food was delicious, exactly like everyone is talking about. Cannot fault a thing and look forward to going back to try everything I liked but did not order.

Also a note on their website, actually quite interesting to read through, some nice personal touches and a super hunger inducing menu to scroll through.
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Sarah Bingham
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, November 06, 2009

Had a superb dinner here yesterday evening. What a blessing this place is in an area void of any sort of culinary finesse. We have lived in this area for 3 years now without the desire to pop anywhere local for dinner that is economical but good quality. Our luck has changed! Wow!

To be honest I was rather skeptical, the exterior does not look amazing and it is not particularly plush, dimly lit or seductive but once seated it was a pleasure from beginning to end.

The service was incredibly sweet, we were advised and helped with the menu, the ladies on the floor was smart and well presented and the lady who ran the floor - the owner I presume - was divine, keeping a watchful eye on everything and making sure everyone was happy. I often miss this figure of authority in restaurants, it is nice to know there is someone there you can get the attention of if needs be without disturbing the waitresses.

Food - well I do not know where to begin. Every dish absolutely stands out - normally i would groan at a long menu but boy this works! And when every dish is as good as the other there is every reason to come back again and again to try the dishes you did not pick.

Fresh, flavoursome, garlic, ginger, onions, sticky, sweet, delicate fish to robust goat, and beautiful pho with crunch vegetables and fragrant herbs ...

Thank you for bringing Kingsland Road to Battersea, i only hope I can get a table with not a long wait next week when I return, when word gets out this place is going to be packed.
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TommyN
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Very tasty, fresh food. I had lunch there today and thoroughly enjoyed everything. We had beef in betel leaves, pork and prawn summer rolls, spring rolls for starters between 2. Our mains were deep fried sea bream with mango and fish sauce and char grilled pork with rice noodles, were excellent. I can particularly recommend the fish - we were careful to eat every last scrap of flesh and crisp skin to enjoy with the shredded mango, a wonderful combination of textures and tastes. Grilled pork was as good as any I've had in Kingsland Road. The spring rolls were much lighter and more delicate (wrapped in rice paper instead of the usual wrappers?) than those I've had elsewhere, and were so perfectly seasoned that we had to have more with our main courses. The beef was very tasty tho if I was nitpicking it could have been more tender. We loved all the very fresh salad accompaniments (including my favourite saw tooth herb) and the staff were happy to bring us extra herbs and salad to munch on. I really liked their pickled carrot and radish, finely sliced and deliciously sweet and crunchy.

Our only very minor quibbles were that the dipping sauces were a bit sweet, and could have had a little more spicy kick, and that the restaurant could have gone for a slightly more modern, stylish decor.

We lingered over our meal but service was friendly and pleasant throughout. I look forward to returning many times.
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Robyn
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 17, 2009

I really like Mien Tay in Shoreditch and thought I would see how it compares. They have certainly moved onwards and upwards - decor is more refined, service is more pro than homely and the food just gets better and better - new menu additions really zipped up my visit.

I tried the green papaya salad with dried beef, some seriously deliciously buttery scallops in shell and my dining partner tried the Vietnamese curry in clay pot. alongside the usual delights I could just not say no to of course!

What a treat for those who live locally, do not hesitate to try this little triumph. Good luck to the owners, you can see the hard work to get to this stage in just 18 months.
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Katy - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 15, 2009

Every bit as good as the original. Well worth the trip south of the river. A freshness of flavour and passion for authenticity that few Vietnamese restaurants in London manage. Loved the bahn xeo (Viet crispy pancake). And no, I don't work for them! Will definitely be back again.
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Tom
8 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, October 14, 2009