Vietnam Oriental

I visited this restaurant about a year ago, when I enjoyed the food and smiling service and thought I could recommend it. We went back for a family birthday last night, and what a mistake. The place appears to be under new management and the staff seemed to be severely depressed, perhaps some unhappy incident had just taken place, condolences if so.

The restaurant seemed clean, service OK though long waits between dishes.The food was not good value and just not nice, apart from duck and pancakes and won-ton soup which were OK.

Time for a new chef. Totally honest tastebud reaction, we wondered if the softshell crab and chilli fried squid had been rolled in sawdust prior to frying. The greenlipped mussels in garlic sauce were gelatinous with no taste of garlic, and sesame prawn toasts appeared to be made of rubber sprinkled with the aforementioned sawdust. Scallop and duck soup contained three miniscule shavings of a scallop. Crab and sweetcorn soup was noticeably lacking in crab. Boiled white rice was lumpy and congealed rather than fluffy.

Fortunately nobody enquired if we were enjoying the food, as we didn't want to spoil our evening any more than it had been spoiled already.

Online menus need updating, as the prices have risen.
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3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 3
Wednesday, November 30, 2011

I used to visit the restaurant at least twice a month and we use to have a huge gathering at Christmas, HOWEVER, ever since it has gone under new management, I have eaten here 3 times, ALAS, the food is far from fresh, full of salt! Not sure why the staff are so rude and quick to say NO, instead of catering to anyone’s needs! I can only advise people to go to Peninsula Restaurant instead if you are after fresh food! Or to Royal China in Docklands as they are the best!
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Moni
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, April 14, 2011

We've only lived in Greenwich for a little over a year, but have eaten here several times and not (yet!) had a bad dish. The dim sum platter is cooked beautifully, with the wrappers glutinous but still wonderfully light, and the mains are very full of flavour and not too oily (I'm not someone who deals well with the sort of 'surface grease' you find in a lot of chinese / indian food!)

Although I'm not adventurous enough to try the more weird and wonderful side of the menu (jellyfish and pig's blood, as well as things I've never even heard of, constitute the basis of several dishes) it is fairly extensive, with I'd guess at least 20-30 dishes that you wouldn't expect to find in your average Chinese / Thai / Oriental Fusion type place.

I've never been to Vietnam, so unlike the previous reviewer I really can't comment on the authenticity of the food, but from our experience if you go in thinking of it as a Chinese restaurant they do very good food in roughly that style.
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cazmuffin - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Sunday, February 13, 2011

I have been coming here for about 12 years, but not since it was refurbished a few years ago. It used to be a good quality, family-run restaurant, always quite busy and good value.

However, I think it has gone massively downhill. No real atmosphere, the lights were on blaring all evening. Decor nothing special. Though perfectly clean and everything. house wine was good too, and reasonably priced.

However, the food was pretty awful. It was a Sunday so maybe the head chef was off, but it was very disappointing. Everthing was overcooked and had clearly just been rehated in the microwave. We had a set meal, but I just left feeling bloated.

We are actually leaving Greenwich for good in a couple of months. I am afraid that I won't be visiting this place again.

Don't like leaving bad reviews, but I think this really was one of the worst meals I have ever had. Sorry.
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Guy
2 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 4 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Monday, November 08, 2010

It is now under new management and with completely different staff. It is good quality food, more subtle in flavour than before which might suit modern palettes more than my old and jaded one. I liked the big flavours of the old place. The popular one price for as much as you like deal has gone so the value for money is not so evident.
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Sharp Arris
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 4
Saturday, April 03, 2010

We went here for lunch after reading all the positive reviews. Boy, were we disappointed! Having eaten Vietnamese food in Australia, I was very much looking forward to big bowls of Pho soup or a lovely rice vermicelli noodle salad washed down with young coconut juice (can you tell I love Vietnamese food??) - but no, instead we found ourselves looking at a menu serving prawn toast and sweet and sour chicken and chinese green tea.... either of which, we could have got better versions of down at our local chinese.

That being said, price was good...and that's about all. Not recommended!
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J
6 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 10
Thursday, February 12, 2009