Ha Noi is Open

new2hood

And gets my two thumbs up. Space is nice (outdoor seating would be fantastic..I didn't ask if they were going to get any, though), menu is ample, service is lovely and the food was solid. Very happy they've joined the neighborhood.

Takeout/delivery menus coming in the next couple of days, but you can see a menu at heresparkslope.com, I think.

dance rehearsal

So, I guess I'll be the big giant asshole who asks... but where is the place? I'm not a mind reader. I actually am New2(the)hood.

testiculon

@B.G.A. it's on 9th street between 7th and 8th (way closer to 7th). The old Second Helpings space.

Went there for lunch today with the wife (after an infuriating visit to Ikea - do you get a job there if you're too surly for the DMV?) and we agree - ambiance lovely, service very nice, menu extensive and food delish.

Definitely a welcome addition.

new2hood

oooh, sorry. I have been so excited about the opening, I assumed everyone else was that focused as well. :-)

brooklyngigcenter

I had the chicken curry lunch there on Wednesday, and while I thought the food was good, I left hungry. Not enough chicken, way too heavy on the onions. But I will go back and try something else.

And I do agree, it's a really nice space.

canyontothesky

Went tonight. I had bun thit nuong and my friend had a chicken dish (can't remember) and ginger fried rice. I volunteered in Hanoi, Vietnam in February and I was really excited to have some authentic Vietnamese nearby because I fell in love with the cuisine there. My noodle dish felt like a combination of mien tron and bun cha -- the ingredients were all thrown together in one big bowl like mien tron, and not separated out like bun cha, but there was dipping sauce on the side and DELICIOUS pork, like bun cha... I had to ask for extra sauce to really saturate the noodles and get it to be a bit soupy down the bottom.

My roommate didn't like her chicken dish, but cited the reason being it tasted too much like something her (not Vietnamese) mother makes, but it tasted fine and authentic to me, and the fried rice, as well, though not at all gingery.

Anyway, I will be back because I love bun and I prefer to eat it at a restaurant instead of at home! For $8 it wasn't bad (although it costs less than $1 in Vietnam!) although I could have used a bit more noodles and more pork, too.

petitchou

Love their vegetarian dumplings. Steamed whole fish was also outstanding. And the wait staff is very accommodating and friendly. No alcohol yet, but they've applied.

new2hood

anyone know if they're delivering yet? (And if you know the answer to this question re: Dumplings and Things, I'd appreciate knowing that as well!)

new2hood

anyone know if they're delivering yet? (And if you know the answer to this question re: Dumplings and Things, I'd appreciate knowing that as well!)

scarlett

Went last night for dinner. Shrimp summer rolls were fin if boring. Fried calamari was delicious especially when we added extra chili sauce. Then we waited and waited and waited as tables all around us received entrees. Took forever. Pho seemed to be coming out fast. Finally our softshell crabs arrived- underseasoned and hot as hell, too similar to the calamari. The basil rice was boring. My squid in basil sauce was cooked perfectly, but the sauce had zero spice and too many onions and no rice came with. portions are small. I hope they work out their kinks, will go back to try more and different dishes.

danielj

@new2hood Neither are delivering yet.

new2hood

DanielJ, thanks. I don't understand what the hold up is for the Vietnamese place...isn't that core business?

shekb

Maybe I got the wrong thing, or maybe I just don't know what Vietnamese food is supposed to be like, but I had a bad meal there last night. Gristly, boney, bland chicken. Vermicelli noodles were all right, but after the mint sprig there wasn't much in the way of herbs or flavor.

Can someone tell me the thing I should have gotten instead? I almost went for the Vietnamese crepe, but I think it was too hot fo the Pho.

shekb

Nothing? What if I wanted to start a neighborhood watch or kill some pigeons or something? Also I lost a dog. And a cat. And I saw a wild animal. And sometimes crime happens.

idlewild

I wasn't impressed. While the herbs and sauces/gravies were fine I thought the main components some dishes such as chicken, squid and pork were pretty bland. Plus my frog legs had a previously frozen and thawed texture and taste to them. I really do hate dumbed down American spins on exotic/overseas cuisine.

rrmm2425

I'm with Idlewild. I was far from impressed. Everything tasted OK, but the dishes were severely dumbed down and "Americanized." Also, I felt like it tasted more like Thai seasonings.

svanso223

I'm an avid fan of Vietnamese food, as is my brother who has traveled extensively throughout SE Asia and we are both fairly big fans of this place. Not as good as you'll get in a hole-in-the-wall in Chinatown, but its Park Slope. Considering that, its pretty fine I'd say. Plus, one can't underrate using a restaurant's bathroom without gagging from the smell (something you'll never experience in Chinatown). Mussels app was some of the tastiest I've had and their squid and shrimp have always tasted fresh and well cooked in my opinion.

lillithofarc

Vietnamese food always made me nauseous but if you are in the mood to try something very delectable might I recommend some Cambodian cuisine.

shekb

Nuts.

testiculon

They are delivering now.

shekb

Does the food improve in transit?

8thandprez

Unfortunately, my experience here mirrors many of the others that have posted. I had the tofu vermicelli and it was utterly and completely flavorless. Now, I'm sure many of you are saying that tofu and flavor don't exactly go hand-in-hand, but I've had some kick ass veggie vermicelli in Seattle. This stuff was like eating... well, plain tofu and plain noodles with nothing added. Husband had pork vermicelli, which was better, but still majorly lacking in the amount of sauce added. The bottom of the bowl was nearly dry, which is a big no-no in my book. Still, when he was done, I poured what little juice was left onto my bowl and it was barely edible. Disappointed!

veets

Jeez, I am just old and jaded. I was blessed with living in D.C. in mid to late 70's when many Vietnamese restaurants sprung up that were owned and cheffed by the "real" folk. Down side was that those immigrants came here with such horrible experience and circumstance (largely USA intervention fault) behind them. The great cooking really spoiled me for the Americanized, blanded down places that have been opening in the Slope. yes I have tried Ha Noi but I will stick with.. If you have nothing good to say.. best to be silent.

8thandprez

veets said:

If you have nothing good to say.. best to be silent.

You're kidding right? If this board didn't involve kvetching there'd be no activity whatsoever.

In all seriousness, how do you expect a place to improve if it's not made aware of its weaknesses? Granted, I could go up to the server and say "this kind of sucks" but I'm an adult of the internet age. Face to face interaction scares me.