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An Nhau
Rating Details »
Category: Vietnamese [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Williamsburg - South Side, Williamsburg - North Side172 Bedford Ave
(between 8th St & 7th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 384-0028
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bedford Ave (L)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- None
20 reviews for An Nhau
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
10/25/2009
11/15/2009
10/13/2009
11/15/2009
10/7/2009
10/20/2009
10/1/2009
10/11/2009
9/17/2009
9 photos
10/4/2009
9/27/2009
9/14/2009
10/5/2009
11/7/2009
10/7/2009
11/9/2009
11/2/2009
9/10/2009
Updated - 9/17/2009
10/4/2009
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
While wandering away from Greenpoint, sorely disappointed in this year's Oktoberfest (running out of certain beer at 3pm? Not okay) we came across this little place and loved it!
Tasty Pho, congenial staff, prompt service and reasonable prices. I'd love to come back to taste more of their menu. A great date spot but they're still waiting on their liquor license -- don't fault them for that; it's bureaucracy at work.
we've been fans of next door neighbor banh mi for a while now and this morning on a hungover whim decided to check out an nhau. due to the unseasonably warm november weather, we were delighted to be seated in the beautiful backyard garden.
we started with pho which was magical (i had chicken and the boys had the classic) and then enjoyed the grilled chicken (warning, it's all dark meat) and a veetable platter that wassuper delicious - it tasted like the veggies had been simmered in a delicious broth for hours. the guys also had the beef stew which i found way too fatty for my taste, but they loved.
the service was adorable and sweet and i think this place will be a great add to the neighborhood.
If you've been paying attention, you know how I feel about pho. I need it to survive.
The pho at An Nhau is tasty and on point, but it is barely a snack. I've never been served such a small portion of it in my life. And the "pho special" is a whopping $10. I giggle at the fact that they have a "baby pho" appetizer, which I can only assume is one sliver of meat and four noodles.
However, I begrudgingly give it a fourth star for having super tasty appetizers as well, and a cozy but stylish decor. The salt and pepper calamari is possibly the best calamari I've put in my mouth. And the backyard is fantastic with its huge cushioned outdoor booths.
Come springtime, if they get their liquor license, there will be many Kelly S. ass-shaped dents in those cushions, and I won't mind so much that they're overcharging me.
I just ordered takeout. After waiting for 40 minutes and watching 10 orders go through ahead of me, they returned my money, and I left. They seem a little incompetent and have poor communication skills. The decor is tacky.
Since my Vietnamese gals Chi N. and Tran L. took care of the detailed-I'm-Vietnamese-and-I-know-what's-good angle, I'll take care of the cursory review.
Awhile ago, one of my gfs was telling me about her "friend" who cooked her pork belly with coconut soda. It sounded delicious, and I was trying to find a way to get it, since apparently it's not a restaurant food.
But oh-ho-ho at An Nhau it sure is! Luscious fatty pork belly, a boiled eggy, swimming in sweet and salty soup makes me a happy girl. But having to split it with five others makes me marginally sadder.
Anyways, out of all the dishes, I definitely liked this, the charcuterie plate (basically make-your-own Vietnamese sandwiches), and ribs. Everything else was unimpressive, but I hear they're still playing around with the recipes and menu, so it may be worth trying them again in the future.
We ate outside, which was nice. I hope they get heat lamps so they can continue taking advantage of the outdoor space when it cools down.
Service was great, and as of my last visit, they're waiting on their liquor license.
Yum! After watching this place morph from an old-fashioned Polish butcher shop into a Vietnamese restaurant, I felt invested by the time I got around to eating her. It happened a few days ago, a rainy, dismal night. I had been at the Brooklyn Museum with my parents all day and was suffering from the specific brand of malaise that comes from looking, semi-interested, at semi-interesting pieces of art while it pours rain outside. In short, I needed to be restored.
As it turned out, the pho at An Nhau was exactly what I needed. I had the chicken, and it was really delicious. Warm, huge, full of noodles and chicken and spices and cilantro and many other wonderful and tasty things.
My parents and I split the salt + pepper calamari appetizer, which was also very good. Not too chewy, not too spicy. I shoved half of it down my craw before I even tasted it....which is a good thing.
The service was very friendly, if a little slow. I would definitely like to come back to try something other than the pho....but it'll be hard, knowing that pho is an option. This is a nice addition to the food-heavy blocks of Bedford that surround the train station.
Williamsburg, we need to talk... i work here and am forced to eat your lunches. I agree to shell out my hard earned cash for you to feed me if in turn you promise to provide me with food at a reasonable price and of a reasonable quality.
So far, you have not been making good on your end of the deal. There are a handful of places I can turn to for a simple lunch for $5 but I yearn for something heartier, something that is not sushi, burgery, or thai-y and is reasonably priced. When your brown-papered store front touted An Nhau, a vietnamese restaurant, was on its way and that its banh mi sister storefront was ready now, I was psyched. I ate banh mi's for a week, after initially balking at the $5 price tag (and tax on top of that!)... I was desperate and weak, what can I say.
But I bided my time until the pho end of the establishment would open where I could have a warm meal for pho prices. When it finally opened in September, I was ecstatic. I rounded up a group of co-workers, talked them up about the virtues of pho and bun, and made our way to an nhau's door.
I ordered the pho (which at the time was $12 but has since come down to $8/10) and waited for what was surely to be a NY-ified gourmet pho experience. What I got was a cereal bowl full of thin, beige broth and maybe 15 sad rice noodles. I was floored.
Here's the backstory, folks. I was born in Laos and raised in MN where pho broth flows as wild and free as the Mississippi. In my culture, having pho is equivalent to white folks having coffee. It's a social, fun thing to do and everyone loves it. We argue about which place is the best, but all places are good. A bad pho joint wouldn't last a day in St. Paul.
In short, I know pho, and this, sad reader, is NOT pho. $8/10 a bowl is also not pho. Pho is a peasant meal that's served in the streets of vietnam/laos and st. paul... it's comfort food that's cheap and hearty and makes you happy and warm. I'm pretty sure pho saves lives everyday.
Therefore, it is with a sad heart and empty stomach that I must report, Williamsburg has failed me again. The quest for good, hearty, cheap lunchfare continues...
But if you're a hipster who wants to order pho, pretend like you are eating pho, and have $8/10 (cash only!) to spare for the experience, this place is for you.
Btw, I didn't bother trying anything else b/c if you're a vietnamese restaurant and you can't make pho, what hope is there for you? It's like a french restaurant that serves velveeta.
This place definitely has way more atmosphere than most of the Vietnamese joints in town. We ate out in the back patio, and there were so many tropical-looking plants around that you almost forget you're in Brooklyn. (We wondered what will happen to the plants during the winter ... will they move indoors?) It was a little chilly, but there were heat lamps back there to extend the outdoor dining season.
That said, you're paying for the atmosphere. The food -- while reasonably priced -- isn't any better than a cheaper meal you'll get in Chinatown. (It definitely has more presentation, though!) But I will happily eat Vietnamese food for every meal, and I like having the option of more atmospheric Vietnamese!
Waited til my bday dinner to review since I invited 23 people...which meant more food to try!! :D For 1 week in, the staff managed us SO intently and unbelievably smoothly for a party our size--and with the copious amts of food we got!! Very stoked for more things to come to the menu--like the Vietnamese Iced Coffee & other sweets!! An Nhau--like what I wrote about Sorella...thoroughly devoted and thoughtul about every ingredient and every dish! Now straight to the nitty gritty:
****SUPERFREAKIN'AWESOMENESS****
1. Seafood Bouillabaisse--think the best moules marineires with a pronounced lemongrass flavor and some heat. You'll want more baugettes to sop up the sauce after you've already used every empty (and licked clean) clam shell to scoop up the broth.
2. Spare Ribs--was a bit more heavy-handed in seasoning the first wk (which wasn't a bad thing!) but this lighter touch lets you enjoy the grilling more--chewed to the bones...and then gnawed soem more :)
3. Salt & Pepper Squid--perfect ratio of acid/lime flavor with the salt & pepper. Much better seasoned this wk than last--do NOT use or ask fo ANY additional condiment! Rivals the salt & pepper squid @ Congee. This wk was a little more flaccid than last, but still good!
4. Braised Pork Belly & Egg in coconut jus--it's actually a brown broth sweetened with a smidge of coconut juice and some fish sauce. Dare I say--better than most Chang-ian pork belly in that it's not overloaded in hoisin, and noticeably more tender?? The fatty part is more apt to butterly disintegrate in your mouth and gets seasoned well. LOVE LOVE LOVE--this is major down-home/comfort food predominant in Vietnamese households that seldomly makes it onto ANY vietnamese resto. Ask for pickled mustard greens (part of a veggie platter?) to dip with the sauce & eat w/ rice!
5. Roti Quail! Much like the first wk version of the ribs. A bit heavier handed in seasoning than I'm used to, but well seasoned. Good portions. Always fun to hold the little drumstick! :) Could make for good banh mi :D
6. CHARCUTERIE PLATE!! with pate & mayo made in house!! Off menu but soon to debut? ASK FOR THIS. It's pretty much their #1 sandwich deconstructed. That pate--is like CRACK and makes it infinitely better than banh mi even in CA--wherein shops outnumber Starbucks!! AND--this is the only time I've had pate that tasted like @ a cart on the way to my Aunt's house when I grew up in VN! The headcheese has a generous ratio of actual meets to offal (not littered w/ tendon & ligaments!), and GIO/CHa LUA which is like...a Vietnamese mortadella/baloney that's firmer and DEEELISHOUS!! A lot of other places scrimp on this **ahemeveryplaceinthecity**
6. Veggie platter entree--fairly sure it's more of a braised veggie dish centering around the (giant) bamboo shoots, pineapples, and I forget what else but it's YUMMAY! Did well w/ the vegetarians and pescetarians in the crew :) Again, consume with generous proportions of rice in which you DEFINITELY want to (sorta) drown in the sauce :D
****GOOD BUT HAS ROOM TO GROW!****
1. Shrimp Vermicelli--the "dipping sauce" which many places make a little too sweet, a little flat, not as savory--Dung & crew get it right. Something was a bit amiss--I think they could try to grill the prawns to kick up the flavor a little, as they do the ribs and ribs vermicelli. Pretty solid.
2. Pickled mustard greens & assorted veggies--some that should taste salty and tart tasted sweeter than they should be. Has a nice heat to them all :) Mix with charcuterie plate for some tapas fun!
3. Cassava cakes--a bit dry!
***GENERALLY SOLID***
1. Their PHO--perfect ratio and slicing of tendons, flanks, etc. Their broth has a lot of depth owing to a faint sweetness from the onion. the Grams told me broth doesn't need more than 2 hours to simmer if u just season it right from the start. I'm looking at you, An Choi and your 8 hr broth that's still lacking depth. This broth was a little sweeter than I'd like. Ask for the nuoc beo--it's the fatty skimmings off the broth when u make gravy etc--its inclusion only affirms Dung & crew's careful attention to detail and tenacity in getting it ALL right and not scaling back and sterlizing it for mass consumption.
3. Veggie Rolls, Veggie Plates, Fried Tofu--hearty thumbs up from the vegetarians and pescetarians in my crew! I didn't eat too much veggie stuff but solid indeed. Even the veggies get timely devotion and opportunities to shine! It's ALL about seasoning!!! :D I'd be careful tho and ask which ones come with dipping sauce and which ones come with the soy/vinegar dipping sauce if u're vegan.
4. Imperial chicken -- tastes familiar, well packaged & well seasoned. Other people liked this more than me but with all the other stuff that grabs my attention (and tongue!) this one is safe for the less risk inclined.
5. Shredded Cabbage Salad + Chicken--safe choice, comes w/dipping sauce for 'dressing'. I'm not big on safe :P
The opening of a Vietnamese restaurant in Williamsburg totally made my year! I am a major pho junkie so I was really excited to finally find a place in my hood that serves one of my favorite Asian comfort foods.
Went in for dinner today and was very pleasantly surprised. I had a chance to sit outside in one of the cabanas and it was really charming. I ordered the salt and pepper calamari appetizer and a bowl of the pho classic.
Calamari was delicious -- light batter, just the right amount of spice and served with wedges of lime to really bring out the flavor. I was especially excited to find that they serve both the calamari rings and the tentacles -- my favorite part of the squid. Yum!
The pho was also excellent. Ingredients were very fresh, the presentation was lovely and the broth was so tasty (I'm almost embarrassed to say I slurped down the entire bowl even after I finished the noodles and beef). I know I read some mixed reviews about the pho earlier, but I'm convinced they must be working on improvements b/c I swear to you, the bowl I had today was nothing short of perfection. And trust me, I am a picky pho eater.
My only complaint is that the portion could have been bigger. I'm so used to the heaping bowls of pho you get in Chinatown at dirt cheap prices ($5 a bowl!), so to pay $8 for a half-bowl of noodle soup, no matter how delicious it is, can be a little difficult. I mean I know it's Williamsburg and all, but still... It'd be nice if the price came down a bit or the portion increased a bit. I promise you, if they end up tweaking either one of those things anytime soon, I'll be in there at least twice a week devouring bowl after bowl of soupy deliciousness. :-)
But all in all, I really liked it. Atmosphere was modern and chill (not too trendy) and the music selection was really fun and kind of hilarious (I swear I heard a Vietnamese cover of a Michael Jackson tune). Loved my waitress, she was a total doll. And the manager was even nice enough to introduce himself to me as I was walking out. I assured him I would definitely be back.
Really excited to try the rest of the menu. Though I will say that I did eavesdrop on the conversation in the two cabanas on either side of me and it seemed that both parties also enjoyed their meals immensely (one party had the ribs, another party had a curry dish I believe) so I'd definitely say this place is worth a visit!
Yay! Pho!
My friend and I went today for lunch and both loved the Pho. The meat was beautiful and the broth was very satisfying. I thought we could have used some more acid, another lemon slice would have added some more brightness. I also would have loved some more fresh herbs, especially cilantro. Besides that the dish was presented beautifully and overall the restaurant had a calming atmosphere--very clean, with a funny mix of hipstery songs and what seemed to be more traditional Vietnamese music.
I was a fan of the spring rolls, which were served with lettuce and mint. We only were given 2 small pieces of lettuce, which was strange given that there were 4 spring rolls on the plate. No problem though. We told the waitress and within a minute we had more lettuce. The dipping sauce was tangy and had some nice heat.
The Vietnamese iced coffee was absolutely delicious, but a total rip off at $5 a glass. I mean, c'mon. That just ain't right!
You can get a much cheaper version of this meal in Chinatown (our bill for 2 Pho classics, an order of Spring rolls and 3 iced coffees came to a whopping $42). But, I'll go back for the good food, proximity to my apt, and clean, pleasant atmosphere.
They just opened, so they're still working out the menu and service, but I'm probably going to be hitting up An Nhau pretty regularly. The quality of the ingredients and the nicely designed space will make the restaurant a destination for fans of Vietnamese flavors.
Food and Menu: A lot more inventive than just the basics. We tried the veggie roll, roasted quail app, pho classic (they also have a pho special for those of you who want to get your tendon and navel on) and simmered pork belly. The pho didn't have the most flavorful broth, but that'll probably develop with time. I was happy to see some really nice cuts of rare steak in the pho. The roll was nicely rolled and had nice proportions, the quail was awkward to eat but was delicious and the pork belly was tender and flavorful (although I couldn't detect any coconut flavor).
Decor: Modern meets traditional: a smooth, curvy wood bar carved from a beautiful section of tree trunk, a variety of seating including a dandy big round booth, a cheerful and welcoming backyard space.
Service: The management, waitstaff and bus boys were all nice and really cute, too.
Pho was spectacular. I like to dress my own Pho which can be hard depending on the place. This one did not need to be dressed. It was flavorful and had tons of meat.
They also helped me out since I had the pooch. We were able to sit in the front on the couch so she could sit outside. The service was wonderful.
i like this place; not "a fan" but just shy.
FIRST of all... the name means, "eat drink," in the context of BOOZE. alas, thar be none yet. not even BYO.
my wife is very tough on food, and food that hails from her native land ESPECIALLY; she's somewhat rigid, but she found some dishes she could choke down.
- salt and pepper calimari, good, but could have been a bit zippier. decent; sprinkled w/minced peppers
- pho, classic: i'm not much of a judge of pho; it was my gateway dish to cuisine of southeast asia, but its been left behind on my palette. wife thought it OK, but could be a touch more flavorful. we got it for the 3yo, so it was good for that. server gets points for being nice when my wife asked her to take back some of the beast that was particularly raw (little girl needs things cooked thru) and bringing it back in more hot broth. i finished it off, and after adding the hot sauce, it was fine by me.
- canh chua: get this. sweet and sour soup, tomatoes and pineapple and other good stuff. wife actually said it is good, which is not a typical thing.
- banh xeo: i didn't try this, but the wife ate it. if she didn't like it, she'd have thrown it at me. [later: i just went to try the leftovers; even cold, good. presumably better warm.]
- PORK BELLY & EGG BRAISED IN COCONUT JUS... just say, "yes."
- OH how could i have forgotten the veggies. i liked them; similar to what i've had in other VN restaurants, both here and in VN, but more flavorful and a bit more crunchy/less cooked thru.
alas, the wife is unlikely to want to come here again. she has a very narrow view of cuisine, and that from VN in particular. i may take the 3yo here to try the papaya salad (it looked good as it went by us a couple times), grilled baby back ribs, pork chop on rice, and the limeade.
when they get bia.
Believe it or not, when I moved across the Williamsburg bridge in July from LES to bedford ave, one of my biggest fears and worries was the lack of good Asian food in the new neighborhood! living in close proximity to chinatown before, I had grown accustomed to balancing out my healthy appetite for trying out new (not-so-cheap) restaurants with eating incredibly cheap & delicious meals at various chinatown favorites (dumplings/handpulled noodles/banh mis/vietnamese food were on the regular rotation).
Luckily, williamsburg has jumped on the banh mi/vietnamese food bandwagon as of late, and i am SO HAPPY an nhau is but a block from my place! while the other vietnamese options in the neighborhood fall quite short when compared to my chinatown standbys, an nhau is proving itself to be a new and much-welcomed favorite in ALL of the city.
The food is outstanding in quality (albeit a bit pricier than i'm used to - but for the ingredients I am OK with it), the atmosphere is fun, laid-back and convivial (be sure to check out the gorgeous garden out back), and the staff is always extremely friendly, hospitable and clearly proud of their restaurant and product! In fact, I have had such a great time each time i've been that I usually end up hanging out for a few hrs..
Anyway, onto the most important part: the food. An Nhau has finally given me ample reason to expand my vietnamese food repertoire beyond pho / banh mis / bun / pork chop over rice / spring & summer rolls. In my few visits I have discovered some new homestyle dishes that absolutely revolutionize my previously somewhat narrow understanding of this cuisine:
pork belly with egg in coconut broth (EVERY table last night had ordered this- favorite)
shaking beef (named so b/c of how the pan is constantly shaken while cooking to ensure evenness of cooking- favorite)
quail
salt + pepper calamari
bbq ribs (the marinade is perfectly balanced bw sweet/savory)
seafood bouillabaisse
goi ga (chicken and cabbage salad)
And these are just the beginning...
The owners say they are going to be tweaking the menu and trying out more new dishes (including perhaps a halibut one!), so I'm very excited to come back and try more new things.
Oh yes! And an off-the-menu but extremely worthwhile splurge is the cold cuts/homemade pate/butter/bread plate. Basically taken from their banh mi shop next door, this is a divine way to start your meal.. but be careful, because you can also overdo and not have much of an appetite for the rest of dinner (as has happened to me on several occasions)!
So if you're looking for something more than run-of-the-mill vietnamese, for food made w/ quality, market-fresh ingredients and lots of care, and a charming interior and staff (no fluorescent lights here), then An Nhau gets my high praise and recommendation!
Very tasty and delicious with a great price point. I will definitely return.
I know this is a little beside the point, but I was across the street in Cross County Savings and there was this obnoxious guy hollering at a teller about his finances while also talking loudly on his cell phone and then I saw him go into this new vietnamese joint acting like he owned the place--like really I think he's the owner because he was all behind the counter and rubbing up against the cute girl working there and then he disappeared into some crevice. So that compounded with my solitary mediocre banh mi experience here a few weeks earlier has left me very content patronizing the better place on S 2nd and Havemeyer for all my Williamsburg banh mi/vietnamese food needs. What was mediocre about the sandwich? Ehh, the barbecue pork filling was even more sugary than at the chinatown joints and there was barely any chile heat to the sandwich. Its still a banh mi and its still tasty. Really my unfavorable review is because of that guy in the bank. Actually the sandwich was a little small too. Also I miss the kielbasa store. Sorry this was kind of a weak yelp review.
the place is a little rough around the edges but I think it has potential.
I went in solely for the pho. On the menu there is a Pho Classic ($8) and Pho Special ($10). A bit pricey but I gave the classic a go. If you aren't into spicy stuff, I'd ask for it without the jalapeno peppers.
It was ok. A bit pricey for the quality. It just seems overall skimpy on the beef and noodles.
Also watch the check--the pho showed up as $9.
seriously my hidden go to place when i need a lil dose of "home". can't find a place that is more friendlier and down to earth than this. owners are not afraid to come out and entertain yet have a sense of professionalism that keeps this restaurant on its feet and in order!
unfortunately the portions aren't quite as similar as home but thats due to the audience it is trying to reach out to that appreciate a typical three course meal type setting rather than a "family style" type setting that most asian places cater to.
so for 20 people we quickly worked with the owners as we sat down to devise a menu that would satisfy everyone vegetarians and meateaters alike (which most restaurants would have been super mad at cuz we didn't give them proper notice)
- charcuterie plate - still the highlight of my every meal there seriously i dunno why but its so friggin addiciting, the mayo, pate just does it for me every time!
- bread - still wishing they kept the inner meats of the bread cuz thats like super nice and fluffy on the inside!
- pickled veges - nice and not overly sour like most other asian establishments... leans more to the sweeter side
- pickled cabbage - yummm again sour sweetness side... nice crunch to everything
- ribs - yay it changes tastes every time... they were devising the recipe... not as tender as before however more vietnamese tasting with a more powerful dose of fish sauce!
- quail - not frail looking very meaty and nice caramelized coating, i like the sweetness to it as well (must be a think to cater to the american palate cuz typically all these dishes are super salty)
- tofu - boo need more pieces of that cuz its pretty moist and juicy and full of lemongrass flavor which makes me wanna eat the whole plate myself!
- some kinda shrimp vermicelli salad - more shrimp please! fish sauce could be stronger there (again my vietnamese taste buds saying it) - my least fav outta everything
- bouillabaise - yummm they use the shrimp to its fullest as the guts spill into the soup making it very shrimpy, seafood taste, was expecting tang and spiciness to this dish but actually not bad at all
- pork belly - again not overly salted, more on the sweeter side, don't forget to pour the soup over ur rice which is "broken rice" btw cuz its a staple of vietnamese dishes. very tender pork with the fat left on like it should be! glad to have the egg there and the sour cabbage on the side is a nice touch as well!
- fried calamari - others liked it more this time around, i actually liked the first trial cuz this time it was a lil on the soggy side for me and not salted enough. (you can tell im a big fan of salt haha)
come out and hang out here before the outer patio becomes too cold! you'll feel like u're in the jungle in vietnam sans bugs!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/10/2009 First to Review
Yay! finally found people from my hometown pursuing this Vietnamese food venture that is finally… Read more »
This has been our regular spot since we tried the dishes the first time. All the ingredients are very fresh and the service is friendly. The interior is very hip and cool and the price is reasonable. Love it.