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Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Finally! I got to bring 6'5" here and was over the moon happy that he enjoyed the food.
Although I was headed to the Elite event at Saki, I seized the opportunity to have dinner beforehand.
For starters, we ordered Silken Shawl Imperial Autumn Roll. We were originally going to order the Blue Paradise Seafood Summer Roll, but our waiter told us that if we wanted something a little less oily and a little better, the Autumn roll would be good for us. I'm -all- about anything that's less oily. It was good, and as hoped for, not very oily.
I ordered the papaya salad (for the beef jerky, of course) and the Cow in the Open Field (marinated beef cubes). I seriously don't know where they came up with these names, but I warned him in advance that the titles were comical. He ordered the Gift From the Sea on a Fresh Haystack. Basically it was a bunch of seafood with a light sauce over crispy noodles. As the sauce soaked into the noodles, they became softer. For dessert, we ordered the custard. Seriously? I would have loved the Orchard Winter Roll, but since he took me to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant, he could order what ever he wanted for us. Until we go back, that is. That's when we'll be ordering the winter roll.
Service was slow to start, but it was quickly made up for when we started receiving attention from not one--but two--servers.
Had there not been one mishap, I would give this place 6 stars.
First off, a big shout out to Brendan…
Read more »
Nothing lacking here except for maybe the restaurant name. Present Restaurant could accurately be named Present-ATION as well because many of the dishes looked astounding.
A diamond in the rough, the exterior is very unassuming and actually looks a bit ghetto, but the moment you step inside...transformation. Very nice, clean, and spacious.
At the end of our meal the manager or owner greeted us and inquired about our experience. We explained to him that everything was wonderful, and we were constantly craning our necks over to see what intriguing culinary creation other tables had ordered. We mentioned, that they really should have a picture menu because the descriptions just don't do the dishes justice. He explained that this was a topic of debate with the head chef who wanted the actual dishes to speak for themselves and not the pictures. Makes sense but still it would be extremely helpful to see the dish when ordering.
The food was delicious and moderately priced. Waitstaff very attentive and helpful. I used to think Four Sisters held the title for upscale Vietnamese, but this place definitely takes the cake. Love it here and will definitely be back for more.
Good - (Goi Cuon)
Green Paradise Spring Roll
Great - (Cha Gio Re)
Silken Shawl Imperial Autumn Roll
Great - (Bun Thit Nuong - Cha Gio)
Country Banquet Vermicelli
Great - (Mi Do Bien - Xao Gion)
Gift from the Sea on a Haystack
Good - (Cha Gio Trai)
Golden Tropical Orchard Winter Roll
Finally had a chance to visit Present this past Sunday. We did not agree with the glowing review in the Sunday Post Magazine from several months ago. Golden Paradise spring roll was good but nothing to make you go oooh - aaaah. Treasures from the Sea was absolutely fabulous and the best dish we tried. Sadly, if more dishes had been executed so beautifully as the Treasures and tasted as good we'd be returning often.
The duck in tamarind sauce had us only craving for the duck at either Peking Gourmet or Thai Square.
Not on the menu that day was an entree of lightly breaded sauteed calamari. The coating was somewhat drab but the dunking sauce was so overly salty neither of us could eat it with the calamari.
Service was excellent and the decor, for a run-down strip mall, very pleasant. We just wish the food had come close to Tom Sietsema's rave review.
Look out Four Sisters, you now have some serious competition!! This is some of the best Vietnamese food I have had since I was in Vietnam in 66-68. Try the Imperial Autumn Roll, Treasure From The Sea, and Warm Heart Piglet for an outstanding meal. The staff is very friendly, and is more than happy to make suggestions if you want to try something new, or walk you through the menu if you are new to Vietnamese dining. Will be going back as often as we can.
I'll add my two cents in, but for more details peruse the other reviews. With enough accolades from Vietnamese diners, you really can't go wrong with this place.
One of the best Vietnamese restaurants you can go to in the area. The ambiance and service is as modern and attentive as you would expect in any restaurant, and like most Vietnamese restaurants in the area, the menu is extensive with offerings of most everything you can imagine.
Besides the poetic yet nondescript names of dishes, the dishes are some of the best you can find shy of crashing a Vietnamese family's dinner table for some delicious food. The names passes my mind, but the egg noodle soup with duck is salty flavorful with noodles cooked just right. My husband's caramelized pork is probably the best I've tasted in a restaurant - not too salty, not too sweet, and the sliced pork not too salty. My dinner partners were happy with the taste and portion size of their dishes.
If you're looking for a go-to Vietnamese restaurant, drive past Eden Center and come here. As close to home cooking as you can find around here.
Ok - the food may not be the BEST Vietnamese in the area, or the most authentic. I don't care about authentic. The food was delicious. Presentation was certainly 5 star.
I went in a party of 4 adults and one toddler. The staff were very accomodating of our needs. And generally very attentive, available, and helpful. Actually, they gave us a special something extra, which I won't explain -- wouldn't want you to go in there expecting it's the norm. But we didn't ask for anything and never complained, yet they went out of their way to make sure we left with an exceptionally positive memory. (Maybe they overheard me saying "Yelp"?)
Basically, from my experience, the management of Present are very interested in making sure the clientele have a positive, pleasant experience.... and this extends to the cuisine as well. Vietnamese purists might be dismayed. To them I say, get a life.
I'm pretty impressed with this top-notch restaurant.
After hitting a snag with two hostesses who couldn't figure out how to seat us in a nearly-empty restaurant, we finally got a table outside.
Our server was exceptionally knowledgeable, even though it sounded like a rehearsed script. No matter, he was very helpful with recommendations.
Try the duck and spring rolls. Beautifully presented and delicious!
I went back again on 11/4 and I had a great experience. I ordered the spring rolls with pork and shrimp, the goi with seafood, shaky beef, a glass noodle stir fry (recommended by the waitress) and banh xeo.
The spring rolls were excellent with a perfect balance of pork and shrimp with the noodles and veggies. Every bite was the perfect bite. The goi was excellent as well. It is served with freshly fried shrimp chips and you scoop the goi with the chips and dig in. Again the balance of ingredients was harmonious and was not lacking in flavor nor texture. Wait I'm sounding like Iron Chef the original here. The food complemented each other. That's better.
The shaky beef tasted spicy and delicious. It was juicy and it was cooked all the way through and it was well marinated and served at the right temperature. The only complaint I have is I wish more lettuce, tomato was given with the dish. Onion was non existent. Perhaps I'm remembering wrong but I thought shaky beef had onion too? The banh xeo was satisfying. The waitresses graciously demonstrated to my non-Viet friend how to eat it. I could have showed my friend too, but the waitress offered and I couldn't resist. The least favorite main dish was the glass noodle stir fry that the waitress recommended. It was probably the most generic of all the dishes meaning it was stir fried and had soy sauce as a main flavor and had very typical Asian ingredients. It was good, but not what we had in mind. It's ok though, because she can't read our minds and in no way was it the waitresses fault.
For dessert we had the fried banana. This was not the best fried banana I had. That title goes to Cafe Asia. Here they batter the banana slices with a typical batter and fry it and then pour a coconut sauce on top of it. I would skip this dish next time I come. Also, when you order white wine make sure you send it back if they put cherries in your wine. I was puzzled by that one but my friend ordered the wine and didn't mind so I didn't say anything. We requested a sweeter wine like muscato but they didn't have it so we ordered a pinot grigio. Apparently they thought adding a few cherries in the wine would be a nice touch. Not so much. To me it's blasphemous but again I didn't order it.
Overall I had a great experience here. This is a great place to take a date if you crave Viet food and want something a little more upscale. The dishes are "present"ed with flair and are visually appealing. Good job guys. We needed a place like this for Viet food.
The interior is nice with a modern Japanese sushi house feel. The food was overpriced and just ok.… Read more »
This review is broken up into a three parts the restaurant, the food, the service.
The Restaurant
Perhaps I'm a bit biased as I have known this restaurant in it's previous incarnation under a different ownership group. It was sub par to say the least. The renovations done to the restaurant was done efficiently saving certain aspects of the previous establishment, while elevating the overall ambiance from roach motel tepid to warm and friendly. Even the somewhat out of place waterfall and rock formation fits into the overall picture that was trying to be painted by the ownership group.
The Food
Understand that I have only recently been turned onto Vietnamese Food so I am far from an aficionado. In any case whether or not this authentic Vietnamese Food this is good. From what I understand they do a mix of reinterpreted dishes which has a soul in authentic Vietnamese food, and it serves dishes that are suitable for your uncultured friends.
The presentation of each dish has been carefully thought out, with garnishes that help create a simple elegance where your eyes begin to send salvia to your mouth, it's like food foreplay. The flavors vary from the suitable for all diners, to the food just for the most adventurous.
The Duck in Tamarind Sauce is a great choice for first timers, while the Adventurous Bull is good for a nice Vietnamese Roll that you make with the beef cooked at your table. The fish going wild has a fantastic presentation with the meat cooked to perfection. The fish is fluffy, tender, juicy fish. The Shrimp in the Fresh Ocean is seasoned perfectly and presented in a unique cored pineapple.
The Service
I find that overall they provide good solid service. At times when they are a bit busy the staff seems to be understaffed by 1 or 2 people, it's not to the point where you'll get upset but you notice it. At the same time the staff is very attentive to your needs, and does everything to make your visit a pleasant one.
Put to you this way the service doesn't detract from the food or the experience, but at the same time doesn't give the power punch over the top.
Evaluation
Good place to take a date, or some good friends.
I always judge ethnic cuisine based on the clientele, I don't recall too many Mexicans eating at Chi Chi's as a kid. Present will have in the same sitting a Vietnamese family enjoying a night out, with a Vietnamese guy and his "roommate(Asian guy still in the closet" eating dinner with the Vietnamese guy's non English speaking mother, with a group of ethnically mixed Yuppie Friends that look like a Benaton Advertisement, and the random Fat Korean Guy and his Girlfriend trying to eat through the menu.
This is one of the better restaurants in Northern Virginia. They do all the things everything right that a restaurant should. I would anticipate that they will be rated highly by Zagat if they already haven't gotten one.
For dinner or the weekend make a reservation or be prepared to wait.
Try it out and if you don't like it, I don't like you!
Present, an upscale Vietnamese place tucked into a strip mall in Falls Church, is named after the time frame rather than the gift. The menu specifically stresses the importance of living in the present, and enjoying the moment. Perhaps more specifically, they are subtly hinting to enjoy the meal that will be placed in front of you.
Stopped by here on a Monday evening with the parents. Not crowded, but there were plenty of occupied tables. Also saw a list of reservations that went late into the evening. You walk in and immediately are surrounded by the sound of water. A large pond (I can't remember specifics: was there running water? Or was that a soundtrack?) sits across from the host stand. Well lit, dark wood, panels and commendable decor (especially in comparison to other Vietnamese restaurants in the area).
The waitstaff is dressed very well, and they are on point. Our waiter gently steered us from appetizers to entrees: he told us about our choices, gave us alternatives we might like, and was humbly took our orders when we declined.
Started with the summer and autumn roll. The autumn roll was at the recommendation of the server: the major difference from the spring roll being the wrapper. While the spring roll is wrapped in the usual wrapper, the autumn roll is threaded. The autumn roll is really something else to look at when it comes out: intricate, and a good conversation starter should conversation be slow ("wow, look at..."). The autumn roll was great, we cut them in half and had to fight over the last section of it. The summer roll was just good. Pretty plain: not anything special, and the sauce tasted like it came from Trader Joe's (mostly because the I have tried their peanut sauce, and it does strike a chord); both the sauce and the summer roll just lacked punch.
Ordered the Country Banquet Vermicelli, Spicy Beef Vermicelli (which was a slightly spicy soup with thick rice noodles), and Mosaic pathway. Spicy Beef Vermicelli was apparently good (I will not share soup...), a little more spicy than mild apparently. Comes with thick udon looking noodles, beef, and apparently condensed pig blood in a patty form. The Country Banquet Vermicelli came with grilled pork and a spring roll, along with the veggies. Sliced lettuce, peanuts, bean sprouts, and slightly pickled carrots. It tasted light, clean, and was satisfying. The Mosaic Pathway reminded me of a pad woonsen (I know that's Thai, but whatever). Chunks of crab meat were definitely the highlight of this dish, but everything melded so perfectly that it was gone before I got more than a second bite.
Skipped on the dessert, but will definitely be back here for more. If you're looking for good Vietnamese food with whimsical names, a good theme, and clean, modern presentation (hence, the carved flowers, etc.): this is your place. A step up from other Vietnamese places that I have reviewed in the area. But if you're looking for a comparison: I would put this on par with Four Sisters. If you're a die hard pho or corner in the wall, home cooking Vietnamese food: you'll probably remain a fan of the spot a few miles down the road.........(because come on, we all know you pho junkies are fans of Eden). ;)
Present truly is a gift to behold! The decor is beautiful and clean with an interesting waterfall/pond in the room making a pleasent relaxing sound. The help is friendly, well dressed, clean, and attentive. The food is presented beautifully, and very tastey. We had the orange duck, and the golden chicken. Both dishes were excellent. For dessert we had the bannana fritters. Out of this world!! Usually, Asian desserts are nothing to brag about, but the bananna fritters were outstanding and worth the trip to Present alone. The patrons were a nice mix of older Americans, yuppies, and nice Vietnamese families. As I said before Present is a wonderful gift to us.
The food is slightly more expensive than the typical vietnamese restaurant but the atmosphere is worth the additional cost. The food is pretty tasty but I'm not a fan of the strange english translation of the menu which appears to have been written by a asian teenage fan of Hello Kitty.
The only issue I have is there is not an array of the usual vietnamese condiments available at the table so you typically have to ask for everything like extra peppers.
I would definitely eat here again but I would order in vietnamese although the last time our waiter did not speak much vietnamese.
3.5 stars
I enjoyed my meal at Present and the inside decor is much nicer than I expected from the outside. The menu to me reads like the Vietnamese equivalent of Duangrat's where it's more of a higher end spectrum of dishes that you don't normally see at Vietnamese restaurants. Many dishes I had never heard of, but was eager to try.
We started with a slew of appetizers, from rolls named after 3 of the 4 seasons (they have winter rolls, but they're a dessert) and a sauteed clam appetizer served in a large rice cracker bowl. It didn't taste much like clams, but was still really good and a surprising amount of food! Could probably easily be a meal for someone.
For main entree I went with Life on the Beach. It was a vast platter of a multitude of pork items, as well as a fried egg and rice. A very decent amount of food for $9.95. The pork chop was nicely grilled and had good flavor.
Really my main complaint is that the names are so...weird. Every single name sounds like a cheesy attempt to be poetic but ultimately just sounds confusing, and sometimes unappetizing (Pilgrim on the Beach? Sleeping Duck on the Pond?). The food was overall very good, but I wouldn't say I was blown away. I would definitely return with a big group to get a bunch of dishes to share. And prices were definitely right with most dinner entrees being in the $10-13 range.
I was very disappointed with our recent visit. I have been to this restaurant before & enjoyed it, but the service seems to have slipped. When I ordered, I decided to try something new. I specifically asked the waitress if the dish was spicy & she said no. When the dish arrived, it was too spicy for me to eat. I told the waitress that the dish was too spicy for me, but she did not offer to replace the dish or deduct the cost from the check. This was extremely disappointing - it's one thing if the customer doesn't tell the staff what's wrong, but I clearly explained & had checked on the spiciness of the dish before ordering. Major demerits for your service, Present!
I went to this present for a family dinner and had Canh Chua, Vit Sot Me, Mi Xao Dong Do Bien, some "claim" salad (look and tasted like ground beef?!), Banh Beo, and Bo Luc Lac. I'm not quite sure what the hype is about. I've had significantly better Vietnamese food for significantly cheaper. I think the atmosphere there is pleasant, though, and I think that's why it draws in mostly non-Vietnamese or non-Asians for that matter. If you're on a date, go to Present, but if you just want really good food for a reasonable price, go to Eden Center. Also, why was the shrimp in the Mi Xao Dong Do Bien cold? Was the sauce pre-made, frozen, and thawed? Hmmm....
Also, as others have pointed out, the names of the dishes are ridiculous...Walking in the Sunset? Adventurous Bull? Hard-Working Piglet? Right...
While I still love the food at Present, this update on the Bun Bo Hue alone.
***3 stars***
Bun Bo Hue here sounds like it will be great in theory, it has congealed pork blood flat cubes, tendon (pig?), purple cabbage, in addition to all the rest of the good stuff it's supposed to have. See Houng Viet review. I came here with the expectation of finding "the one". That one perfect Bun Bo Hue, the extra's are what I thought would seal the deal for me. Alas, this one let me down. Despite those extras, this BBH had no soul. The broth was bland, even after adding 3 types of peppers and chili paste. Granted I made it hotter and gave it a bit more flavor, but still it was lacking. The congealed blood was just spongey, not much flavor to it. The tendon was tender and added a nice texture contrast. This BBH failed to seduce me and make me want more, instead I will go back to Houng Viet for BBH. But Present still rocks for all the other goodies it offers.
Thanks to Thuy L. for introducing me to this place. The food was just wonderful. I don't remember… Read more »
It's different from the typical Vietnamese restaurant, so don't go expecting an experience like one at the Eden Center. They have creative names for all their dishes and the service is much more attentive than most Vietnamese restaurants. A few dishes can be hit or miss, but all are presented beautifully. Avoid the tuna dish. The Imperial Autumn Rolls are unique and delicious!
I met the succulent Tina R. here for dinner the other night. Based on her review, she wasn't too down. I, on the other hand, quite enjoyed it.
I started off with one of the eggrolls, fried style with pork and shrimp. The wrapper was so thick and hard that it had an almost pastry-like quality and was a little rough on the roof of the mouth! It was, however, tasty.
I got the cow doing something--I can't remember exactly--but it was comprised of pan-shaken beef cubes with watercress and onion. I told our server that I liked it hot, so this dish knocked my socks off. It was savory, spicy and delectable. I ate it all!
We shared ginger ice cream for dessert--decent. The highlight was this buttery kind of cookie they served with it. When I asked our server, he was kind enough to bring me one in the wrapper from the kitchen so I could track them down at an Asian supermarket.
For $30, we each had a glass of wine, a appetizer, a main and split dessert. I think that's a great price. I'll be back, for sure. The menu was so vast and there are so many more dishes I want to sink my teeth into. They also have a vegan corner, FYI.
The food here is amazing. I wish I could provide detail on what I actually ate, but I came with family friends and mom took care of all the ordering - we just shared it all.
I will say that there isn't a single Vietnamese restaurant that I love besides pho restaurants so this definitely stands out as my favorite. The place is very zen like. There's a koi pond in the middle of the restaurant and the design is very modern. The names of their menu selections sound like they were made up after meditating on a mountain. It seems a little cool but as you read the rest of the selections it sounds like a little too much.
Everything that I ate was delicious. I especially liked the fried rice and their buttery fried shrimp (sorry, I don't know what it's called). I highly recommend this place. The staff was also very friendly to us and accommodating every time I visited with a large party.
With a chef imported straight from Vietnam, the food can't get any more authentic or tasty. And yes, indeed.
I don't think you could go wrong ordering anything on the menu. Just close your eyes and point. For non-Vietnamese speaking diners, the menu might be a little confusing because someone was feeling a little poetic while writing the menu. But, let me simplify it for you. Order these items: bo luc lac, canh chua, goi du du (the beef liver jerky is the best jerky ever) and banh beo (it has bits of pork fat on top). Try to sound it out to the waiters, they might be impressed. If they have no clue what you're talking about, write these items down and give it to your waiter. I don't have time to figure out what the silly English names for these items are on the menu. "Hard working piglet" does not even sound right. Pigs are not hard working. They hang out in mud all day, chill and get fat.
Ambiance wise, it's cozy and nice. It's more fancy than anything you could find in Eden Center. They start playing music after 9:30pm. It could possibly be a hint for late diners to hurry up, eat and get out. The only thing I don't like about Present is their bathroom. Although clean, it does not flow with the rest of the restaurant. The lighting in the bathroom is not sexy at all. Oh, there's a slight step in there, so watch your step!
If you need more details on the food, please go read Brendan, Michele, Tony or Chris' reviews. Or, check out the pics I posted in the gallery.
Oh, last bit of advice....GET YOUR OWN DESSERTS :).
**Found out the chef's name is Luong Tran. Check it: http://www.washingtoni...
Undoubtedly, one of the best perks of dining with Yelpers is the opportunity to dine with cuisine experts - if you don't already know some - who can recommend dishes and show off different aspects of a country's offerings. Tony P. and Thuy T., Vietnamese cuisine experts extraordinaire, guided us through the extensive menu and showed us how it's done.
The menu item English names are indeed silly and strange, but how can you not smile after ordering something like "Hard working piglet" or "Basking in the Tropical Sun"?
Michele D. already mentioned the dishes we ordered. The ones she missed were:
Silken Shawl Imperial Autumn Roll - Super crispy pork and shrimp deep fried spring rolls.
Fragrant River Vermicelli - Soup with rice noodles, shrimp paste, tomatoes, fried tofu, fried shrimp patties, and pork blood cubes
Spicey "Than Kinh" Beef Vermicelli - Beef noodle soup with all sorts of stuff in it
Cow in the Open Field - Seared beef cubes with charred onions and watercress
Gift from the Sea On a Haystack - Chinese style? crispy egg noodles with seafood and veggies
Golden Tropical Orchard Winter Roll - Deep fried egg roll filled with bananas, strawberries, some kind of sour syrup, and ice cream?
Aside from the soft shell crab which I thought was way too salty, I really enjoyed everything I got to try. Presentation for each dish was very well done. The beef liver jerky with the green papaya salad was crazy good, and the spring rolls were ridiculously crunchy and delicious. I also really enjoyed the Open Field in the Sunset - the soup had a terrific flavor without being overpoweringly sour.
Service was terrific, warm, and prompt, except for the delay with Michele's dinner. Our server pointed out what each dish was upon arrival and gave us little tips/fun facts. I wouldn't be surprised if he had shown us how to properly eat the rice cakes or the spring rolls if Tony or Thuy had not been present.
Can't speak for authenticity, but if they aren't afraid to include shrimp paste or pork blood with your dish, that's probably a good sign, right?
Best of all, they have Cantonese-style steamed fish! I love steamed fish but have been tentative about ordering it ever since the steamed fish fail at Cho Cu (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I eagerly await ordering it here. Or the deep fried fish. Or the seafood salad in a pineapple. Or the lotus salad. Or caramelized fish. Or the caramel custard.
Anyone up for a family style dinner?
I came out for a UYE with BredanJ, ChrisM, ThuyT and MicheleD on a great saturday evening. The establishment is well decorated with a mix of modern trims and ornate wall paper. Very atypical from the usual spartan vietnamese restaurants. We were seated right away and were able to get our drinks in short order. The service was attentive and expedient.
The menu consists of modern interpretations of classic vietnamese dishes from all regions of Vietnam. We opted to share the appetizers and I ordered the cha gio re (prawns and pork in rice wrap). The wrapper was a unique rice wrapping that was deep fried in lieu of the typical wet rice paper wrap. We also had goi du du gan cháy, which was the typical shredded green papaya salad dish, but the chef kicked it up a notch with some incredibly savory beef liver jerky. And the third appetizer was bánh bèo chén which was a steamed rice cake with shredded shrimp and fried pork fat. The classic version doesn't have the pork fat, but its addition was truly complementary.
We each had ordered our own entrees. I chose canh chua cá which was the classic sweet and sour tamarind soup with fish. The wonderful white fish (rock fish) was delicate and de-boned. It was truly on par with what my mom used to make. My other entree was deep fried soft-shelled crab. I thought the dish was a bit overly salty, but the combination of it and the beer I was drinking was just perfect. I also had a chance to taste Michele's pork ribs and it was really exemplary. The caramelized flavors was succulent and very savory.
Dessert was frozen banana and strawberry in a syrup wrapped in a light crepe. The entire table shared it and we all thought it was delectable.
Other than the kitchen mishap with Michele's order, it was overall an excellent dining experience. I will definitely revisit this place to try out the other menu offerings. Just as an aside note, the entrance ramp into this strip mall is NOT friendly to low riding vehicles.
Fabulous place to go!
I first heard about Present from Tom Siestema's food review in the Washington Post magazine. He wrote favorably of it, and the menu prices were reasonable, so I decided to give it a go for lunch.
The decor is very nice and clean; there's a small artificial waterfall-ish structure near the center that adds a nice touch. What really stood out to me during my lunch experience here was how attentive the staff was.
Our waiter was very patient with our queries ("How big a portion size is the Pigs and Friends Crepes?", amongst others). He came back to check on us frequently, but not to the point where it was annoying. The owner or manager -- not sure which -- also came by to see whether we were enjoying our meal.
My friend ordered the vermicelli with beef and I the aforementioned Pigs & Friends Crepes. Both portions ended up being generous sizes and quite tasty. Nice!
Duck in winter mountain
Basking on sandy beach
Tuna swimming in the mango grove
Fragrant travels beef
Just a few of the items on the menu. Much creativity.
(Can someone translate?? :))
Beautiful wood decor inside and OUTDOOR SEATING!! woot woot
goi cuon rolls( Spring rolls here in VA) - very tasty
the Bun noodle dinner was really good. I don't normally throw in the fish sauce but did - really added to the taste. in a good way
Presentation was very nice. Service friendly and attentive.
Tyler Cowen says this is the best Vietnamese in the area, so I was very excited to go to Present. We had the "Silken Shawl" imperial rolls, the golden crepes and the pork with vermicelli. All of the menu items have rather strange names like, Cow Dancing to Abba in Movie with Meryl Streep or Pork Piggies Prancing in Paradise with Good Fortune Sauce. Those might not be exactly right, but expect to be amused by the menu.
The person that wrote the menu probably is in charge of the music as well. Probably the worst Muzak I have ever heard in a restaurant, and maybe even an elevator...
Back to the food. The imperial rolls are good -- but certainly not as good as Four Sisters in its prime -- same with the pork, doesn't match the Four Sisters Hanoi Pork. The crepe really lacked flavor and seasoning. That all being said, the food was well prepared and seemed quite light -- lots of vegetables. Very generous in terms of lettuce and herbs -- and lots of cucumber and carrot and sprouts as well.
Cowen strongly recommends the whole fish -- and says many of the dishes show their French influences. Perhaps my expectations were a bit inflated given his tagging this best Vietnamese in the area. I thought it was quite good, though not sure I would return given all of the great Vietnamese options in the area.
One day, I was driving along Route 50 and lo and behold, I noticed that Bi Won (Secret Garden) was closed! As I mourned the Korean restaurant that used to be here (though it wasn't that notable), I turned my attention to the interloper that replaced it: Present Vietnamese Restaurant.
So, armed with two friends to help me with my revenge (we had our forks ready), we invaded Present. We were greeted promptly, and the staff was exceedingly pleasant while they seated us and cheerfully gave us recommendations on what to try. These recommendations were needed, because the amount of flowery language on the menu was borderline ridiculous. Who knows what "Shrimp in a Fresh Ocean" was? Fortunately, the descriptions clarified what each dish was. We ordered and the food started its onslaught.
Spring rolls (known as summer rolls at other Vietnamese restaurants) were made with shrimp and tasty pieces of pork. Autumn rolls were pork and shrimp filling encased in noodles and fried. Wrapped in lettuce and herbs and dipped in fish sauce, it was both herby and delicious.
Duck in a Tamarind Basket was not crispy as advertised, but the sweet and sour sauce was well balanced and went well with the tender duck. Shaken beef was fresher and more flavorful than the version at Four Sisters. The watercress accompanying the beef was crisp and the beef itself was not overcooked. The deep fried rockfish was the highlight in presentation, placed on a large dish served whole. The fish was well fried and not greasy, and the meat was still juicy. The ginger fish sauce had a little bit of heat to it, and added just the right amount of flavor to the deep fried fish.
The prices at Present were comparable to other Vietnamese restaurants (within $15-20 per person), though the whole rockfish was considerably more expensive than the other dishes. Service was prompt and attentive.
Defeated in our attempt to overcome Present Vietnamese Restaurant, we retreated to Baskin Robbins to plan our next attempt at obtaining retribution for Bi Won's closure. Along with my friends, I'm sure I'll go to Present again and again and again in order to do that.
Very very good cha gio re - crispy spring rolls on the appetizers list.
Service and atmosphere is superb - everyone is nice. Food is good but not AMAZING. But I would go back. Be careful in the bathroom there is a surprising step you might trip and die otherwise you are good to go. Okay that is all. =)
Woulda been a 5er if they hadn't messed up a bit with Michelle D's order, but overall, Present made a great first impression on me.
I met up with a great group of Yelpers for a delicious meal: Tony, Brendan, Thuy and Michelle D. Thuy and Tony took charge of the app orders, and did a magnificent job. They were all delicious.
Somehow I wound up with two giant platefuls of food. The first plate was a generous portion of seafood mixed with steamed veggies served over a bed of vermicelli noodles and covered in a subtle seafood sauce. I wish I could remember the name of it - overall, the seafood was delicious but the sauce was a bit bland.
My main entree was called "Cow on the Open Field * Bò lúc lc" which is described on the menu as 'marinated tenderized beef cubes "shaken" in high flames on top of fresh watercress and sliced onions'. This stuff was incredibly delicious, served with salt, pepper and lime for seasoning, and side of steamed rice. Excellent!
For dessert we all shared some sort of banana-filled roll which was pretty good, but I will probably try their caramel custard or mango cheesecake next time.
4.5 stars - great food, great prices and a very casual yet slightly stylish ambience. Happy Dining!
3.5 stars
A friend and i decided to try this place out for lunch today. The first thing i noticed was the crazy names on the menu. Being vietnamese, i have never seen dishes called what they are called here. I give them 5 stars for creativity.
Overall, i ordered the cow working in the field? Something like that... its their version of marinated beef cubes. Going to a lot of vietnamese restaurants this is one of my favorite dishes. The beef was good. Not great. i think for me it was a little overly seasoned and overly cooked but it still tasted great. My friend had the (i forgot the menu name) but the shrimp fried rice. That was really good,
Of all the vietnamese places that i've been to, the presentation of food at this place is awesome. It's so pretty. I will definitely be coming back to try more of their dishes. I'm hoping something can really wow me so that i can give it a higher rating.
YUM! Four and a half yums!
I look forward to the Washington Post's weekend magazine for three reasons: Date Lab (that amusing sociological experiment); the Sunday crossword (to exercise the old gray matter); and Tom Seitsema's dining reviews. A couple months ago I found myself salivating over -- and re-reading, and re-reading -- his glowing review of Present Restaurant. Seitsema gave it three stars...if you read his column regularly, you know what a rare tribute three stars is for him! I decided I had to try this place -- not just because I trust Seitsema, but because he'd reviewed a restaurant actually located in my neck of the woods for a change!
Pulling up to Present's unassuming strip-mall storefront, I knew not to judge as many of my preferred dining establishments in the DC area are located in strip-malls. When you step inside Present, you almost forget where you are - the tiny outside belies a deceptively large dining room, decorated with bamboo screens covering wallpaper with photographs of bamboo behind it. A koi pond with lily pads rounds out the Asian decor. Not as tacky as it sounds; it actually makes kind of a soothing, sylvan impression.
Opening the menu, the first thing you notice is how extensive and varied it is. The second thing you notice is that you're giggling because of the funny and descriptive names they've given their dishes: "Rich Folks Golden Crepes," "Resting Steer on Haystack," "Hard Working Piglet," "Wicked Wishes," "Green Enchanting Flutes..." Half the fun is reading the menu.
The other half is eating that delicious, exotic, interesting, perfectly-prepared and seasoned food. Autumn rolls are filled with a succulent mixture of shrimp and pork, nicely spiced, and wrapped in a delicate, lacy lattice of rice thread. The summer and spring rolls are equally delicious and prepared with an equal attention to detail to flavor. All are served with a yummy and different dipping sauce. "Smoky Petal" is an interesting mix of baby clams and spices, served in a rice cracker bowl for breaking off and scooping up the chewy, mouth-watering mix. "Jewel Green Papaya" is a salad of crunchy green papaya, shredded thin, served with a tangy, spicy dressing and topped with thin slices of tasty beef jerky and beef liver jerky -- so good. My favorite dish on the menu is "Mosaic Pathway," cellophane noodles with egg, veggies, and jumbo lump crab meat, enough crab meat to thoroughly satisfy, and served with a lovely, savory dipping sauce. Also delicious is "Basking on a Sandy Beach," soft-shell crab with a salt-and-pepper seasoning that doesn't overwhelm the flavor of the nicely prepared, wonderfully textured crab. Friends of mine have really enjoyed "Northern Gentleman," a fried rice with shrimp and veggies, topped with beautiful, deep-garnet pork ribs. "Tuna Swimming in a Mango Grove," fried tuna with shredded mango, delivered a powerful and flavorful punch. The crispy whole fried fish has the perfect crunchy coating and leaves the fish moist and tender. Nothing we've sampled here has disappointed. And after our first impressive meal, we returned again later in the same week. We've added Present to our list of DC favorites!
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Tom Seitsema, for highlighting this awesome restaurant and compelling me to try it. And thank YOU, Present, for living up to the hype!
The husband and I ventured out here after reading the three-star review by Tom Sietsema. We figured all that praise deserved a look-see, and we were not disappointed. I haven't had Vietnamese food this good since my last trip to Houston.
I ordered the pork bun and my husband ordered the Lightning Squid. My bun was full of fresh, crunch veggies and looked so colorful and beautiful that I just wanted to gaze at it for a while. It tasted as good as it looked. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the pork was bbq'ed to perfection. My husband's squid was delicious. The sauce was spicy and sweet and the dish full of veggies.
In addition to the delish food, the service was excellent. The waitstaff was incredibly warm and attentive without being intrusive. We can't wait to make another trip, soon.
Excellent food. Magnificent presentation. Do you want more? This gem is unfortunately tucked into a crummy looking strip shopping center just off Arlington Boulevard, right across the street from a Honda place, at Annandale Road. But the important thing, the food, was delicious, fresh and served as beautifully as in any five-star restaurant.
We had the sour soup with vegetables, whole Rockfish crisped, delicious jumbo shrimp, a uniquely wrapped pork roll that I had never seen before, carmelized salted fish and a wonderful shrimp/mango salad served in a carved out pineapple. Five hungry people ate dinner and had tea and two beers for $125, without wine.
This is the best Vietnamese food I have had in Northern Virginia. Spectacular meals with parking right in front if you come for dinner, and it is both clean and pretty inside. Oh, and did I mention that the people I took to dinner were Vietnamese? They loved it!!!
This is the place to go if you want Vietnamese food in a nice sit down restaurant. The decor was nice and tranquil with lots of dark color wood. The owner liked to offer suggestions and took great care in making sure there will be return customers. The price is similar to Four Sisters, however, I think Present's food is more authentic.
The caramel pork was salty (perhaps, too salty), sweet, and a little bit spicy from the black peppers. There were little pieces of lardon adding even more flavor to the dish. The fried shrimp dish I got was coated with a mixture of salted egg yolk and flour. It tasted similar to the corn and egg dish from Hong Kong Palace. The lotus root salad was nice and refreshing with large size fresh shrimp. The ingredients are high quality and the presentation is a little over the top (lots of carved vegetables and fruits), which explains the higher price tag than places in Eden center. I especially liked the autumn roll, which was fried spring roll with a crispy vermicelli like coating, something I haven't seen before.
Present is an upscale Vietnamese restuarant that does a good job of plating solid Vietnamese fare with a decorative twist. I have had many dishes here. The banh beo is my favorite. It comes in little dishes and has a piece of fried pork fat on top. I have also had the pineapple fried rice which was a little too peppery for my liking. Try this place for a break from the hustle and bustle of the Eden center. Its solid Vietnamese food.
I stopped by this restaurant during my visit to the D.C. area for the Inauguration. We saw the Grand Opening sign and thought it would be a nice place to sit an eat. And it was. The decor of the place is really nice and a bit unexpected since it's in a strip mall. Then when we looked through the menu and the many options they had, we knew we picked the right place for dinner.
We started off with some ginger tea. Then we had a couple appetizers, # 1 and #3 and # 10. The egg roll wrapped in vermicelli noodles were especially delicious. Then we ordered #29, #50, and #72 for the main entrees. All were superb and presented so beautifully. Coming from Orange County, I can safely say I know Vietnamese food well, and this was excellent!
As for the prices, they are very reasonable. For all the items we ordered, the toal came to about $50. Good deal, and if you want, you can got to the foot massage place next door for "desert".
came here with good friend and fellow yelp face Courtney to get our Viet on. kept hearing great things bout this place from other yelpers.
it was good. solid food. nothing spectacular for me, though. i ordered my staple shrimp garden rolls (no pork). i've had better at multiple pho spots. but it was clean and the greens inside were fresh. the accompanying peanut sauce was lacking in flavor, which was surprising.
for my main entree, originally wanted to try their gumbo with vermicelli noodles but the waiter steered me away from that to try another seafood noodle soup not on their menu that he thought i'd like better. it ended up being decent but the noodles were soggy and way over cooked. although the broth was extremely tasty and spicy, the seafood was lacking as well (there was hardly any shrimp and squid). almost felt like homeboy hooked me up with the roundeye version of a soup while all the slant eye got to enjoy the 'authentic' version.
for dessert, we shared the ginger ice cream. it was actually quite yummy with nice little chunks of shaved ginger inside.
this place was definitely decent, but would rather head to Eden Center for my intake of all things Vietnamese. won't be back here unless a friend picks this spot and they're paying.
We stopped in here for Mother's Day, there were balloons everywhere, and tons of kids running around. It was a beautiful day, and a great meal. The Silken Shawl Imperial Autumn Roll * Cha giò re were different from the standard rolls, and I enjoyed the crunchy rice noodles wrapped around the exterior. It was a nice take on the standard cha gio. They call their Shaken Beef "Wandering Cow" * Com bò lúc lac and there wasn't a spot of sauce left after ten minutes. The Duck in Tamarind Basket * Vit sot me Crispy duck (half ) marinated in Chef special tamarind sauce was more than enough and took me the longest of anyone to finish at the table. I found the Fish in Shallow Water * Cá kho to Caramelized fish fillets cooked in a clay pot a bit too salty for my taste, and the Fish in the Tropical Garden * Cá kho thom Sautéed mackerel with pineapple cooked in a clay pot was a tad on the sweet side.
A few people made comments that the presentation reminded them of a recent trip to Vietnam, with fancy garnishes. The staff were very professional and courteous. For the price, the food and presentation are great. I've had better tasting Vietnamese food, but this place is a solid bet, particularly if you don't want to deal with the parking madness of Eden Center.
Atmosphere : From the outside, the restaurant is easily missed. Inside is an obvious effort to up the game in the Vietnamese restaurant business. Waiters wear ties, the hostess wears the traditional dress, and the owner/manager is in a full suit. Decor is theatrical. Patrons wear casual clothing (from Sportsjacket to shorts)
Service : attentive and friendly (which is not usually the case with Asian restaurants). worthy of a 20% tip.
Food : Since the titles have nothing to do with the food, I will have to give you the Asian titles
Cha Gio - , I've never had eggroll skins like this anywhere in the entire U.S., , worth the try
Vit - Duck in Tamarind - the sauce is what makes this dish, not so sure about having the dish served as duck legs, this dish would be better off with duck breast sliced
Heo Kho - Caramelized Pork - Americans may like this dish for the sweetness, but a majority of Vietnamese folks know how to make it at home so it's not a dish you would pay for at the restaurant, pork was on the dry side - thumbs down
Canh Chua - sour soup with shrimp or fish (your choice), celery, pineapple, okra, tomatoes, brussel sprouts - a pretty good soup compared to other restaurants who try to make this soup
Dessert - Fried Bananas - very good as well but a bit too much coconut which made it slightly salty - not sure if coconut goes well with bananas, they may want to try other fruits to complement the bananas or perhaps consider ice cream. Best to ask to have the coconut on the side instead of on the bananas.
Jasmine tea
1 coconut drink - needed more sugar
Price : 1 appetizer, 3 entrees, 1 dessert , 1 coconut drink -
TOTAL $ 66 - $ 20 + $3 tip times 3 people
June 2009
Would I return : Yes. A great value. Beats Four Sisters in service, attitude, and food.. I commend the owner for creating a unique restaurant experience.
Not the best Vietnamese restaurant, then again, I haven't found the best Vietnamese restaurant anywhere on the East Coast yet.
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visit #2
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2 entrees, 1 appetizer - total $30 + $6 tip
once again excellent service that you would expect from a more expensive restaurant
Appetizer - Benh Beo : it's good - mini plain flour cakes with dried shredded shrimp and fried onions served with sweet and sour sauce
Entree - Eggplant Vegan dish - served with fried scallions and fried onions and you can dress it with soy sauce - I did not like this dish compared to other eggplant dishes I've had elsewhere, this one just lacked flavor - thumbs down
Entree - Fried rice with shrimp and crab over a crispy bird's nest shell - the waiter claimed that the chef's fried rice is on steroids - I don't usually order fried rice at a restaurant or take-out - but have to give the chef credit for creativity - the rice was moist and light unlike most dehydrated fried rice you would get at your local chinese take out, shrimp was dry, and fried shell was delicious - if you tend to order fried rice when you eat at an Asian restaurant, then this dish is for you
which of the 3 dishes would I order again - only the Benh Beo
June 2009 - 2nd visit
From a looks point of view, this Vietnamese restaurant is a grade above the competition. Though located in a nondescript shopping plaza next to a Merchants Tire store, its interior is newly renovated with soft lighting, nice artwork, and a soothing fountain. However, the same cannot be said about its food and service.
Service leaves a lot to be desired, given that the restaurant is new and the kinks have yet to be all worked out. The owner readily admitted that the place was opened before it was really ready (for example, it had yet to receive its liquor license and only had 9 "temporary" menus for the entire restaurant!). The day we were there, the restaurant was full, with several large parties, and the wait staff seemed to be overwhelmed. A request for a glass of hot water ("no, not ice water, and not hot tea either") had our waiter completely flummoxed. Likewise, there seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to the long wait between some dishes and why others were all brought to the table at the same time.
The restaurant boasts of some signature dishes, such as the Seafood salad, beautifully presented in a hollowed-out pineapple, and special Re Spring Rolls, made of banh hoi wrapping instead of the usual rice paper. The seafood salad appetizer, barely enough for two to share, was the only dish worth ordering. The Whole Fried Fish was tough instead of crispy and was left unfinished, a rarity for us seafood lovers. Similarly, the grilled eggplant was ho-hum and the Fish soup with Dill was nothing to write home about.
All in all, the food wasn't anything better than what one can whip up at home (actually, worse), and the portions were too meager to justify the prices. If you want to bring non-VN guests to a VN restaurant with a relatively nice decor, or for large family celebrations, this is an OK restaurant. But if you're after excellent and reasonably priced VN cuisine, this place doesn't cut it..
Passed this place a few weeks ago while driving down Rt 50 and finally remembered today to go try it. First off the shopping center its located in is kinda dingy, but when you walk in it looks completely different. All new furniture, really nice decorations, a little Zen fountain, really surprised at how nice it was once I walked in. We were greeted and sat immediately, I ordered Vermecelli noodles with grilled pork and spring rolls. While waiting I guess they thought our food was taking awhile(I did not notice) so they brought us some summer rolls at no charge; which I thought was awesome. Shortly after finishing the rolls our food arrived, the pork and spring rolls were perfect. The pork had amazing flavor, the only issue was that my noodles were a little undercooked but did not stop me from eating them all.
The service was excellent. There was always someone there refilling our water and making sure we were eating off a clean table. The menu contained about 20 different items, including appts. and main courses, thought that came up a little short. Also they do not have Pho, so you'll have to try other options if that is what you are looking for. All and all I will return here, I am sure they will get the noodles cooked properly next time, then I can bump them up to 4 stars.
Falls Church, VA
Category: Vietnamese
Falls Church, VA
Category: Middle Eastern
Falls Church, VA
Category: Vietnamese
Falls Church, VA
Category: Vietnamese
Falls Church, VA
Category: Vietnamese
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