By JODI WESTRICK
Observer Staff
March 5, 2007

The restaurant doesn’t look like much from the outside. But inside, the Vietnam Georgetown Restaurant is a cozy, bustling dining room. A wall of mirrors makes the room look larger than it is. The decorations looked like they had been around forever, but added to the personality of the place.

Observer photo by JODI WESTRICK
Crispy rolls: $4.95.

I’ve walked past this restaurant dozens of times on shopping excursions to Georgetown, but never stopped. Last weekend my roommate and I were in the area and decided to try it out.

My roommate’s quest has been to get me to try as many new foods as possible – she succeeded again by introducing me to Vietnamese cuisine, which she described as a lighter option to Chinese.

We ordered an appetizer of crispy rolls ($4.95) and were pleasantly surprised. Filled with pork, onions and a sort of rice noodle, the outside crispy layer is unlike anything I’ve ever had before. It came with a light, sweet sauce that complemented the flavors inside the roll. The pork was just right – a strong flavor accented by the onions. We had contemplated ordering summer rolls - similar to the crispy rolls but with a raw rice paper outer layer - but were glad we chose the crispy rolls instead.

Observer photo by JODI WESTRICK
Chicken Pho: $7.95.

My roommate had been craving lemongrass beef and settled on that dish ($12.45) before entering the restaurant. I could see why – the beef was well-cooked (any longer on the grill and it would have been overdone) and tasted of lemongrass and smoke. The dish was light and delicious and came with a side of rice. I almost wish I had ordered it instead.

I decided to try a traditional Vietnamese dish – chicken pho ($7.95), or Hunai chicken rice noodle soup. There wasn’t much to the dish – it was just chicken broth, rice noodles, cilantro, green onions and chicken. The soup came with sides of plum and hot sauces. I added a bit of hot sauce, which added some flavor to the dish. Although simple, the dish was big and filling.

Observer photo by CINDY CERQUITELLA
Lemongrass Beef: $12.45.

Overall, the meal at Vietnam Georgetown Restaurant was good. I think the next time I’ll order a dish off the “chef’s specialties” section of the menu rather than the soup, just because the restaurant has much more to offer. It wasn’t too expensive, and the service was quick. The menu is lengthy, so be ready to spend some time deciding between many delicious options.

Vietnam Georgetown Restaurant is located at 2934 M St. NW. The nearest Metro stop is Foggy Bottom on the blue and orange lines, but be ready to walk for about 20 minutes. Consider taking the Circulator bus, which drives down M Street and through the heart of Georgetown.