Saigon On Fifth   

I chose to spend my birthday dinner at Saigon on Fifth, even though I had never been to this fairly new night spot. I was very familiar with Pat, the owner, who has always been a mainstay, a grand personality and ultra professional in all of his restaurant endeavors, so I knew it was not going to be a dissappointment. We had a table of 12 and were seated on the patio, just outside the main dining area, where the underlit marble countered bar majestically glows and were delighted by the atmosphere, fine service and upscale Vietnamese fare. All of the appetizers are worth sharing, as each has a different approach to tantalizing one's palate but my favorites were the sugar cane shrimp and the imperial rolls. The wine list is surprisingly reasonable and includes an awesome Monterey County Claret, several meritage varietals while a full bar is also available. Our tables entrees included the vinegar fondue, where plates of assorted raw meats & seafood were brought tableside and cooked by dipping each selection into a bubbling, sweetly smooth and savory broth. The crab fried rice was also a superb selection that delicately lingers in your psyche, well after the meal has ended. We also chose a beef dish, that we grilled ourselves, then wrapping fresh vegetables and the beef into soft rice paper rolls. Nothing short of amazing is Saigon on Fifth! The menu is extensive and reasonably priced, even when filet mignon is used for many of the beef dishes, so it's a treat not to be missed by fans of fresh, delicious and authentic Pacific Rim gourmet inspired cuisine. We will be back, of that I am sure!

Absolutely a gem. Amazing quality seafood. The spicy crab fried rice actually had succulent full meat claws in it. Chilean Seabass is not my favorite but is great with Asian Tamarind. Everything flavorful from garlic to sweet and sour. Am a huge ethnic food fan, be it fusions like Indigo Grill or Bombay Exotic Indian & this is the new place I dream about at night.