Fodor's Expert Review Stateside

Low lights, ceiling fans, and palm-patterned wallpaper combine with weathered gold fixtures to evoke a sense of Vietnam with nearly the same precision as the chef’s rendition of bun cha Hanoi. The setting transports, while the food impresses: great Vietnamese food isn’t hard to find around town, but chef Eric Johnson brings an outsider’s playfulness—as well as a pedigree at Michelin-starred restaurants—to the cuisine. Vietnamese coffee finds its way into frozen treats and tropical cocktails find their ways into coconuts, but what’s most impressive is the sheer amount of flavor—through technique, herbs, and spices—that Johnson packs into each of his dishes. These drinks are the focus at next-door sibling bar, Foreign National.