54 Restaurant Bar & Lounge — Restaurant in Fairfax

Dinned in April 12/13, 2 Consecutive meals. A few of us decided to try out 54 after hearing a few rumors suggesting it being decent. The food quality on April 12 was barely acceptable. Anyone could have enjoyed the same dishes from any nearby Vietnamese restaurants at a much budget friendly price. So yeah, 54 is definitely pricier with less than average food quality. The floor service staff was good though that evening. The food quality most definitely got worse the next day. The skin on the roast pork was as tough as plastic. If not careful one bite may just crack all your teeth. The terrible roast pork was $27 for 10 small pieces neatly stacked in a domino row fashion. That was outrageous. We ordered other dishes but the portions were all less than acceptable with less than average quality. That day, we celebrated a birthday with 2 buckets of Heinekens that included about 12-13, most of which were kept barely at slightly lower than room temperature. The warm beer was a turn-off. Finally, the bill came to about $405, tax and $61 gratuity included. So the bill was retired with $80 cash and splitting the remaining on 4 credit cards. But the manager decided the opposite despite our clear instruction.The manager decided to split the $405 evenly between 4 credit cards and kept the $80 cash, even though we asked that the $80 cash be deducted from the total bill before splitting the difference. In the end, we were still over charged by $4 on each credit card for the remainder of the bill, after some back and forth instruction demanding a correction. The final erroneous overcharge came to about $12. Though quite unhappy but everyone accepted the overcharge taking in a small comfort that at least the erroneous math did account for the $80 cash. I was not happy in the absence of a apology from the manager. He was arrogant and disrespectful enough to ignore us after our brief exchange as he never returned with our cards and the corrected bill with an apology. He should have apologized for the error he created. The overall unpleasantry from the less than average food quality and managers crappiest attitude has left us with deep regret. The only impression I would share now is if you want great quality Vietnamese food and thankful service for your patronages at a reasonable price, I highly recommend passing on this place. You can literally throw a dime down the street and hit 10 better Vietnamese restaurants with much better food quality at a budget friendlier price. Save your money and eat better by passing...

This restaurant is really big and spacious, with lots of tables. There is a stage in front for a special event or something, as we saw a poster for an upcoming event placed at the entrance.

We were searching for a nearby lunch spot and stumbled upon a new restaurant that piqued our interest. Upon entering, we were greeted by a spacious dining hall with numerous tables, which was unexpected. The establishment also boasted a sizable bar area near the entrance. The food we sampled was delightful, with the appetizers, including deep-fried Vietnamese rolls and skewers with chicken gizzards and hearts, truly standing out. However, the spiciness of the skewers caught us off guard, and it might be beneficial for the menu to include a note about their heat level. The beef stew with carrots was flavorful and slightly spicy, which may not cater to everyone's palate. On the other hand, the shaken beef was exceptional, showcasing impeccable seasoning and a delightful texture that was tender and juicy. The iced Vietnamese coffee and Taiwanese mango black tea were satisfyingly unsweetened, aligning perfectly with our preferences. Our server was attentive, checking in on us to ensure our needs were promptly addressed. Our experience at this newly established Vietnamese restaurant was thoroughly enjoyable, and we look forward to returning to explore more of their enticing...

This relatively new restaurant in Fair City Mall is located where the Old Country Buffer was years ago. As a result, it's a very spacious restaurant but the space has been beautifully renovated, with a large bar near the front entrance and a stage with music equipment for karaoke parties during the weekends.

The Vietnamese food here is very good overall and main course portions are on the generous side. We had excellent appetizers of Fried Chicken Wings with Fish sauce (6 for $12), and Nem Nuong Cuon (Pork Sausage Rolls). Our party tried several main dishes, and really liked the Mi Xao Gion (Crispy Fried Noodles) with Beef as well as the Vegetarian version; Hu Tieu Bo Vien; and Claypot Rice with Seafood (although it has much more squid than shrimp and scallops). We didn't care for the Mi Vit Tiem (Duck Noodle Soup) that took forever to come out and just wasn't up to par with a tough piece of duck leg instead of the expected tender braised duck leg. Service is friendly and attentive.

Parking is plentiful at the strip mall, but since the restaurant is in a corner of the mall, you may have to walk a bit...