An Nam — Restaurant in Somerville

Conveniently located in the newly developed A’ssembly Row area, a few steps from MBTA station, An Nam Restaurant at 310 Foley Street, Somerville, is a delightful spot for Vietnamese cuisine with some modern twists. The ambiance strikes a neat balance between traditional Indochina architecture and contemporary design, though the bright lighting could benefit from a dimmer switch to create a cozier dining experience. The extensive menu caters to various dietary needs and includes hard-to-dishes , such as conch salad, promising a culinary journey through Vietnam’s flavors. According to the staff, the venue can host 70-80 patrons.

Overall Score: 4/5 Food and Drinks: 3.5/5; Service: 3.5/5; Ambiance: 4/5; Cleanliness: 5/5

I ordered one of the An Nam Special Platters which featured some Central Vietnam’s delicacies ($30), including crispy rice cakes, steamed tapioca dumplings with caramelized shrimp and pork belly, steamed rice cakes, and fried cinnamon pork sausage. The shrimp-filled steamed rice cakes were well-seasoned, but their mushy texture suggested either oversteaming or a watery batter occurred when it was first cooked to hydrate and gelatinize the starches. The tapioca dumplings were chewy as expected but otherwise unremarkable. In an amusing twist, my order of fried wontons transformed into boneless fried chicken ($11)—an error I happily embraced. The fragrant fried chicken was expertly battered, crispy, and juicy, even the white meat, and paired perfectly with a small salad and a sweet and sour fish-sauce dressing that cut through the richness. For dessert, the banana ice cream ($5) was a nostalgic treat reminiscent of Saigon street food. The whipped cream added a light richness, balancing the coconut cream and ripe banana's sweetness. A sprinkle of crushed peanuts provided a pleasant crunch. The drink menu, offering a mix of traditional and modern options, included a refreshing salted lime soda ($8) and a visually stunning lychee blossoming cocktail ($14), complete with dry-ice smoke for a bit of theatrical flair. The wine menu is limited, which is understandable. I wish they offered some sparkling wine, which can pair well with Vietnamese food. Areas of Improvement While the staff were friendly and helpful, a bit more patience would improve the dining experience. Letting guests settle in before taking orders and confirming orders to avoid mix-ups would be beneficial. Additionally, refining the preparation of Central Vietnam delicacies, particularly addressing the oversteaming issue or achieving the right batter consistency and thickness with the rice cakes , would elevate the overall...

Came here to celebrate my husband 's birthday with friends. He saw it on Instagram and we wanted to check it out since the food looked so good. The ambience was stark and trying too hard. There were poor acoustics so it was pretty loud. The piped in new age instrumental music didn't help nor did it fit the vibe. Service was very slow and not friendly.

We had a bad start when at 6:45pm on a Friday night they were out of about a the third of key ingredients or dishes on the menu. For example they did not have the beef rib nor the ox tail that drew us to come. Seems like very poor planning on the chef's part. And the young wait staff were rude and had nothing to offer to help compensate. We were tempted to leave but were concerned that we would not get in at other places without a reservation on Friday night. We ordered but my husband never got his drink. When reminded there was no apology. The entres did not come out at the same so some of us were staring at each other since the pho would have gotten cold if had waited for everything to come out. One of our friends ordered tofu which we thought would have come out first. But he got it last which was unfortunate given that he has type 1 diabetes and had already taken his insulin. So he had to snack on the bean sprouts while waiting. I got the bun rieu, which was ok, rather skimp on ingredients and did not have the paste that is usually served with it so not completely authentic. Was a small bowl for $20. My husband got the pho although they don't have the special (all the meats) that is typical on vietnamese menus. He was resigned to getting 2 cuts only. It was mezzo since it needed docking up. The grilled meat appetizers and tofu were all on the sweet side which seems to be catering to American palate.

I appreciate that the Vietnamese restaurants are getting more mainstream and upscale now from the mom and pop places. But I can't say the experience was worth it. Give me mom and pop any day. Would...

I heard this new Vietnamese restaurant just opened at Assembly Row and I wanted to pay a visit. I actually saw pictures that my friends came here during the grand opening week and I had to try. The food caught my eyes with beautiful and traditional presentation.

The platter used a bamboo plate that I am pretty sure made and transported from Vietnam. They used banana leaves to put the food on top. From my understanding of Vietnamese cuisine, the banana leaves help keep the heat and the moist of the food as well as adding flavors. In Vietnam, it was often used back then as a cheap and "homy" food packaging method, but it is SO hard to find in the states, especially colder zone like New England. It shows the restaurant is very thoughtful about the little details.

My friend doesn't eat pork so our An Nam Fine Vermicelli Platter was altered a bit based on our needs. I love the noodle so much! It was just perfect!! There were variety of different protein options for this platter such as grilled shrimp, beef and chicken.

We also ordered BANH KHOT which is a plate with 6 little Vietnamese pancakes with a shrimp on top. Again, this is a time consuming dish to make at home and I loved it too much that I failed to take a picture prior to finishing it! Highly recommend. You cannot find this particular dish at MOST Vietnamese restaurants in Massachusetts.

The banana ice cream looks like was made from a traditional recipe with condensed milk, coconut and peanuts - the whip cream & chocolate part in top is not traditional, but it gave a presentation to the dish.

About the service, the staff were very tentative and welcoming. I waited for my friend for a while and they stopped by several times to ensure I was ok and whether I needed water or anything prior to my friend came. We ended up staying for a long time to catch up and it didn't bother them at all. They were very friendly!

Overall, I love the atmosphere, food, and service here! I will...