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All Reader Reviews of...
Silent H
79 Berry St., Brooklyn, NY, 11211
at N. 9th St.
718-218-7063
| 7.1 | "Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Fave Vietnamese in Williamsburg
sarahf from 11211 | Posted on 7/28/09
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I'm lucky to live around the corner from Silent H. It's not only my lunch/dinner haunt, but the place I go for coffee and a quiet read. The Banh minh is always good, spring rolls they way they're meant to be, all the flavors are succulent. While it may be a couple bucks more than Banh Minh 172, the quality of the sandwich at Silent H, the meat especially, trumps 172. All the wait staff is extremely helpful, always polite, really friendly. At night the place, the patio in back, becomes a romantic and quiet date spot.
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amazingly delicious, succulent food
youdontsay from 11211 | Posted on 12/4/08
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Every time I eat at Silent h I end up dreaming about the meal I had for the next few days. The food is truly delicious. Don't pass up the shrimp street toast appetizer or the beef stew entree--trust me--or the simple but incredibly flavorful classic banh mi. The staff are super friendly and easy-going and chef/owner Vinh Nguyen's ability to pair wine with food is uncanny. This is an amazing restaurant run by a young guy with a fierce passion for food.
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Naysayers, time to revisit!
privateparty from 92648 | Posted on 6/24/08
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I felt the need to sign up for an account just after reading these horribly misled and one-sided reviews. I've been to Silent H frequently since they first came to the neighborhood and consider myself a "regular." I know every single dish they have ever had on the menu (which does change seasonally) and have tried nearly all of them, all of which I feel comfortable giving the highest recommendation. Vinh (the chef/owner) extracts most his recipes from his mom, if not directly, and is able to balance the original recipe and true flavors of the dish with simple, but beautiful plating. And for those that complain about service, this is rarely a valid complaint unless the servers truly ruin your meal. As for me, I know that the original staff has nearly remained the same since Day 1, always a good sign for both customers and the restaurant. I feel compelled to share an enthusiast's opinion, and everyone I've brought here have loved their food. That's as varied as my (Vietnamese) family, friends, and even business associates. This place is well-rounded, delicious, friendly, & completely affordable.
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creative and delicious
bengoshi from 85730 | Posted on 1/16/08
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I had both lunch and dinner and was impressed. For lunch, I had the grilled pork banh mi with an espresso. The Polish baguette was tasty and the grilled meat was flavorful. I also had dinner here with 8 friends, half of them vegetarians. We all agreed that the food was cheap for its gourmet quality. It seems, the only negative opinions were from readers that wanted and expected the typical, cafeteria-like restaurants of Chinatown. Those reviews are wrong, ignorant and try to pigeon-hole Vietnamese food into a box that the chef has obviously broken out of. This place is authentic Vietnamese with an innovative, gourmet twist. The chef's interpretations of traditional dishes are as refreshing as the ingredients he uses. The dinner menu is short (but sufficient), and there are many good beers. Some things we tried included the snapper, vegetarian crepe, lemon-grass chicken noodles, and meatballs. Everything was delicious--I especially enjoyed the shrimp street toast, beef carpacio and fried banana dessert. This restaurant is my new favorite (second is the Spotted Pig). Come with an open mind and you may agree that this place is an achievement in gourmet Vietnamese cuisine.
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Bland
Missmakro from 11211 | Posted on 5/29/07
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I went here due to several positive reviews and a friend's recommendation. I was looking forward to having a Vietnamese place in the neighborhood. But even the current BYOB policy won't lure me back. I had ordered the special of the day, grilled fish. Well, it was not grilled, it was pan seared, and it lacked any type of seasoning. You know the food ain't good when no one at the table is commenting on it. The 3 friends I was with also had bland experiences. And the portions are on the small side as well. At the end we were pretty much kicked out by the chef or manager because they could not wait to close the place. What a way for a new restaurant to attract customers...
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Such a disappointment!
shawly from 10025 | Posted on 4/14/07
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Went for dinner after hearing rave reviews. My friend and I were extremely disappointed in the food -- it was neither inventive nor particularly tasty. By the end of the meal, we were comforting ourselves with the reassurance, "Well, at least it wasn't too expensive." If you're hoping for daring and interesting Vietnamese, lower your expectations...
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Casually Sound Vietnamese
nycbelly77 from 11217 | Posted on 4/10/07
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Okay, so I've been to Silent H twice for lunch and three times for dinner and it keeps getting better every time. For starters, I like the atmostphere with its Vietnamese flair set in a casual, hangout type setting. The servers are really friendly although, at times, they lack the attentiveness that an nyc diner might expect. The banh mi is superb. I've tasted banh mi throughout NYC as well as in Vietnam and Silent H's banh mi is way up there, both in freshness and flavor. The appetizers are playful and savory, as are the entrees. The papaya salad & pork chop are my favorite. I'd highly recommend Silent H to anyone who's interested in a authentically inspired Vietnamese feast for lunch or dinner.
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Order out, and give them time...
gabeiv from 10003 | Posted on 4/9/07
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I've only ordered from the "street shop" lunch menu, and aside from the food itself, the experience was quite disappointing. Silent H does not seem to know a thing about service. For example, patrons order from the counter and seat themselves, yet a woman came and poured the bottle of water that two of my party were sharing into four glasses without asking. This would be a minor annoyance only, except that it was the only attention we received from the staff. They brought half of our party's sandwiches a full 20 minutes before the others, and even the first round of sandwiches took a notably long time to deliver. When we were finally finished with our sandwiches (which cost more and weren't as good as the ones from Nicky's on 2nd & A), we got up and payed at the counter. What do you tip there? If it isn't immediately clear, chances are that the service was wrong.
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Not Good
BadService7 from 11222 | Posted on 3/31/07
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Go there to eat and you will see the irony of describing this guy as involved in the "hospitality" business. He was extremely rude to us. The food is too expensive for what it is. I don't know why places like this end up brainstorming so hard about the atmosphere - if you don't have a clue about basic customer service and the owner comes out to shout at people, it doesn't amount to a hill of beans... or spring rolls.
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