Home > Des Moines Restaurants > Editorial Review > Editorial Datebook Review: A Dong

BY MARY CHALLENDER * REGISTER STAFF WRITER
May 22, 2008

Scene: Located on the west edge of downtown, A Dong has been a staple for people living in the Sherman Hill area since 1989. Inside, the restaurant area is one spacious, light-filled room with the walls covered by large paintings and photographs of groups of people dining. The atmosphere is low-key. Most of the families, young couples and tables of old friends gathered at A Dong on a recent Friday night were casually dressed.

Service is fast, professional and very inobtrusive. The waiter kept our water glasses filled and whisked away empty plates but didn't stop to chat. Diners who like lots of interaction with their server may feel ignored. I thought it was the perfect level of service.

Food: What brings people back to A Dong is the Vietnamese food and, for many, the expansive vegetarian menu. Not feeling especially adventurous, I went with my two favorites: stir-fried beef curry and an order of spring rolls. My companions were first-timers so they had the entire 182 selections to choose from. One chose the stir-fried squid with tomatoes; the other a tofu and vegetable curry soup. All three of us were sure what we ordered was the best, the hallmark of a very consistent menu.

My companions also took me into an area of the menu I hadn't explored - the beverages. One ordered a coconut drink with the glass lined with large slices of coconut. The other ordered bubble tea, a coconut-flavored concoction filled with dark tapioca pearls that you suck up through a wide straw. Both drinks were as tasty and refreshing as they were unusual.

Leftovers: Half the soup, 1spring rolls (we ordered three orders of two), and half the beef curry.

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