Long Provincial Vietnamese Restaurant

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Lorna Yee

Joined 3 years ago

Citysearch Editorial Review. Long Provincial was designed for the Belltown reveler in mind—its upscale trappings (Asian upholstered couch, dark wood screens, and crimson walls), moderately priced cocktails and finger foods provide just what you need for a boisterous night on the town. The extensive menu, much like sister restaurant Tamarind Tree, focuses on modern Vietnamese food: innovative dishes include fried baguette slices and prawns, served with hoisin and chili sauce share and more classic offerings like pho and banh xeo, a crisp rice-batter pancake filled with savory pork and bean sprouts. Plenty of veggie-friendly options are also available, and many of the curries and stir-fries come with a tofu option. Reasonable prices, speedy service and full-flavored fare explain the packed room of downtown workers there on their lunch break. When the sun sets, Long Provincial attracts a well-heeled, largely young and stylish clientele sipping Tamarind fizzes and nibbling on Saigon meatball satays.

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freef

Joined 4 years ago

Class it up with authentic Vietnamese. I've noticed in the past couple years a Pho craze in Seattle, its trendiness evident by the Pho restaurants that have chosen to play kitsche with their name (although I have a theory that may be in part to get us all to learn how to pronounce "Pho" correctly). I digress...

Now that you've jumpd on the Pho bandwagon, it's time to branch out a bit and experience other Vietnamese cuisine--it's not all about noodle soup. Long Provincial is simply some of the best I've had in this city or any other.

Once you find the restaurant (the street signage is very un-assuming, so just try every door on the corner of 2nd/Stewart--you're bound to find it by the 4th try), and once you get through the menu of Magna Carta proportions (just take the server's recommendations if you're overwhelmed), you'll be in heaven. I've been several times and some things that stick out:

Butter Garlic Chicken Wings: un-battered, fried chicken wings served with a finger-licking butter sauce and bits of fried garlic. and of course, dipping sauce. <drool>

Braised Coconut Beef: very tender beef, carmelized to the point of no return, with soft coconut chunks (not pieces, CHUNKS)

Cocktails: to match the decor, the cocktails here are swanky and complex. but tasty, for sure, like the Ginger Cosmopolitan.

Decor: you could easily take a date--it's tastefully decorated, dim-lit, and even on the romantic side. At the same time, like most things in Seattle, completely casual.

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Chelsea Lin

Joined 6 years ago

Citysearch Editorial Review. Tamarind Tree's sister resto provides downtown diners with a swanky environment to enjoy classic Vietnamese cuisine at reasonable prices.