Allendale Park Neighborhood Has a New and Authentic Restaurant

by Steve Reuss

West of Hwy. 580, in the Allendale Park neighborhood, is a relatively new Lao/Thai/Vietnamese restaurant, the Vientian Caf?. It is named for the capital of Laos and is a small, very clean, caf?-style, neighborhood place to get good food. Transported with very few changes from a neighborhood in Vietnam, it is staffed by family members who serve, prepare, and freshly cook every dish. I am not an aficionado of this cuisine so was pleased on a couple of my visits to have friends go along who know these delicate flavors. One had actually lived in Vietnam. They found the dishes and sauces rich in taste, flavorful, and they were impressed with the authenticity of the preparation. Some dishes are slightly modified due to the unavailability of traditionally Southeastern Asia-grown produce in Oakland markets. On one occasion we asked if there was a specialty of the restaurant. The waitress told us the lad nah. It is a beef-broth-based stew with vegetables and wide noodles that offers a choice of meats or seafood combination. The seafood combination is filled with seasonal shrimps, crab meat, squid, and fish, as are all of the seafood plates. The menu has six pages of entr?es including vegetarian dishes to choose from, priced in the $5-8.00 range, more in the lower amount. The portions are large and easily shared with one or two other diners. The Vientian Caf? also carries a large selection of imported drinks, pastries, and other Southeast Asian packaged goods. Try the refreshing basil-seed sweet bottled drink. There is lots of activity in the caf? with other diners, take-out orders picked up, and lively discussion in many languages. They do not have a beer or liquor license, so if you want an alcoholic beverage, bring your own. The Vientian Caf?, 3801 Allendale Ave., at 38th Ave. Phone 535-2218. Open every day, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.