This restaurant is hard to spot it as is set back from the road and on a corner in the Oakmead Village shopping area. It is well worth seeking out - this meal was one of the best I have had during my visits to Silicon Valley. The seating is comfortable with a double row of benches down the centre and tables around the outside. The décor is tasteful and modern, with large front windows that give an airy feel to the room.

We arrived just after 12 noon on a Thursday and already the restaurant was filling up. I counted around 80 seats with over ¾ taken and more coming in.

We sat at a booth and despite the crowd, did not feel ‘hemmed in’. The waiting staff were obviously under pressure and service probably was a little slower than ideal. I felt that the staff coped well with the influx. They could so easily have ‘lost it’ but the floor manager kept a cool head and they managed to serve everyone with a smile. They got our order right and I did not observe any food being refused (wrong orders) or sent back (substandard cooking) which says volumes as to how well this team works together under pressure.

My only niggle is that the food arrived in stages. My friend ordered Spicy Gourmet Chicken and Indian Fried Rice. The chicken was soy meat cooked with lemongrass and the Indian Fried Rice contained curried fried rice, tofu, soy chicken, carrot, corn, green beans and coconut milk. They arrived separately with the chicken coming first. By the time her rice arrived the chicken was cold.

I am not sure if this is normal or the dishes arrived individually as the kitchen was so busy. On my next visit (yes I will definitely be back) if we order two items we intend to eat together I will ask that they are served at the same time. My friend said how lovely the chicken was and would be happy to eat this type of vegetarian food everyday - some compliment from a life-long carnivore!

I ordered a bowl of Rice Noodle Soup. It contained tofu, fried gluten, mixed vegetables (beansprout, Chinese cabbage, mushrooms) and rice noodles in a light stock. I then had the Vietnamese Crepe, billed as a speciality of the house, as I was simply curious. It lived up to my expectations and was quite delicious. The crepe itself was vegan and was filled with tofu, mushrooms, beansprouts and onion. All the dishes arrived pipping hot, something of a first (in my experience) when eating out in America.

All the portions were large, more than enough for two people to share. At the time of my visit they open every day and there is ample parking.

Reviewer Veggie Places