RENTON, Wash. — Anchovies & Salt, a new restaurant on Renton's Lake Washington waterfront claims to be the biggest Vietnamese fine dining restaurant outside of Vietnam - for good reason. Owner Quyen Phan says it's to accommodate large families who want to dine together without waiting forever for a table. There's no place in the region that offers this kind of cuisine, and is this size. This place seats more than 400 folks and has a handful of rooms representing different parts of Vietnam. The rooms can all be rented out individually for celebrations. It's all designed to make anyone - especially someone from Vietnam - feel both at home, and like they're someplace special.
The food does the same thing, it's a mix of elevated, innovative creations and more traditional Vietnamese fare from 25-year-old Chef Francis Le, someone you'll likely be hearing more about as people discover this new gem of a restaurant.
"It's about representing our culture in a way where we feel it's deeply rooted in our blood," explained Phan. "When you eat something that transports you back home, sometimes it just gives me goosebumps, to see smiles on peoples faces."
The restaurant serves brunch, lunch and dinner, offerings range from fine dining innovations to more humble Vietnamese fare.
Golden pho pillows - fried square pho noodles with beef - are a specialty you'll find in Hanoi, and also, now, Renton.
Pho spiced short ribs get served cave-man style alongside a huge bone.
Flat iron steak and eggs are served with a sliced baguette for dipping, think deconstructed Bahn mi. And don't expect basil with the Northern sauteed Wagyu pho - it would obscure the flavor of the meat and broth.
Anchovies & Salt is named for the two ingredients in fish sauce, an important flavoring in Vietnamese cuisine, and about 40% of the menu features seafood. Fish Sour Soup, all manner of grilled oysters, and tiny, caramelized anchovies that packed a big flavor punch were some of the things Kim, Jim and Jose sampled.
Anchovies & Salt 1087 Lake Washington Blvd. N #50, Renton WA 98056. Open 7 days a week, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday/Saturday. (425) 970-3154
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