Viet BBQ rides again!
Chinatown's venerable Vietnam Restaurant has a little sister now, Vietnam Cafe, a slender, stylish room already winning fans in West Philadelphia. We're happy to report that its grilled barbecue platter measures up to the high bar set by the original - a wooden platter heaped with marinated chicken, skewered pork meatballs, crispy spring rolls, and grilled grape leaves served with thin rice noodles, lettuce, mint and rice paper in which to wrap your own rolls, best dipped in the obligatory sweet-vinegar and hoisin sauces. With a bowl or two of lemongrass soup, it's plenty of food for a light meal for four.Barbecue Platter, $24.95, Vietnam Cafe, 814 S. 47th St. (near Baltimore Ave.), 215-729-0260, www.eatatvietnam.com. - Rick Nichols