How is Rock Sugar these days?

[Cinnamon]

It looks like a beautiful venue. I've never been there. I understand it may not be the be-all, end-all to L.A. Asian fusion. But... is it any good... worth visiting?

[1foodie1]

Been there a couple of times and both times the food was pretty good. The lemon drop was excellent.

[wilafur]

interesting...the parent company is cheesecake factory. learn something new every day.

[Cinnamon]

Well if any company could make Vietnamese food fattening, that's the one.

[bsquared2]

Have you ever been to Pho 79 and had the large bowl. Or the 8 item broken rices dishes? American Vietnamese restaurant have beaten Rock Sugar to the punch.

Haven't been to Pho 79 in a bit, but I do like the Broken Rice with Pork Chop, BBQ Shrimp, Egg, Vietnamese Sausage, Shrimp Paste, BBQ Pork....what else am I missing....

[Cinnamon]

Ha, no - only had the sparser pho and assorted fresh items in smaller quantities. Still... don' t they have something on the order of a deep-fried chimichanga with hint of lemongrass?

[bsquared2]

I just think it's funny that when I go to VN there is a big difference in size portions. Things are much smaller and you order a few different items. Even the Little Saigon restaurants have started to suffer from Claim Jumper syndrome. I remember going to Lee's Sandiwiches and they had a "Big Gulp" size Caphe Su Da. I love iced coffee, but that is a heart attack waiting to happen.

[perk]

I know it has its detractors on this board....and I certainly don't think of it as fine dining or a culinary destination...but I think it's a fun place to visit before or after a movie or shopping. I've been there a couple of times and thought the food was good and fresh,
and the cocktails are interesting. It's got a fun vibe. Worth a visit....

[bsquared2]

I agree. It's very nice inside and is less like the Tiki Room at Disneyland than I thought it would be. I've traveled around SE Asia and the decor looks like Lao Temples I've visited. The food is pretty good. I give them points for having things on the menu that weren't totally obvious. I'm glad that some people realize that VN food is more than Pho.

I did have a pretty good Caphe Sua Da there. It was a pleasant surprise. If I was at the mall or seeing a movie, it is probably the best place to eat.

[Cinnamon]

Monsoon on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica has a pleasing interior along similar lines, and the best steam-punk Asian 'chandelier' ever.

[mollyomormon]

One word of warning, a lot of the food there is very sweet.

[Cinnamon]

Thanks. I'll aim for the cocktails, and maybe try to say not-too-sweet for anything else.

[yummyrice]

Based on the photos, the decor of Rock Sugar does look like Lao temples especially the ones in northern Laos.