Dragon Rouge--Alameda (Vietnamese cuisine)

It was unfortunate that I had to work on my birthday. But it was very fortunate that I happen to work in Alameda and Dragon Rouge is there too. So my boyfriend took me there for a birthday lunch. Located at 2304 Encinal Avenue, I was inspired to make a visit after seeing it featured on, "Check Please" on PBS. The restaurant is family owned and operated, with mom at the helm cooking, and the kids assisting and doing the business side. All the reviews on the show were positive and my review will be positive as well.

We got there at exactly 11:30am, which is when they open for lunch and metered parking was plentiful. One quarter bought us 30 minutes and we didn't spend more than 45 minutes for lunch, so it wasn't too pricey for parking. As soon as we walked in, the waitress gave us a friendly greeting and invited us to sit at any small table we liked.

We ended up ordering some Garlic Prawn Imperial Rolls (fried) as an appetizer. It was fresh and crispy, served with a side of soft rice noodles and sweet fish sauce for dipping.

For our entrees we ordered the Bouncing Beef Tenderloin and the Vermicelli Noodle Bowl Combo. The Bouncing Beef was served over a bed of fresh watercress that was tossed in a light, sweet dressing. On the side there was a peppered lime-lemon dipping sauce. The beef was sauteed with onions, lots of garlic and was tender and juicy. Everything paired together very well and was full of flavor.

The Vermicelli Noodle Bowl Combo came with soft rice noodles topped with grilled chicken, shrimp and an egg roll. All was cooked to perfection. The chicken was super moist and tender, the shrimp had that snap and the egg roll was delightfully crispy and satisfying. It was a great birthday lunch and I will definitely make another visit.