Old Saybrook is a small, seaside town in Middlesex County. It’s also one of the oldest towns in Connecticut with roots that date back to 1624! A New York Times review of Saigon City, a quaint Vietnamese restaurant, inspired us to stop by the town for dinner and a round of mini golf. We felt excited to try a new Vietnamese restaurant for the first time in almost a year. We were equally delighted to find that Old Saybrook still had a mini golf course by the docks. With our two year anniversary around the corner, we were eager to embark on a pre-celebration in this town.
Saigon City
Grade: A
Location: 1315 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, CT
Atmosphere: 10/10-When you step into the Saigon City, you’ll notice the beautiful Vietnamese paintings that decorate the walls. Chef Vu Nguyen, who co-owns Saigon City with his wife, Bernadette, painted some of these! This speaks to Saigon City’s authentic, creative atmosphere and to the talent of Nguyen. The paintings represent a wonderful, welcoming expression of the Vietnamese culture. Saigon City’s dining room fireplace is an added bonus, especially for those frigid, Fall and Winter nights. We opted to sit on the deck and soak in the sun. We noticed that Saigon City differs from other restaurants in that it keeps both its interior and exterior clean!
Service: 9/10-We waited a little longer than we expected for refills but, we found our waitress to be personable and efficient. We also give props to the chef(s) who prepared our dishes in under 15 minutes. Vietnamese cuisine (if done well) boasts complexity in its taste and design. The quick preparation time highlights the experience of Saigon City’s chefs.
Price: 4/5-Lunch prices range from $7.95 to $10.95. Dinner prices range from $11.95 to $17.95. If you want a glass of wine, you’ll spend an average of $5-$6. These are some pretty sweet deals! Our experience caused us to re-evaluate our perspective on price. We visited an Italian restaurant the other week in which the price of entrees ranged from $17.95 and above! We expected superior, gourmet cuisine for this amount. We tasted tasty, overpriced cuisine. At Saigon City, you will pay significantly less for dishes with filling portions and damn good taste!
Selection: 5/5-Click on the menu link above and scroll down. This extensive menu spans ten pages! From Vietnamese spring rolls to Red Curry pork, you have plenty to choose from! We suggest you review this extensive menu before you stop by.
Taste: 9/10-Lemon grass, peanuts, limes, vegetables, coconut milk, curry and chili-paste: these are some of the key ingredients to signature Vietnamese dishes. Saigon City’s chefs honored this culinary tradition and the results proved downright delectable! If you’re a fan of spice, you might want to tell your server beforehand. The dishes marked as “spicy” may not taste as spicy as you might anticipate without this suggestion.
Below you’ll find our picks for the top 5 most creative entrees:
1. Saigon Spicy Chicken (Slices of tender chicken breast marinated with coconut milk, yellow curry, and chili pepper. Stir-fried with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and clear noodles. Sprinkled with ground peanuts)-$12.95
2. Spicy Vegetarian Curry (Tofu marinated with coconut milk, curry, and chili pepper. Stir-fried with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, and clear noodles. Sprinkled with ground peanuts)-$12.95
3. Red Curry Pork (Sliced pork marinated with red curry and simmered in coconut milk with bamboo shoots, red chili, and bell peppers)-$12.95
4. Saigon Beef Delight (Slices of flank steak stir-fried with pineapple, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and cucumbers)-$14.95
5. Squid Sate-(Squid sautéed with carrots, onions, bell peppers, celery, mushrooms, broccoli, bamboo shoots, and baby corn)-$14,95
In a nutshell: 37/40-Saigon City proved that it is possible for restaurants to serve authentic, delicious cuisine at affordable prices. Yes, this includes wine too! You can treat yourself this to an exquisite dinner or lunch without burdening your wallet. We strongly recommend you visit and immerse yourself in the artistic and culinary gem that is Saigon City.
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CT Snapshot 
I had a delicious meal and the atmosphere was comfortable and cozy. Service warm and friendly.