Who knows what possessed Michael Huynh to drop this fantastic and delightful Vietnamese restaurant in the harried streets of Midtown East, but anyone tired of slogging downtown is in for one heck of a treat. The restaurant has a contemporary urban feel, with a smattering of booths and a communal table toward the center of the back room; and while the Vietnamese dishes are the strongest (especially the pho ), the menu also dabbles in cuisine from Laos and Singapore, adding creative touches that truly work. Don't miss the fragrant curried catfish satay; the Laos beef salad tossed with pineapple, shallots, and mint; or the beef luclak with tomatoes and crisp watercress, washed down with Vietnamese coffee or coconut juice straight from the shell.