I came back from a recent long tour to Vietnam a few months back, and since coming back, I've been missing Viet food...

Remembering Va va voom from some newspaper recommendations from the yester years (and gd reviews fr HGW), I decided to rekindled the taste of Pho Bo that I enjoyed along the sidewalks of Ho Chih Minh City. (If i'm not mistaken, Va va voom were previously located behind the bus stop opp Bugis Junction's Mos Burger).

My 1st visit (abt 4 mths ago): I was a little hesistant when I saw the place being quite empty on a fri nite. Scepticism set in. But when the food came I was pretty wowed by the VALUE 4 $$ and authentic taste of the Pho Bo (Beef Noodles-$6.80). In fact, even better than those I've tasted in Hanoi & Ho Chih Minh combined. Scored a goal for me..

My 2nd visit: This time I decided to bring along a foodie with me to put the food to the taste test. Passed on both charges.

We ordered:
Pho Bo (beef noodles)
Pork cutlet with Rice
Plum soda
Iced Vietnamese Drip Coffee (White)

Total bill: Below $24

We were pleased to know that all items were nett price (no GST & svc charge).

The verdict?
Why go to the Food court when u can get bigger portions, less noise, better food at Va va voom?

After reading all the rave on hgw about brown sugar's set lunch, I had to try it for myself! So yesterday afternoon, I brought my beau to this hidden place for a bd lunch b4 the rest-of-the-day activities. While making a turn into the bistro, my beau wondered aloud why I was driving him to, in his own words, "a community ctr" for lunch.

So what's a fine dining place doing in a "community ctr"?

I say, to hide away from public eye before it gets overcrowded of coz...!

Service was really prompt, staffs were attentive though we had to squint really hard to read the set selections from the chalkboard at the other end of the bistro (No menu list for set lunch) :(

@ $27 for a set of 3 course, we ordered:
Appetisers:
1) cream of brocolli & spinach
2) tomato salsa mussels

Mains:
1) Steak with rocket salad and fries on the side
2) Crispy Duck Confit

Desserts:
1) Red wine poached pear w vanilla icecream
2) Banana Pineapple crumble w fig&honey icecream

I was expecting a small portion for that price but when the appetizers came, I was truly impressed! They didn't scrimp on the portions at all. But the scenical boyfriend says "wait till the mains come, I'm sure my steak will be the size of your palm". Lo and behold, he was proven wrong again with the nicely down steak served up in front of him.

Overall food was great, but the banana & pineapple crumble was a tad too sweet even for my liking..

One thing though, I was overcharged $8 for an item called "food", on top of my $27x2 set lunches. That was the only downside... Blame it on myself for not checking the bill before signing off on it... :P

My boyfriend and I arrived at the restaurant at abt 7pm on a thurs night to be the only couple there but we were quickly joined by another 4 couples dining in as well...

We ordered the seafood soup and cream of mushroom. Both were good, my bf liked the fresh seafood with clear broth but I enjoyed the mushroom soup better!

The parma ham & rocket pizza was really yummy! However, the prawn & asparagus pasta in pomodoro sauce was ordinary (though I would give plus points for the linguine that was done al dente and the juicy prawns that were really fresh)...

The service staffs were very attentive and sweet, as we were celebrating our 7th anniversary there, I requested for a small card to be stuck on the Tiramisu cake which they accomodated and what was really sweet was they've even cut the cake into a heart-shape with 2 slices of heart-shaped strawberries on top.. Awww.... As my bf was planning to make his wedding proposal at the restaurant, they've assisted to make pre-arrangements for us to sit at the window seat and prepared some nice wine for us as well...

I wanted to write this review to encourage the staffs of Ristorante de Parma to keep doing what they're doing now!! Thanks for making the wedding proposal a success for us and keep up the good work! ;)