Zavy Kitchen brings Vietnamese cuisine to East Village

Linh here. I stopped by Zavy Kitchen , a new Vietnamese restaurant in the East Village.

State of play: The restaurant is by the owners of Pho Real along 4th and Court.

• While that restaurant is great for a quick pho lunch or late-night boba, Zavy features an expanded menu of authentic Vietnamese cuisine with elegant date-night vibes.

What I ordered: Beef stew banh mi ($13) — a hot stew with chunks of beef, carrots and a baguette on the side for dipping.

What I liked: The banh mi bread is perfect for soaking in the beef juices.

• The meat was tender and fatty, which I prefer.

The bottom line: Zavy is slightly more expensive than some other Vietnamese eateries, but the price tag includes the service and downtown experience, too.

• People have long associated Asian food with quick take-out, while other cuisines like Italian get to be fine dining. Zavy is helping break down this barrier, just like how Pho Real showed that late-night bar food doesn't have to be a greasy cheeseburger

Where to find it: 111 E. Grand Ave., #101, Des Moines