Le Fat

Things on this menu are either hit or miss. The pork chops my friend got were exquisite, but unfortunately my wontons were too shrimpy and spicy. The spring rolls were great, though definitely overpriced. Overall, the food is good but particularly worth it’s price point.

Been waiting to try this place for a long time! Love Vietnamese and this place was good. I wasn’t wowed though, especially considering the price point and what they seemed to be going for.
The atmosphere was fun and welcoming. Kinda French bistro meets old Saigon.
I ordered the short ribs, they were fine. A little chewy but good flavor. Came with a side of jasmine rice and some pickle garnish. Again though, not wowed.
The cocktails tasted a bit off and weak. My first one was the Hemingway daiquiri. It honestly tasted of chartreuse which wasn’t even a listed ingredient. I switched to a gin tonic for my second drink since they missed the mark on their own cocktail and it was probably the most boring gin tonic I ever had. The tonic was flat and lord only knows what the gin was.
Had both the escargot and Calamari appetizer both were again okay, just not amazing. Escargot was overly spicy and a bit over cooked, I guess that I’m just a fan of a traditional French style.
Calamari was very good but had too much other fried stuff and not enough actual squid.
Service was alright. Actually kind of slow and absent minded. I was not in a hurry so it didn’t bother me, I was looking to enjoy the evening.
But honestly in the end I wasn’t impressed with the drinks so was not tempted to keep spending money.

Came here for dinner with a friend on a Friday night. Made reservations and glad I did because the place got busy very quickly. Nice, beautiful, modern décor. Definitely a departure from my Vietnamese staples on Buford. Free valet parking in an adjacent garage.
Very good food. Decent service. We had all veggie options: the Papaya Salad, Chicken Clay Pot (but w/​tofu instead) and the Corn and Mixed Mushrooms. The Papaya Salad was fresh, Clay Pot Tofu on par, and Corn and Mixed Mushrooms although the name did not suggest anything exciting was surprisingly very tasty.
The prices for the food were a little steep. It’s definitely a place I would frequent again – most likely with guests… but give me that 7 buck phở from Phở Dai Loi any day.

The food is absolutely delicious, but the service is hit or miss. I really enjoyed the shaking beef, and the wonton dumplings were a great appetizer choice

Great twist on classic Vietnamese! We tried the wonton dumplings to start which were great. For our entrees we had the shaking beef and the Vietnamese curry chicken. Both were really good! I definitely recommend!

Great food and service! Ordered beef phở and beef tips for the entrée and escargot for an appetizer. The escargot was just ok… was very oily and the only flavor i can taste was the saracha it was cooked with. The pha and beef tips were excellent! First time having Vietnamese food. definitely will not be the last.

I went here for lunch on a Monday afternoon with my colleagues.
The location was really nice and the décor is really interesting. They close the back dining room during lunch hours so you don’t see much. There’s a counter at the front where you order food. Overall, a feel-​good environment.
I ordered the Beef Phở and Vietnamese coffee. The food comes out in waves, so the first person that got their order waited about 10 minutes before the last order came out. They did bring out an order of spring rolls for taking so long (extra star for customer service).
The broth was pretty salty, but flavorful (two stars. I’ve had better). The noodles are thicker than what you would normally get at other restaurants and the meat is pretty good quality (4 stars).
The Vietnamese coffee was watered-​down and I don’t imagine that it would have been that good it had its full potency before the ice had melted. It just didn’t have that rich/​creamy/​strong texture that you usually get from Vietnamese coffee.
I would defnitely come back and see how the dinner menu plays out. I hear good things about their drinks.

First time diner at Le Fat and it was amazing.
Our server Chris was outstanding, very professional and knowledgeable.
The soft shell crab BLT and the Wonton dumpling appetizers were delicious.
The Shaking Beef and Chile Garlic Shrimp main dishes were perfectly prepared with just the right amount of spice.
This is definitely a restaurant that will be on our favorites list for future visits.

Sometimes I get angry when I read the reviews people put on restaurants I really like. You should not order phở at Le Fat. I’m sure it’s fine, but this restaurant does so many things so well, you should spend the extra 5 dollars and try one of the other mains.
Six of us shared 3 appetizers and 5 meals, everything was great. The spring rolls were actually great, they made something really basic taste really good.
The branzino was my favorite meals of the bunch! great old-​fashioned too.

How did these guys run out of green tea? I am still amazed by that, it’s a vietnamese restaurant.
Here is my breakdown:
— SPICY BEEF SOUP is phenomenal
— SIDE VEGETABLES were saggy. Unacceptable. Was the line cook blind to even put that on a plate? Seriously, the cilantro looked like it was left on the counter for a day or two, it was not fresh at all. You hold a piece of it and it hangs downward…
— SERVICE was solid
— DESIGN of the entire restaurant is amazing. Sure, you can get a cheaper phở else ware, but not in a place this beautiful. It’s not just the food, it’s the whole atmosphere that comes together here
Overall, I liked the visit and would probably come back. They just need to get fresher vegetables.

With the exception of Singapore, anyone who’s been to SE Asia or is familiar with SE Asia knows that a decent meal is VERY CHEAP and doesn’t require exotic ingredients to prepare. Now I realize that the value of the USD is very lucrative in SE Asia but I guarantee you Phở (soup with herbs, spices, veggies and a protein) is not worth the $ 12 Le Fat charges. In Saigon, Phở is no more than a $ 1.50 at the fanciest place. Seriously, Le Fat’s menu doesn’t have anything satiable for less than 10 bucks — $ 15 for a rice plate? $ 12 for sauteed green beans? How were these price points developed? For crying out loud! Most of the menu items are street food typical as well. So maybe the inflated price goes toward the restaurant.
Speaking of the restaurant, two issues I have; 1. Parking sucks! 2. There is only one toilet. There is literally the equivalent of a Six Flags line for the bathroom.
However, I can attest that the food at Le Fat is authentic and tasty. I’ve had Phở, Bo Luc Lac (diced beef garnished random tangy veggies and some kinda vinegar based dressing) and the crab noodle. The crab noodle, while it was delicious, I experienced several broken crab shell particles mixed in with my noodles. Chew carefully.
I’m going with 3 stars. I rather trek to Buford Hwy where parking is abundant and get roughly the same thing for a much better deal. Or even find the Viet-​Nomie food truck. But I can’t condone the prices at Le Fat.

You want Phở but don’t want to drive to Buford? Go to Le Fat.
Order
BLT buns
Phở
The BLT bun were delicious but $ 10 for 2. The Phở was $ 12. The broth was flavorful enough but oily. The noodles were a bit bigger and flatter then the one you would be use to. The meatballs that we’re apart of the soup were AWFUL. The texture and size and taste have reminded me of meatballs I have had at a few places. The texture is Spongey, and tastes and feels like a fake meat.
Also asked for those typical Delicious sauces I like with my phở, they never arrived but I didn’t see them anywhere in the restaurant.
Make the trek to Buford and just pay $ 6 for a bowl.

Let’s start with the good: the food. The real reason you go to a restaurant is good food. This place nails it. We ordered some potstickers and they were on point! Hot and juicy with the perfect amount of flavor. I didn’t know what to order, so asked for a suggestion, shaking beef. I was not disappointed. So perfect. It came with rice, had tons of beef, a little dipping sauce (don’t pour it on!), and veggies. Nom nom nom.
Now for the not so good:
~Not being seated: Husband and I were meeting another couple there for dinner on a Sunday evening. They had made reservations (even though they really didn’t need to as it wasn’t crowded), but when they arrived (3 minutes before us) they were told to wait at the bar. Well this is fine if the restaurant is crowded or you have a big group, but basically it was just a pain for them to have to close out a drink bill and then be seated before the drinks were even made…
~Drinks: I ordered the Hemingway Daiquiri, rum, grapefruit, lime, maraschino
liqueur. Ick! It was way too tart and flat out just was not good. Not only did I not like it, but when Husband tried it, he thought it was bad too. Not pleased to have to choke down a $ 10 drink… Husband’s drink however was quite tasty. He got a moscow mule. Our complaint here is that the moscow mule was brought out in just a regular glass… everyone knows that what makes a moscow mule fun is the little copper cup they are served in!!!
Overall, I’ll go back, for the food, not the drinks. I’ll just be sure to have a glass of wine before I go to dinner, instead of one at dinner.

Le Fat offers French-​Vietnamese cuisine, and style (which is actually true to the history of Vietnam given that they were colonized by the French, and this has greatly influenced their culture, architecture, and cuisine).
The décor at Le Fat, is upscale, dim, warm and welcoming. The Parisian-​style tables and chairs, mixed with the wooden mid-​century accents, create an old-​world atmosphere against the modern, industrial grey walls. The lighting is beautifully designed. Unfortunately, the art – is not. A large painting of a «reddish-​pink duchess» takes up its own wall, down-​scaling, and playing against all the classy balanced elements that make Le Fat so great. Joking with my boyfriend I said «The owner’s wife or daughter must have painted that!» or why else would it be up. It’s horrendous. And unfortunately we sat facing the faceless piece.
The hosts at the entrance were lovely. Dressed in elegant attire, suits and ties (with all the hip and none of the douche). They were all smiles, accommodating. When we called they told us the wait for a table was an hour and a half, we got there, grabbed a drink at the bar and were seated immediately. Everything and everyone employed here was utmost professional. Our server was sweet, and on top of her game — although the restaurant was packed and peaking with customers. We were indecisive between the calamari and the mussels (as appetizers), and she recommended the calamari — which we were still talking about the next morning. One would assume, such a simple, pedestrian dish, would be good; but how they made those calamari so memorable? I do not know. Maybe it’s the magic of what they add/​put in the batter? Maybe it’s the proportion of calamari to light tempura-​like batter? Maybe it’s the accompaniment of crunchy mild cabbage, with the deep fried onion bits that made this dish the star of the evening, whatever it was, it was no less than awesome.
For our entrees we ordered the Blue Crab noodle, and the Garlic Shrimp. Now, it’s hard to follow such a breath-​taking appetizer. It’s like how do you top genius? Anyway, my noodle dish had an ok portion of blue crab which was soft and cooked perfectly, however, the flavors didn’t have too much depth, and the proportion of crab to noodle was off. There was a whole lot of egg-​noodle, and not enough of anything else, so after the first bite, it quickly became a boring dish, with no spice and very little flavor (except for the essence of crab that lingered on the noodle), we probably won’t miss ordering it when we return. The garlic shrimp were a punch of flavor – glazed in asian sauces with abundant portions of garlic; the shrimp were cooked to perfection, not chewy or gummy, but soft on the teeth, and served with a side of white rice to juxtapose the rich flavors.
No room for dessert or coffee, though it would appear (by the décor at the entrance of the restaurant) that they offer Café Du Monde Coffee (shout out to New Orleans, another French Colony).
We will certainly return. One of my new favorite restaurants in Atlanta. Parking out front if you’re a rockstar and land a meter, otherwise they have valet, and a lot where you can park for free.

Came for lunch. You have to order at the counter then grab a seat. They said they recently changed up the ordering process because they used to do full table service at lunch.
Two of us shared the summer rolls ($ 6) and the bun Bo hue ($ 10) and the half chicken ($ 12). The half chicken came with rice, scallions, and pickled carrots. The chicken was mostly tasty but the breast was a little dry.
The décor is cute, and staff is mostly friendly. I would come back to try the phở and beef.

I would give this a 4.5
1. Savannah, our waitress, was a peach.
2. Cocktails had names that were ironically really special for my boyfriend and I. He loved «the bee’s knees.»
3. Food:
Phở broth was a nice way to start. It was particularly a winner since my guy was feeling a little under the weather.
The soft shell crab BLT bun was unique and worth the try. I agree with the notion that one should opt for dishes they could/​would not prepare at home.
Spicy green beans were like Destiny’s Child: good, but the star of the show is obviously Beyoncé. At Le Fat, the Beyoncé is the clay pot chicken. Killer chicken with delicious crispy rice #irreplaceable.
Only real con: the scent of the restaurant lingers when you leave. At the establishment it smells delicious, but at home it smells a bit like body odor. Make sure you love your date. You «musk» make the best of their stench if you are feeling frisky.

Another trendy spot in West Midtown, and I like it.
Favorites:
Clay Pot Chicken, even better the next day!
Kale Salad, loved the addition of coconut.
Good:
Shaking Beef, I was expecting to love this based on the other reviews, and it was ok just not great, truthfully I like the version at PF Changs better :) I would still recommend the dish. Good, just not blow your socks off.
We also got the soift she’ll crab in the steam bubs as an app. Just ok, wouldn’t order again.
Are there more authentic places on Buford Hwy, definitely, but still a great meal.

Came to LeFat for lunch today with a friend and our server was Barrett.
We enjoyed every minute!
We both had a glass of still rosé and it was perfect for our meal. Dry, crisp, not at all sweet and refreshing.
We told him to surprise us with an appetizer, and he brought the wontons out.
They are steamed dumpling like shrimp and pork filled covered in a slightly spicy and savory broth.
Without a doubt, the best part of our meal. I never would have ordered them, as I had my eye on the spring rolls… But they were fabulous.
We both had a bowl of phở, I chose the beef flank and my friend chose the chicken.
It came with the usual side toppings of bean sprouts, jalapeños, lots of fresh sliced lime for the perfect amount of citrus, and lastly basil leaves and cilantro.
He also brought to the table Sriracha and plum sauce in squeeze bottles.
The absolute best part was a perfectly flavored broth that wasn’t too full of salt but had the perfect amount of flavor.
The noodles were out of this world. Not quite like the traditional thin round rice noodles, but flat and so so silky.
The beef was thick cut and a bit chewier than I prefer but went well with the soft texture of the noodles.
Over all, I enjoyed our lunch and would recommend this restaurant to pretty much anyone.
Well done

Le Fat is a Vietnamese restaurant that is inspired by the Vietnamese-​French colonial era. That is why you’ll find escargot with a Vietnamese kick on the menu. It’s different from the Vietnamese restaurants on Buford Hwy because of the French-​Vietnamese fused menu. It’s just made for the West Midtown foodie crowd.
I had a variety of dishes there. The calamari, escargot, and mussels were great. The soft shell crab banh bao sounded good but I didn’t get it. Maybe next time. I also had the papaya salad, drunken noodles, corn with mushroom, and braised pork belly. Those were very good. The crispy rice with caramelized chicken was my favorite. The Wong’s Chicken aka rotisserie chicken, wasn’t as flavorful as I expected because there were no hint of lemongrass seasoning as described in the menu. The Bronzino lacked flavor as well even with the warm soy sauce that came with it. I liked the fried egg stings on the Bronzino. Surprisingly, I didn’t hear the server mention any specials either. She also said the entrees were better for family style but some dishes came as a rice plate.
Overall the food was good and service was fast. I’d go back for any specials I missed like that soft shell crab banh bao. I love soft shell crab anything!

Unless I’m dining out of town I am now waiting to review a restaurant until I have at least 3 checkin’s. I’m looking for consistency. I want someone to treat me right a few times before I commit. Very little to say except all good things. Love the cocktails, love the food, love the service. I haven’t had one bad meal here. My all time favorite is Le Cheval in Oakland, CA and it’s of the same elk. They don’t try to put fried chicken into a bun to appeal to Southerners. They may have one dish with wings but its consistent offerings found in most Vietnamese restaurants.
Curry chicken, whole fried fish, salt and pepper calamari, spring rolls, dumplings, crab noodle, buns
Only thing I would skip is the Papaya salad.
Go to cocktails — Unsung hero, Chelsea flower
Don’t be afraid to make a reservation. This place gets packed on the weekends and if you have to sit at the bar. The chair are not cushioned and have they do not have backs. It can be tough on the butt.