Until a few pho shops began opening on the North Shore in the past year, people often asked me why there was no Vietnamese food in either Mandeville of Covington. They were surprised when I told them of this place, which many of them knew was there--usually from having seen it from the parking lot of Copeland's, across the street. The assumption was that North Shore Empress was Chinese, because of its good looks. In fact, the people who own it are Vietnamese, and the menu has as much from that cuisine as Chinese.
Northshore Empress began serving in the year following Katrina. Its location near the Home Depot brought it a brisk initial trade, enough to establish a fair number of regulars.
The spacious dining room is dramatically decorated, particularly in the lighting department. The service staff is enthusiastic, and asking about the Vietnamese dishes will bring forth particular attention to your order.
The Vietnamese dishes are a little better than the Chinese, but there aren't as many of them. Mixing the two cuisines in a single meal is not a bad idea. Know that such things as chow mein, chop suey, and yat ca mein are there only to serve people who won't try anything else.
| Attitude | 1 |
|---|---|
| Environment | 1 |
| Hipness | 0 |
| Local Color | 0 |
| Service | 1 |
| Value | 2 |
| Wine | 0 |
