Taking its inspiration from Vietnamese street food, Soho eatery, NAM, offers a fast, healthy and cost effective option for the busy downtown diner. Conveniently located on Dean St, NAM, is a collaboration between entrepreneur, Hai Nguyen, and architectural interior design company B3 Designers.
The Vietnamese eatery, which opened in October 2009, is distinctive in terms of both ambience and culinary experience. Hai approached B3 in May 2009 wanting to open up a Vietnamese offer in the heart of Soho. Inspired by the street food of her native Vietnam she wanted to translate this experience into something that could work in the busiest part of London. Consisting of fresh ingredients, street food offers healthy meals that can be served quickly: an ideal option for the busy and health conscious Soho customer.
NAM is an accessible eatery with ready-to-eat options for the busy Soho diner. Patrons are able to select from a variety of healthy options including summer rolls made from rice paper, ‘bun’ a freshly made noodle dish available with chicken, pork or tofu as well as a selection of rice dishes and Vietnamese baguettes.
The design for the petite eatery combines the urban and traditional aspects of Vietnamese culture with colonial French heritage. Long communal bamboo tables contrast with industrial Tolix stools, merging the delicacy of traditional organic objects with the sharp style of modern design engineering. Traditional, handmade Vietnamese lanterns hang from the ceiling, bringing a soft, romantic atmosphere to the restaurant design, particularly in the evening. Again these are contrasted against the stainless steel display counter, which is stamped with communist style graphics. Colourful artwork depicting scenes of Vietnamese village life decorate the walls. Patterns reminiscent of French colonial tiles are cost effectively sprayed onto the concrete screed. All the little touches show the different facets of Vietnamese culture in an approachable and fun way. NAM offers a truly authentic experience, that won’t dig a big hole in your pocket.
