Sibling chefs/owners and Saigon natives Eric and Sophie Banh opened this hip, upscale Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood to instant fanfare among critics and diners in 1999. (A Bellevue sister eatery, Monsoon East, opened in late 2008). While the dining room décor is spare and serene with artifacts and photos adorning the walls, each dish is an artful exhibit of Vietnamese cuisine fused with Northwestern organic ingredients. The result is flavorful complexity with every bite. From the frequently changing menu, delectable starters may include tangerine and jicama salad or grilled squid stuffed with duck. Entrées are equally adventurous and innovative, including seared braised pork belly with bean sprouts and chives, or caramelized Idaho catfish with fresh coconut juice, green onions and chilies. For dessert, try coconut crème caramel or Vietnamese banana cake. On the weekends, the dim sum brunch features traditional French breakfast offerings with Vietnamese twists such as brioche French toast, organic fried eggs with Parisian ham and nem nuong (pork and shrimp sausage), and a dim sum menu that includes shrimp dumplings, pan-fried daikon cakes, wontons and vegetable pot stickers. Reservations suggested. Beer and wine available. Serving dinner nightly. Dim sum brunch served 10 am-2:30 pm Sat–Sun. One of Seattle magazine's Top 79 Restaurants of 2009.