A new value pick for Vietnamese cafes

The newest (or at least one of the newest) Vietnamese coffee shop in the area, Cafe 368 (not to be confused with Cafe 369 or Cafe 168...) is only just starting to find its footing. I've gone in the late evening mostly, but have also been by during the day once or twice. The crowds can be light (which is not a bad thing) and the number of ladies on staff can be small (which is not a good thing). But the space is nice and new, and some of the girls provide better value than you'll find at many of the other cafes. I find myself lately going there as a first choice because of the value.

The purchase of an 8-ish dollar drink (or outright payment of an $8 cover) gets you in. The room is middle-of-the-pack as cafe size goes. Booths on the perimeter, chairs in the middle. They could do with more booth space - even on a relatively slow night, they fill quickly. There are TVs on the walls with sports if they're on, or else sometimes totally random stuff. I've watched cartoons in there while I wait. Not the best for setting the mood but hey, I find it relaxing, get off my back. They do not blast music at crazy volumes (I'm looking at you, Cafe Starz), which is nice because you don't have to shout to have a conversation.

The drill is standard for these places. You sit and wait and enjoy your beverage. Periodically a girl will come around semi-nude (depends on her level of comfort) and refill your water or tea. You tip them for this and it's also an opportunity to buy a table dance. Not all girls will give dances so its wise to ask first. Most do. Table dance cost varies but expect to spend on the order of $10-12/song. And they probably won't wait for the current song to end, so you may only get half a song out of the deal if you only buy one. It is what it is. They're a good way to test drive a girl to see if she's worth a VIP trip. Some girls in there are not the best dancers and will do things like drop their ass on your lap from a tremendous height like the goddamn Tower of Terror elevator coming down to crush your balls, so some screening is advisable. Although I have also experienced cases where a girl gives a lukewarm table dance but an intense lapdance, so it's not a foolproof system. It's also a good time to just invite them over after they've finished their round if you're interested in spending more time with them.