Places: Dalat

Dalat will not win any awards for decor or ambiance, but what do you want when lunch costs less than $10, which includes a fancy beverage? The menu is a refreshing break from the standard bar and cafe-sandwich fare that is typical Ypsilanti. It’s easy to get into a rut at Dalat, always ordering your favorite, but do yourself a favor and work your way through their menu. (It might take awhile, the selections are extensive.) Kick things off with the shrimp rice rolls, a light appetizer that won't fill you up before dinner. The coffee is made with the respectable brand Cafe Du Monde, as either espresso or honest-to-Pete percolated. If you like things sweet, try the Vietnamese coffee or tea. For dessert, try the hot banana-tapioca-coconut milk concoction, garnished with crushed peanuts, which can best be described as "porridge."  It just might become your new favorite way to get your potassium.