Cyclo is the restaurant that got me hooked on Vietnamese food. The biggest problem is choosing what to have given all of the wonderful choices. All of the ingredients are very fresh, the preparation is fantastic and the flavors are very distinct (and delicious). I typically choose a fish dish, a vegetable dish and either the spring rolls or shrimp, bamboo appetizer. But the waiter is always right on when I ask him for advice. The clay pot dishes are particularly good and you can actually have a free clay pot if you choose one of these entrees...my clay pot is sitting on my counter.
The atmosphere is very laid back (the restaurant is fairly small and dark) and it never seems to be overly crowded. The decor is well chosen (not the typical cheesy design of many Asian restaurants) and the service has always been great (very attentive, good suggestions).
Finally, Cyclo is located in a fun part of the East Village so there are plenty of reasons to go here. This is a great place for a date.
I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant for anyone, including hard-core Asian food lovers and those who want to taste Vietnamese food for the first time.