Another place I frequently drive by when leaving work. I'd checked out their menu on Menudb and it looked appealing and reasonably priced, so I ordered take out on the way home from work.
The place is quite small but neat and clean.
The menu lists a number of appetizers which are priced at $3.95. I tried the fried stuffed wontons, squid, shrimp and the fried springrolls. I like the idea of being able to get a bunch of little dishes to try. The wontons were very good and meaty- they were served with a chili spiked plum sauce. Squid was OK. Shrimp were wrapped in wontons and then fried which may throw those expecting breaded fried shrimp. The springrolls were quite good sized and meaty.
I ordered two types of salad rolls, one shrimp and one bbq pork. The rolls were fresh and still slightly warm. They were served with an excellent peanute sauce. One complaint I had was that they did not contain any herbs- no cilantro nor mint. I also found them a little heavy on the noodles.
As usual, I ordered Bun with grilled pork and this time fried shrimp. I was a little disappointed that they don't have shrimp paste on sugar cane. The grilled pork was very good but a little more chinese style than the usual Vietnamese flavours I am used to. The shrimp were again wonton wrapped and fried- I think I'd choose to have the grilled shrimp next time. The portion of this dish was quite large and gave me the option of peanuts, which are a must for me.
I don't think there was cilantro on this dish either.
One difference I noted was the use of iceberg lettuce in the summer rolls and the bun- I am typically used to the texture of leaf lettuce in Vietnamese food. It wasn't particularly bad, it just changes the texture a bit.
Nothing particularly *blew* me away, but it was certainly better than average and would do in a pinch if in the area.
I did note that this place closes quite early- 9pm every night.
I can't comment on the Pho because I have a bit of a PHObia.
Pan Bagnat
The place is quite small but neat and clean.
The menu lists a number of appetizers which are priced at $3.95. I tried the fried stuffed wontons, squid, shrimp and the fried springrolls. I like the idea of being able to get a bunch of little dishes to try. The wontons were very good and meaty- they were served with a chili spiked plum sauce. Squid was OK. Shrimp were wrapped in wontons and then fried which may throw those expecting breaded fried shrimp. The springrolls were quite good sized and meaty.
I ordered two types of salad rolls, one shrimp and one bbq pork. The rolls were fresh and still slightly warm. They were served with an excellent peanute sauce. One complaint I had was that they did not contain any herbs- no cilantro nor mint. I also found them a little heavy on the noodles.
As usual, I ordered Bun with grilled pork and this time fried shrimp. I was a little disappointed that they don't have shrimp paste on sugar cane. The grilled pork was very good but a little more chinese style than the usual Vietnamese flavours I am used to. The shrimp were again wonton wrapped and fried- I think I'd choose to have the grilled shrimp next time. The portion of this dish was quite large and gave me the option of peanuts, which are a must for me.
I don't think there was cilantro on this dish either.
One difference I noted was the use of iceberg lettuce in the summer rolls and the bun- I am typically used to the texture of leaf lettuce in Vietnamese food. It wasn't particularly bad, it just changes the texture a bit.
Nothing particularly *blew* me away, but it was certainly better than average and would do in a pinch if in the area.
I did note that this place closes quite early- 9pm every night.
I can't comment on the Pho because I have a bit of a PHObia.