On one of the last days of classes and finals before I left for Peru, I was chatting with the BlindBaker and discovered she was about to have lunch nearby our school. Hey, I like lunch! so I hopped on over to grab a bite with her.
She’d already ordered summer rolls by the time I got there – I’d told her I’d be a few minutes and feel free to start eating before I got there – so I happily found food waiting for me when I sat down. The peanut sauce was overly thick, and we both commented on the summer rolls. They were alright… but I doubt I’d go back and order these.
She’d ordered an iced coffee on one of the first really hot days of the summer (ugh and now all I can think about are hot days… no end in sight!), and it looked so good, I ordered one for myself as well. We were both a bit disappointed that they do all the work for you – in the back! – so you don’t get to watch the little individal filter drip everything down and then mix it together. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, click here – really cool step-by-step photos, I didn’t even know all the steps that go into it, just the end ones! Interesting!) This hit the spot on the hot day, slightly bitter, slightly sweet, and ice cold. Mmm.
I’m not sure what the name of this was, but I know BlindBaker wasn’t that impressed with her cold noodles. I can see it had spring rolls on top, maybe shredded pork… I’m sure she will chime in and help me out here – and also share her opinion?
I also ordered cold noodles topped with some sort of beef. I don’t want to be gross, but when the bowl arrived, well, I wasn’t too happy with what the beef on top looks like. A bit unappetizing to say the least. And while it tasted fine, it was on the dry side and not that interesting. I’m pretty picky when it comes to Vietnamese food, because I’ve had amazing AND homemade Vietnamese (not always the same thing)… and while this would do in a really tight pinch if I’m near school and need Vietnamese food, I wouldn’t choose to come here again if I was craving Vietnamese. If anything, I’d run over to Flushing … or really just wait until I can go to my favorite place. This place was also significantly more expensive than the places I usually go to – around $2 more, which is kind of a lot considering usually this dish is $5ish.
Yvo says: I want to find a good Vietnamese place this close to school, but alas, this is not it. As I said, it would do in a very tight pinch, but it would never be my first choice for Vietnamese food. The place is pretty clean, has a parking lot, and the service was pretty friendly… but it doesn’t make up for the less-than-mediocre food and the high prices. Sorry.
not really recommended
TT says
is it Vietnamese week here at FF? (almost every post has something Vietnamese.)
we should have done better to promote it.
BlindBakerNYC says
Oh, where do I begin? How about with the iced coffee? I too was bummed by the fact that they prepared it for us in the back, which is a sure sign that they have a big ol’ jug of pre-made coffee. It did hit the spot though because it was a freakishly steamy day.
The summer rolls were just okay. I remember after our first bites, we both frowned at the rolls. I also remember that we were having a hard time getting the dipping sauce to stay on the rolls because the sauce was so thick.
My dish wasn’t bad. I liked it well enough but maybe I was still nursing a grudge about the coffee being made for us, because as FF said, I wasn’t over the moon about it. I think I also recall not feeling the dressing that came with my noodle salad- there wasn’t that slight vinegary bite tempered with an appropriate amount of fish sauce that I’ve come to expect in this dish. The spring rolls were pretty tasty though. I was disappointed that everything seemed a little under-seasoned, which I guess is better than over-seasoned. Despite my overall disappointment with my dish, which I get all the time, I ate it all.
As for your dish, I think I blinked when I saw the beef rolls, which I actually liked. I thought it was seasoned well, but the presentation…yeah, not really what you want to see when you’re about to eat.
Like you, I wouldn’t go back unless I had to. I might get an iced coffee to go though!
Sherri says
That peanut sauce looks like peanut butter with crushed nuts but the rest look tasty.
I really enjoy your blogs 🙂
T.C. says
I prefer vietnamese coffee when it comes with the filter and you can pour it into the glass of ice yourself. 🙂
rosi says
hey is that the rights address? i want to go try some food 😉