Lunch Break Trip to the new Vietnamese Spot
Last Friday I received an email that Viet Kitchen was opening that day. I was really excited. I have loved Vietnamese ever since we became regulars at DaVang.
I left my office and walked over to check it out over my lunch break. I recognized the building. It used to be a Mexican food place that I actually liked. Sad to see it go. The restaurant was packed, but there was no line at the register yet and I ordered the Shrimp Spring Rolls…and waited patiently….for a long, time.
There was no place to sit for to-goers, so I stood there, watching people come in and out. Watching the girl behind the counter become overwhelmed as she looked at tickets, and more to-goers flooded through the door. After about 25 min I scooted my way through the crowd that was waiting for either to-go food or to be seated. I asked the girl how much longer for my rolls, and she looked up at the to-go order that had been placed there over 10 min prior and said, “right there, its ready” and I smiled, paid my $4 for my 2 spring rolls and left. When do you say, “Really?! I have been standing here for 25 min waiting for a spring roll to-go order that has been sitting in the window for 10 min”? The disorganization really seemed to be the girls at the register taking the orders.
How was the food?
I was really hoping the food was going to make me feel better about enduring the whole annoying situation, but I was even more annoyed to see that the rolls were a little puny, that they had yellow lettuce, and were pretty bland. So, if you are in a hurry for lunch, or for some reason are in the mood for really good food, I would not recommend it. Perhaps it was just a bad day. They have only been opened for a week, but apparently their other store is doing great. Please tell me if I am wrong and I will give it another try.
I took my family to new Viet Kitchen for a Saturday lunch. The restaurant was not crowded at the time, so we received our food quickly. It was all quite good, although some may find the pho broth a little too strong with its scent of star anise.
ReplyDeleteI think there has been some confusion because some of the decor left over from the old Acapulco Mexican restaurant suggested this was a place where people should line up and order at the counter. We found instead that Viet Kitchen is operating as a full service restaurant, and I'm grateful for that.
I don't mean in any way to dismiss your experience, but I think that it's hard to evaluate a restaurant based on a visit so soon after opening and when ordering to go in a full service restaurant. I'm going to visit at least twice more before posting a review, but my initial experience with Viet Kitchen's Downtown location was quite positive.
If you are planning to take a break out of your venture and wishing to sit at home with a delica te meal in your possession, you can avail of the takeaway services as well. phoenix Mexican restaurant
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