Pho Bang New York – St. Laurent / Vietnamese

Bonjour,

last week we visited the Vietnamese restaurant New York in china town. We were after an authentic pho, and we were told that this is the place to go. By the way, they are not licensed.

Our first impression was the very tidy, a bit, let’s say, compact furnished, and well visited room. The majority of the customers were Asian, which in my eyes is not a bad sign for an Asian restaurant.

Since we went here with the intension of getting a good, hot pho, nothing else but pho hit our table. Sorry, but I can’t say a thing about their other meals. Maybe one of you have tasted anything else. If so, please feel free to comment your expierence.

After ordering 2 pho bo (pho with meat balls), one vegetarian pho and a pho with slices of beef (also called pho bo in Vietnam) we didn’t have to wait too long to get the bowls. We decided to take the small ones, and wise we were. I don’t know how eats the large ones, but these should last a hole day… minimum. I was definitely full when I finished my small bowl.

Since we were in Vietnam a couple of years ago (around 5 weeks traveling from south to north), we do know how these delicious soups taste in it’s homecountry. Hot, spicy, with corinader, ment, lemon, red pepper and lots of stuff you sometimes don’t really want to know. But always with noddles. And nearly always delicious.

Well, the pho at the New York tasted good, there were noddles and meatballs, but it lacked the… punch. No coriander at all (or at least to taste), not really spicy, although you could spice it up with some sauces standing on the table, and somehow… well not what we got in Vietnam.

Don’t get me wrong, it was a good soup, it tasted good, it was hot and had noodles and everything you wish, but it wasn’t really authentic.

If you know what to expect, it’s a perfect meal. It is absolutely inexpensive, you can eat a lot for less then 10 Can$. And in the winter, I asume, we will be seen there more frequently. Nothing beats a good hot soup if you are freezing. 🙂

The service is between very good and friendly to good but sulky. It depends on the guy.

Oh, and you pay at the counter, don’t expect the waiter to bring you the bill. This won’t happen. 🙂

Bon appétit,

Erik

Maestro S.V.P. – St. Laurent / Oyster Bar and seafood Bistro

Bonjour,

the other day my wife and I went to the Maestro S.V.P., a small oyster bar and bistro at 3615 Boulevard St. Laurent.

The Maestro S.V.P. is not a big restaurant, it contains maybe 12 tables and the bar.

One of the first thing you will notice, when you enter, are dozens of oyster shell hanging at the entrance wall. All having autographs of celebrities on it.

Next thing will be the impressive menu-board at the end of the room with dozens of different oyster names on it. Every oyster fan will freak out on this variety.
They start with “A” like the Aspy Bay from Nova Scotia, end with “Y” like the Yaquina from Oregon and have lots in between. Some from Japan, some from New Zealand, they come from all over the world. You, of course, won’t find all the oysters on every day, but the menu is written with chalk, so it can be updated every day.

You are not so experienced in oysters and don’t know every single one by its first name and recognize it by its shell? Glad to hear that, I’m neither.
So just ask the waiter to help you out with a recommendation. Or order a plate of a dozen with different sorts of oysters.
Oh, you want them cooked, or as tapas? No problem here. You can get them in every variety you want, including as a shooter (which, at least, is a real experience). 🙂

As a starter we had a plate with 4 Totten ( from Washington), 4 Lucky Limes and 4 Coromandel (from New Zealand). It was the first time for us tasting oysters with different pedigrees, and it was really interesting to realize the subtle differences in taste, size (ok, not so subtle) and even texture. It’s like wine tasting, but more salty. 😉

For the main courses we chose the caramelized atlantic salmon and the red tuna. And they were both fantastic. Cooked perfectly, so that they stayed juicy and contained their very own fresh flavor, and served with great tasting sides like small fingerling potatoes.

Next time will try out the tapas menu. It holds some 40 different tapas, sorted by seafood, mussels, vegetables and side dishes. Everyone should find something he likes… very!

The wine list is quite impressive. It has good to great wines from all over the world, including Austria, Alsace and Greece.
Oh, you like beer with your oysters? You will be in good company, as long as you take a dark one, like Boréale noir, which the waiter will happily recommend if being asked.

All in all this is a great place to be.
Did I mention the happy hour? 1,99 $ per Oyster?
I didn’t? Shame on me…

Enjoy (you will),

Erik