One cuisine I always turn back to when having a bad day or requiring a quick meal is Vietnamese. The combination of fresh ingredients in a hearty bowl of soup is perfect for the busy at work professional. Thus it should be of no surprise to anyone that a bevy of delicious pho restaurants surround the Health Sciences Centre. On a rather non-busy day at work I made the quick trek out to Vietnam Restaurant for a bite.
Located in a strip mall off Balmoral Street in the west end of the city, Vietnam Restaurant will not win any beauty pageants. In fact the drab exterior is an eyesore for anyone passing by unknown of the delights inside. The interiors are similarly decorated with plain glass top tables that house small advertisements underneath the glass ... tacky indeed! Nevertheless the service staff are nice and attentive; more than making up for the barren esthetics of the restaurant.
The vast and cavernous menu houses so many options that one wonders how a small family run kitchen can possibly create them all. A finer perusal of the menu reveals that the majority of the dishes are simply permutations of each other, mostly offering a difference in protein or sauce option. Nevertheless the classics are there including a smattering of delectable pho options, a bevy of bun (Vermicelli) and an almost exhaustive list of stir fries. There is nothing there that will surprise anyone who frequents Vietnamese restaurants, but that should not be taken as a negative. In reality, Vietnam's owners show a matter of self confidence in offering the no frills classics of Vietnamese cuisine.
My usual order of Medium Rare & Beef Ball Rice Noodle Soup (Pho) was one of the better ones I have had in Winnipeg. A luxurious broth that sings the many aromas of star anise and beef bones is both delicate and rich and works well to envelop the tender noodles and thin cuts of beef. The beef balls were large and springy, as they should be, and the beef slices delicate and light. The symphony is finished with tender and light bean sprouts that add a delicate crunch to the entire meal.
My second dish to try, Sizzling Spicy Satay Beef & Onion, was less of a success. While tasty, the entire dish lacked finesse and tasted unilaterally of satay. I recognize that I deliberately ordered a satay dish, but I wished that the sweetness of the onions or the inherent richness of the beef played a stronger note here, rather than simply that of the sauce. Make sure to enjoy this dish with a heaping bowl of steamed rice!
Vietnam Restaurant is exactly what I am looking for in a Vietnamese restaurant. As per its namesake, the owners strive to offer authentic cuisine at reasonable prices ... and for the most part, it succeeds! Ignore the rather drab decor and come to enjoy one of the best options for pho in the Health Sciences area.
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