11/10/09

Just okay - Go to AN CHOI 85 Orchard Instead

by ragazzamilanese

The food here is just not that amazing and verges on pricey for what it is -- for truly fabulous Vietnamese (this is not really cambodian food - they would serve Amok if so) in a cute hip place nearby, check out AN CHOI at 85 Orchard. I went there the other night and was blown away by the bahn-mi and pho.

• Pros: Ambiance, location
• Cons: Food, price

09/19/09

Over price and poor atmosphere

by p626021

I am Asian and I have eaten a lot of Asian food in my life. Kampuchea's food is good and acceptable but it is at least 50% more than what one should pay. The higher prices is not because it has a better atmosphere, better quality, nor better service. My noodle soup (PHO) was served at luke warm temperature and small portion. For those of us who have been eating noodle soup all our lives, noodle soup should be served HOT. I am not the type that judges a restaurant by its portion, but when the portion is rediculously small compared to the price charged then there is is a problem.

The Sandwiches: Traditional Vietnamese sandwiches are known for the quality of the bagette, which should be warm and crunchy, almost like fresh out of the oven. At Kempuchea the bread is toasted before it is served to give that warm and crunchy characteristic, like they do at Quizno. Nothing wrong with that if you are not particular about quality. To me, it is just a short cut way of serving bread that has been sitting on the shelf for a while. At $12 to $20 a pop, I expect my bread to be baked at the time of order. Say I am picky? Well, go to a place called Baoguette at St. Marks Place (aka E 8th street) or a small Vietnamese Sandwich place on Mott Street, they charge their sandwiches from $5 to $8 (1/2 of what Kampuchea charges) and the bagette are always no more than 10 to 15 minutes old. Why? Because they know the heart of a Vietnamese Sandwich is in the bread; and their PHO is always served with hot broth.

Oh, talk about the PHO... anyone who ever had PHO before, can tell you that it always comes with a wedge of lime and it is always served on the side so you can squeeze the juice into the soup. No, not at Kampuchea. the Lime is server already dunk into the soup and I have to fish it out of the soup in order to squeeze the juice into soup. Say I am nit picking... I say not so, because when a restaurant charges $16 for a bowl of Pho which I can get else where for $8, I expect major differentiation and attention to the detail. Otherwise, what is the value in the 100% markup?

The atmosphere is poor in this restaurant. I was there on the Sat night. They were play Jamaican and rap music, and it was VERY loud. Why does restaurants believe that music has to break your ear drum? Good music in a restaurant help the set the mood and not overpower the guests' conversation. Again, at everything being charged at least $50% more than else where I expect differentiation; and I did not notice any. BTW, you don't even get your own table because at Kampuchea, it is communtal dining. Nothing wrong with that, especially, if you want to pay more and get less.

About the only good thing about Kampuchea is the Pork Belly. Very exquisite and it is a MUST try. Don't order anything else. You'll be very disappointed unless you never had Vietnamese/Cambodian food elsewhere before.

• Pros: Order the Pork Belly
• Cons: Over price

03/15/09

WHAT A JOKE!

by AuTourDuMonde32

I grew up in NY, and I eat out 5 days a week.. I've probably been to half the restaurants and eatery's that this city has from Pelham Bay to Hudson Bay to Rockaway Bay... the jacket-onlys to the "english not necessary"s.. and this place, is honestly the biggest let down I can recently remember.__________________

I don't understand how people could enjoy this stuff.. But I get the same idea everytime my bus is stuck at a red light infront of a crowded McDonalds..__________________

Salty slop.. ____________________________________

I have not felt this ripped off in a loooong time...__________________

I left saying that I would have rather lost $60 then spent it on what I just ate... And I honestly would have.. I even had to go eat again just to feel satisfied.

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It's one thing to spend money for excellent food in small portions.. Where incredible service and prime ingredients are prepared and presented..__________________

... But to spend $18 on a half full bowl of salt and $1.15 worth of ingredients, put together haphazardly and served with unappreciative snide pomp in an address that used to be a dope den.. is just ridiculous.

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Another thing.. Calling this food "Cambodian" is like calling boars-head ham and swiss "french cuisine"..

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I've been to Cambodia/Kampuchea.. more than once.. and there's nothing like the slop I was served on order there.. Unrecognizable.

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I never complain about a restaurant, never.. But I had to come on here to air this one out like the stench that's coming from my behind tonight from the food they served me..

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Any self-respecting foodie: STAY AWAY!__________________

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Any one with no palate (like the "editor" who wrote that ridiculous almost comedic synopsis of the place here), just do yourself a favour in these hard times, and keep that $30+/head in your pocket and go to your McDonalds.. you'll feel better at the end of the day.

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You want soups, go to Viet Huong.. You want Banh style sandwiches go to Nickys or Banh Mi.. I can go on and on about better places to spend your time and money, to eat the food they supposed to be serving, but that's what that search box up there is for.. And in the neighborhood, honestly, your stomach will feel better after San Loco up the block! haha really! And so will your wallet!____________________________________

Kam-PUKE-a..__________________

HUGE thumbs down.

I hate getting screwed and not enjoying it

• Pros: Interior/ Decor
• Cons: The food #1, The inexcusable prices #2, The service #3..