07/17/09

great place!

by bestoftribeca

definately check it out!

• Pros: great food

01/22/09

Worst Pho is just wrong.

by sakeman2009

This has been a topic of great debate here, over the Pho at Bao Noodles. Having had hundreds of bowls of pho as well, I would have to disagree with the last persons review. I eat here quite often and the pho has intense flavors of cinnamon, star anise and clove, followed with a well balanced beef broth. I dont understand how one can say that the pho has no flavor. Not traditional is hard to understand when the guy behind the soup station is Vietnamese and so is the manager as well as the wait staff. When I asked them they al seemed to agree that the food was based on traditional recipes and I tend to trust their opinions.

As to the other dishes, I had a Tamarind Snapper that was fantastic, The Chicken salad was great and they even had a pigs head salad(I am pretty sure that is traditional cause I had not had that before) and certainly not something the ordinary american customer would order.

I like this place and will keep coming back no matter what people write.

01/13/09

Michael Bao is a bad boy chef

by noodleman1111

We don't like Chef Michael Bao's cooking. Our mexican chef can cook better vietnamese food than Vietnamese chef.

Our food even much better than long before when Michael was here.. Come here and try a lot of delicous items from our Closed Bao 111.. Please come agian to Bao Noodles... please please

01/12/09

Worst Pho

by jennylovesssss

This is a conveniently located restaurant for my husband and me, so we really wanted to like this place. We ordered the vermicelli noodles w/grilled pork and pho - the beef noodle soup. The vermicelli was decent. The fish sauce was good, but the pork was way too salty and totaly dried out. It didn't taste very fresh. Nevertheless, it was OK enough for us to recommend it. However, the pho was truly the worst we'd ever tasted. It was utterly bland, and the beef slices were way too thick. They should be tender and thinly sliced. After hundreds of bowls (not an exaggeration), I can say that this was the worst bowl I've ever had - unequivocally. It's rather sad that I can be this certain. When I told the manager what I thought - in an effort to encourage the restaurant to do better - all he could muster was "people say they like our pho." This is in no way an authentic restaurant, and that need not prevent a recommendation. It's really the taste and quality of the food and lack of service. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere. You can get much better food for half the price at a place in Chinatown. Some other reviewers liked the atmosphere - I suppose if you're in the area, want something Vietnamese-y, and a full bar - maybe you can find some things to nibble. However, if what you want is Vietnamese food - no, just plain good food - this is not the place

01/12/09

Great Microwave Chicken Curry

by kevinrup31

I remember this place being better in the past. It seems to have gone downhill. Noodles were soggy and overcooked, meat was hard and had little taste. The fried spring rolls were greasier than those at other Vietnamese restaurants. The sauteed vegetables had a rock-like substance in them; probably not a health concern but unappetizing. Won't be going back - better Vietnamese cuisine available at other places for same or less.

hate to agree, but worst pho and service ever

I hestitated before writing this when I saw the owner's response to the last criticisms and his avowal to improve the quality of the food and service. I thought maybe they had managed to change, but seems like just wishful thinking. This had been one of my favorite lunch/early dinner places b/c I work nearby, but I feel that it has gone far downhill ever since the lunch special was changed about 1 1/2 years or so ago. The pho was never fantastic. The sandwiches were good, but the last time I was there 3 weeks ago, the bread was stale and the fillings consisted of some sad looking tomato, mayonnaise, a dab of canned pate and a couple limp slices of meat. I love the pork belly, but it came out so cold that the grease was congealed in the sauce. The rice was also cold and dry. The food obviously was not fresh and the service was abysmal. The waitress messed up our drink orders and had to send over the other waiter when I asked for the food to be warmed - we didn't see her again during the meal. There were only 4 other customers there at the time, so it wasn't because they were too busy! I have to say, as a Vietnamese person, I am disappointed that the food is not more authentic and now much worse in quality than ever.

• Pros: Great Mircowave Chicken Curry
• Cons: Bad Pho

01/08/09

GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE

by foodisgoodphosure

For starters I want to react to the review

Bad pho and bun bo hue

1 Star Rating: Not Recommended

12/24/2008 Posted by chefjohn212

I am not a specialist but this person has only reviewed places where Mr. "Bao" Huynh has worked and only says good things about the places that he is still with. Does that seem strange to anyone?? The review only mentions that this place is bad and his new spot is around the corner, ah do think he wrote it himself???

I am new to reviewing but I want to be fair to the restaurant. I ate there yesterday after reading the reviews so I could see for myself. The pho was very flavorful with hints of star anise and cinnamon served with fresh bean sprouts and thai basil. I had the spring rolls crisp and delicious. My friend had the jicama rolls and they are a fantastic version of the summer roll, crisp jicama with dried shrimp and lop chueng(chinese sausage), yes I asked the waiter the name. My friend also had Salt and pepper Shrimp, she said it was perfectly seasoned and just what she wanted.

I will be back to try the Bun Bo Hue cause so far everything he said was bad tasted very good...

• Pros: great local spot, unassuming

01/06/09

delightfully cozy place with indulgent food and drinks!

by henryhuyla

this place really brings Vietnamese food onto a whole new level with their taste, level of preparation and fineness. the place itself is very cozy and nice with a warm atmosphere, a great place to escape a hectic day where friends can come or meet up and chat pleasantly. the service is professional to the utmost and excellent with very attentive and caring servers who would constantly come by asking for how things are and recommending tasty dishes, they especially have a profound knowledge of the restaurant, the essence of their cuisine and ultimately their culture, thus are also charming entertainers to guests when they strike up a conversation. the specialty drinks are amazing, from mango mojitos to ginger cocktails to delectable saketinis all do nothing but adding a little romance and closeness to guests. along with these killer cocktails are a list of heart-warming sakes and crisp beers that do nothing but adding more flavor to the delicious food. guests are also welcomed to dine at the bar to be catered to by friendly bartender whose top priority is nothing other than ensuring a memorable dining experience for customers.

overall, an amazing authentic vietnamese restaurant with reasonable price and an incredible staff that guests will leave fuller, and im not just talking about dining-sense!

• Pros: such a hidden gem in the restaurant industry with superb food, drink and service!
• Cons: awww, happy hour is before 7:00, why cant happiness be happier~haha.

12/24/08

Bad pho and bun bo hue

by chefjohn212

Baoguette is few block away, ( same chef as orginal bao111 and bao noodles). Better pho only $7. and i love their sandwich

12/22/08

AUTHENTIC VIETNAMESE GEM HIDDEN BEHIND A BUS STOP ON 2ND AVE... TRULY DELICIOUS, GREAT VIBES, GREAT PRICES!

by NamPhan08

Having lived all overSE Asia my entire life, I know the good eats when I find them!! (And they can be found here!)

I now eat here all the time ... I am currently craving the Ironpot Fish, Bun Bo Hue, PORK BELLY!!!! They have really great obscure specials like PIGS HEAD SALAD and BACON WRAPPED LIVERS ON A SKEWER too... Also very delicious Kwai-Lo friendly items like Red Snapper, Salt & Pepper Shrimp, Curry, Beef Stew, etc.

Don't let the winter go by without having their Pho Tai Nam. SO GOOD!!

Great restaurant to bring your friends or family... with a great little bar for drinking crazy good cocktails (cheap too!!) and snacking on little plates. 60s rock playlist is the bomb!!

You can't go wrong!!!

Surprise bonus treat -- BEST COFFEE IN NYC.

12/06/08

Best traditional vietnamese food!

by Liv223

I go to Bao Noodles all the time! I'm a regular there and they always treat me well. The food may not be extravagent, but it's still good and cheap. They have student discounts too (your lunch could be under 10 bucks!) There's also a really good cocktail list. All of them are made with fresh friut. If you're a sake fan, there's also lots of different sakes to choose from. I always sit at the bar with my friends. The bartenders are always fun to talk to. I highly recomend this place!