| rev:text
| - This used to be the Cravin Cajun place. I hadn't been to either but I was headed somewhere else for dinner and this place caught my eye. I thought maybe it would be good.
It wasn't bad but wasn't something I would go back to, either.
It has an upbeat atmosphere. Everything is kind of new inside so it looks nice. There is a giant chalkboard that somebody spent a lot of time writing the signature dishes but the chalkboard is back in a corner so being a new customer, with so much other noise going on, I didn't even notice it until halfway into my meal. There's also an 8 foot picture of their lobster pho advertisement that is also positioned in a way that only the hostess pointing it out, I would've noticed. In a dimly lit place, these types of signs need a highlight light to get noticed.
The hostess asked if I wanted a booth but I was by myself so, I decided to sit at the bar. There was a guy bartender that seemed to be eyeing me like he was going to take my order. If I sit at a bar to order food, I prefer to order from a server but I've never been here so I just go with the flow.
The lobster pho obviously is something they are trying to push. I decided to try that. The price is listed as 'Market Price.' My personal opinion when a guest orders something listed with this label is that the server should suggest the price. Only after it is ordered. And, this is why...
A woman dressed in plain clothes who appeared to be either a manager or maybe even the owner because she was sitting with guests and overriding the register and accepting a delivery ( which was strange for 9pm on a Saturday night, but...who am I ). But, she casually walked by while I was eating and asked how it was. So, lemme get to that...the important part.
The lobster pho had the full shell as garnish. It was hollow but the only thing that gave the dish substance. The broth was clean and flavorful but was bare. There were the typical pile of noodles in the bottom of the bowl but the entire dish was 1. Broth 2. Noodles 3. Lobster 4. Couple slices of onion...from most to least. The flavor was right but I was hoping for more so when this manager asked me halfway through, I couldn't really give a correct assessment. If she asked me at the moment of service or after I was finished, I would probably have had more to say but asking while my mouth is full is an indication that something isn't right.
Like I said...it wasn't bad but it wasn't anything to knock my socks off. Although the dish is actually more traditional than the Americanized versions that are so popular, it was only so so. And, if the bill is going to show up $40 for the pho and $5 for tea, I would prefer to have known what it was going to be priced because what started as a so so dish dropped immensely upon learning what they value as such.
On a side note, the bartender was a little personal with his questions. I understand a bartender is supposed to be a sort of quasi therapist for patrons but he acted more like he was a reporter with his questions. And, I wasn't ordering any alcohol. But, he found out that I'm involved in a community event beauty pageant for girls. He told me that one of the servers was competing but, I think he was trying to grab my attention. Problem is, while trying to get the girls attention that he pointed out to me, she was almost running from me. I didn't recognize her but she was in work clothes so I just wanted to verify. He told me her name and I still didn't recognize it so I'm wondering if this is the same as the price of the pho...deceiving and in the end, a disappointment like getting a Thai massage without a happy ending.
It's a shame because the broth was good. The place has an upbeat atmosphere but the location is bad and the prices are a little inflated for being in a rundown area and getting surprised with a fifty dollar bill for soup and tea kills any good taste in my mouth. I know seafood is not cheap but I was thinking that would be the sugar on top. Instead, it was like eating a bowl of rice and after finishing, finding out it was actual fried meal worms.
I don't think I'll return again.
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