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| - Along St. Laurent in the heart of Chinatown Restaurant Pho Cali isn't the only Vietnamese available, but the large windows and clean modern interior make for an inviting option. There are nearly a dozen types of pho available coming in four different sizes, an appealing selection of rice dishes plus Vietnamese coffee and everything else expected of all reputable Vietnamese restaurants in Montreal. In the end, I opted for a large bowl of classic pho, the kind with thin slices of raw beef on top.
A warm pot of tea arrived with the menu and even though the restaurant was busy on a sunny Sunday afternoon in March, the service was fast. First to arrive on a small plate was a healthy portion of crisp bean sprouts, several sprigs of fresh mint and a lime wedge. My noodles arrived a moment later in an oversized steaming bowl, inside laid tender slices of beef, still pink in spots, covering expertly cooked rice noodles. Unfortunately, the broth was a murky brown and a bit heavy, not award winning, but passable.
I finished off the noodles and beef feeling satiated but not stuffed. I was obliged to treat myself to a Vietnamese iced coffee. If you've never had one, they are incredibly sweet and milky and so delicious. The first sip transported me straight back to Saigon where iced coffee is a way of life.
For about $15 Canadian dollars the bright atmosphere and ample good quality fresh ingredients will bring me back. Despite the experience of others, I thought the staff were doing a fine job, fast and efficient.
Overall it was a good value for my money and I'll go back when I'm hungering for pho in Chinatown.
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