Capoeira
Afro-Brazilian dance and martial arts at Ithaca Farmers Market on a rare warm November day.
Daylight Saving
It’ll be a while before I see even a hint of sun at the end of the day again.
Saigon Kitchen Ithaca
I made a second visit to Saigon Kitchen with coworkers. I have to admit: everything was really good. Being in Upstate New York for two years hadn’t given me much reason to be optimistic about the quality of any new Vietnamese restaurant, but I was happily proven wrong.
They didn’t have the bánh xèo available, which was disappointing, but the bún thịt nướng was grilled just about perfectly (although it probably could have been sliced more thinly). A couple of my coworkers also got bún (rice noodle) dishes with shrimp and chicken and as far as I can tell they enjoyed them as well. The gỏi cuốn (summer rolls) would have benefited from more herbs embedded, but were otherwise tasty, with great accompanying peanut and hoisin sauces.
I had gotten the phở last time and wasn’t disappointed. The two coworkers who ordered it this time are familiar with pho in larger cities and also came away pleased. When I last came here they brought out a little dish with small amounts of hoisin sauce and chili sauce within. This time the two sauces were out in squeeze bottles on the table, just as you’d expect in a “real” Vietnamese restaurant. One complaint I have is that they brought out a single dish of bean sprouts and basil to share between the two bowls of pho at the table. It’s pretty standard practice to give each pho consumer their own herbs and to include mint and lime as well. Also, fans of true “dac biet” (special) bowls will miss having tripe in the mix (I’m not one of these people). Minor issues, though.
They have an extensive vegetarian menu, which is a must in Ithaca. My wife and I will be exploring these options in depth soon.
The interior is clean and well-decorated, the service quick and friendly.
Bottom line: Philadelphia and Northern Virginia it’s not, but Saigon Kitchen is definitely recommended. Let’s keep it alive.
CTB
No escape from Ithaca at Lake Fred, Richard Stockton College, Galloway, New Jersey (my home town)
Phở
The phở at Saigon Kitchen is remarkably acceptable for Upstate New York. Opened by the owners of Wok Village (who already had the best pho in town), this new restaurant seems to have upped their Vietnamese food game with more flavorful broth and a larger variety of dishes. I’ll be back to try their other menu items and give a more comprehensive review.
That said, even at this early stage I can ask: Can we please put Vietnam Restaurant in Collegetown out of business now?
Book sale line
The Friends of the Tompkins County Public Library Book Sale (located on the same block as GrammaTech) is serious business.
