Sunday, I was determined to try a new spot on “restaurant row” (otherwise known as downtown Fourth Street). Deciding upon a restaurant is difficult on Fourth; there are so many types of food to choose from (Indian, Turkish, Italian, Tibetan, Vietnamese... it is almost overwhelming). Then, I remembered some positive feedback I read online about Mandalay, a small, locally owned Burmese restaurant. One word can sum up my encounter: AMAZING. From the service, to the atmosphere, to the food, it was a splendid mix of flavors served by friendly people--which is the best kind of experience for my money.
Not really knowing what I was in for, I settled on the house favorite, Pho. If you haven’t had the opportunity to try Pho, I can only describe it as a build-your-own soup adventure, served in a bowl the size of a barrel. This soup (as I call it), or noodle dish (as they call it), is basically a flavorful broth, chock-full of noodles and your choice of meat. On the side, you are served hoisin sauce, chili sauce and a plate of herbs and veggies to add in (basil, cilantro, jalapeños, bean sprouts and onion). The bowl is large enough to feed two, and if you have a crowd it comes in an extra large size. (I can’t even imagine how big that would be!)
Not knowing how big of a portion the Pho would be, my husband ordered the Beef Curry. The entrée consisted of a bowl of beef, cooked so tender it fell apart, smothered in a tomato-based curry sauce and served with a bowl of rice on the side. Feeling creative after making myself a bowl of Pho, I put some hoisin sauce on mine and made the meat and rice mixture a perfect blend of sweet, spicy and salty. The Beef Curry truly is one of the best things I have eaten. I would wholly recommend it to any carnivore.
Prior to Sunday, I had never eaten Burmese food. Now, I plan on being a Mandalay junkie. I can’t wait to go back.
A final suggestion: finish your Pho at the restaurant, or even better, bring a crowd to help you finish it. From my experience, Pho does not reheat very well for a next-day lunch. The noodles turn mushy and the meat did not taste very well reheated. But, it was still oh-so-good the first time around; so it is worth ordering.
