In case you don't remember:
Anyway, our friend gushed over the Indochinois pho and declared it was the best in Tampa, so we had to go. Besides, we had never been to the new location on Dale Mabry. The last time, we dined at the Gandy Boulevard incarnation, and that was many years ago.
The Indochinois has a bright and modern decor, but we are always more interested in the food and service. The service was excellent! We were promptly seated, presented with menus, and our drink orders taken without being rushed.
Since I was the designated drinker, I requested a Vietnamese beer, and was pleased with my 333. Both I and our friend ordered the famous pho -"the" Vietnamese beef noodle soup. My bride ordered the Vietnamese Steak, a dish reminiscent of Bo Luc Lac or Shaking Beef.
I tried a bite of the Vietnamese Steak and it was pretty doggone good, but not as flavorful as a true Shaking Beef. My beef noodle soup was pretty pho-king* tasteless. It lacked the intense flavor that I was expecting after watching Boudain's food porn video. For all of the hours of preparation that we were told went into this soup I was expecting something extraordinary.
I added some cock sauce (so called because of the rooster on the label) and some fish sauce. Those two condiments just added heat and salt, but did not enhance the pho. True Vietnamese food should arouse intense delight to the taste buds. I am thinking Indochinois dumbed down the menu to appeal to the less discerning diner.
Damn, but does that not sound pompous? Yes, it does and I apologize - sort of. To me, flavor is important and it pains me to see this country breeding and weaning flavor from so much of our food.
I would definitely encourage you to dine at Indochinois, though. For you, it may be the best food you have ever had in your whole life. Really.
*Thanks to Jaden Hair's Steamy Kitchen for help with some of the terminology.
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