More good food in Paris
Spending lots of time in Paris means that you do not always eat French food. In fact, there are plenty of other good food places to be found.
Tonight I went out on a limb.
I was hungry for Pho Bac; it was raining (after some very hot days) and I was starving! While waiting for my laundry, I noticed a Vietnamese restaurant called Minh Ðuc. I had seen it before but never really thought much about it.
The place is a bit nondescript. Windows from the main street side are covered with bamboo shades. The sign seems a bit worn with age, red letters fading with each sunny day. The main door, too, is deceiving: it is not the actual 'main' door.
The tables are nicely laid and the atmosphere is typically Vietnamese: red napkins, music playing and a Buddha shrine in the corner. But the place was empty.
I was greeted warmly by a man who spoke little English (this, in the heart of the Sorbonne--a major tourist area--is a big plus on my list!). I told him I wanted Pho. He understood immediately.
I was presented with prawn crackers (the best I have ever had; usually they are way too 'fishy') and my wine.
I was impressed with the Pho. It was served in a smaller size bowl than usual in the US (and, really, about the right amount). The broth was savory but not dramatic. That left room for the full-flavor taste of the beef--not shreds of beef as in the US, but tender chunks. I always add chili paste and that only complemented the flavor of the broth. Bean sprouts and mint leaves on the side rounded out the experience.
No one else was there, so it was hard to get a feel for the atmosphere. I suspect that the location is not serving it well, but I certainly intend to try some of the other dishes. (And to those who have passed it by, I say, "You don't know what you are missing!")
Minh Ðuc
8, Rue de la Montagne Sainte Geneviève
75005 Paris
01 46 33 31 96
Métro: Maubert-Mutualité
(The address listed is the address the restaurant gives, though if you search for it, the address 1, Rue Basse des Carmes will show up: that is the real 'main' entrance, located on a small square.)
No credit cards; no website.
Tom
Tonight I went out on a limb.
I was hungry for Pho Bac; it was raining (after some very hot days) and I was starving! While waiting for my laundry, I noticed a Vietnamese restaurant called Minh Ðuc. I had seen it before but never really thought much about it.
The place is a bit nondescript. Windows from the main street side are covered with bamboo shades. The sign seems a bit worn with age, red letters fading with each sunny day. The main door, too, is deceiving: it is not the actual 'main' door.
The tables are nicely laid and the atmosphere is typically Vietnamese: red napkins, music playing and a Buddha shrine in the corner. But the place was empty.
I was greeted warmly by a man who spoke little English (this, in the heart of the Sorbonne--a major tourist area--is a big plus on my list!). I told him I wanted Pho. He understood immediately.
I was presented with prawn crackers (the best I have ever had; usually they are way too 'fishy') and my wine.
I was impressed with the Pho. It was served in a smaller size bowl than usual in the US (and, really, about the right amount). The broth was savory but not dramatic. That left room for the full-flavor taste of the beef--not shreds of beef as in the US, but tender chunks. I always add chili paste and that only complemented the flavor of the broth. Bean sprouts and mint leaves on the side rounded out the experience.
No one else was there, so it was hard to get a feel for the atmosphere. I suspect that the location is not serving it well, but I certainly intend to try some of the other dishes. (And to those who have passed it by, I say, "You don't know what you are missing!")
Minh Ðuc
8, Rue de la Montagne Sainte Geneviève
75005 Paris
01 46 33 31 96
Métro: Maubert-Mutualité
(The address listed is the address the restaurant gives, though if you search for it, the address 1, Rue Basse des Carmes will show up: that is the real 'main' entrance, located on a small square.)
No credit cards; no website.
Tom
posted by Tom - Ubiquity International at 1:21 PM Permalink
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