We finally made it to District 1 last Saturday for lunch. The reviews were great and as we checked out the menu at the door, a couple leaving gave us their unreserved thumbs-up.
I had the Pho, a classic Viet beef noodle soup which was pretty good. Not great but I enjoyed it. M had the crispy pork Vietnamese spring rolls which, she tells me, were ok although the dipping sauce was sickly sweet. I suspect it was commercially made and came out of a bottle. But, we enjoyed it enough to head back yesterday for lunch.
Oh what a difference a few days makes.
Firstly, our server had to check the menu to see whether they actually sold what M asked for, Vietnamese duck spring rolls. Now, since the menu only has around 25 items on it, surely you would have some idea of what was on it. I chose the previously mentioned pork spring rolls and requested some fresh chilli be added to them for extra zing. At least our server had heard of them.
Next disappointment, we were provided a bottle of chilled water which was appreciated on a hot Brisbane day, but folks, we all know that the tap water in Brizzo is disgusting. It tastes like it's been pumped straight out of the river and has a certain 'mud-like' taint to it. If you plan to serve tap water to your customers, please filter it first (and this goes for any restaurant in Brisbane).
So after 10 minutes, M received her rolls and some satay dipping sauce (we couldn't do the sickly sweet chilli sauce again). Pretty bland really and needed the sauce to give them any flavour at all. Meanwhile, I awaited my pork rolls with anticipation, and waited, and waited....
Now considering that there were only four customers, including us, in the place, and three staff, you would foolishly think that the service would be pretty slick. Nup. Nearly 10 minutes later, I'm still waiting for my rolls. How long does it take 3 staff to make 3 spring rolls?
Eventually, we had to bring it to their attention that when 2 people order 2 separate dishes, it is considered normal practice to deliver both dishes at around the same time. This caused them to spring into action and eventually I got my rolls. Fark me!!
And so to the final disappointment of our experience. When I asked for a little fresh chilli to be added, I kind of expected that it would be distributed throughout the roll. Not one big lump of chilli at one end that kicks your ass with the first bite followed but bland, tasteless spring roll to follow each subsequent bite.
District 1, you can do better. No, you should do better. If you wish to retain your good reviews, first, hire some staff that don't appear bored shitless and haven't got a clue about running a catering facility, and second, filter the water, please! read more