(Dined 10/07/13 M @ 3:00pm): The grass was certainly greener here!
I had to return a book for a friend at the nearby Silver Lake Library, so I took the opportunity and finally tried Gingergrass. I've lived in the surrounding area just over a year and rarely found myself on this side of the Lake, so dammit, I took advantage of the situation!
The menu was a bit limited but varied - which was fine - so it made ordering a swift process. Plus, I'd already cased the menu online before I arrived. Here was how it all went down:
Chicken & Kale Banh Mi ($8.95) - This lunch special is served on a French baguette with a side of pickled vegetables, herbs, chilies, and homemade spicy aioli. My server-of-all-traits also brought a bottle of Sriracha so I spiced the hell out of this. Right off the bat, everything was as fresh as could be. The chicken was marinated in something sweet and broke apart easily. The kale and other vegetables had a good crispness to them. However, I felt the baguette was a bit overly toasted all the way through as each bite calved a piece of bread like a glacier. But, I kept it together and all was devoured with the use of only one napkin. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=1XhKJHUg6QQ9fbu3PrfPBw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw
33 Bottled Beer ($4.50) - This light beer hit the spot on this 90-degree fall afternoon. The slight fruitiness and sweetness made me wish I were in an open-air cabana as I watched bikini-clad women jog along the beach a la "Baywatch". I could dream, right!? Certainly won't get that here in Silver Lake! http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=tRfZtG5MQx228EN0errB1w&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw
Service - Other than the table-of-four outside, I was the only other customer so I felt like the boss! I walked up to the counter, placed my order with a kind young woman, grabbed a seat outside and moments later my beer and a tall bottle of water were brought to me. Alittle more than five minutes later my meal was delivered. There was no need to check on me at this point until I finished my lunch, at which time the same woman cleared my table and left the check. All was easy-peasy.
Parking - I believed they had a private lot around the corner (don't quote me), but I didn't bother to check and instead parked at a meter (2 hours for $2.00 credit/cash) in front of the restaurant on the main drag of Glendale Blvd. This extra time gave me a chance to run across the street and hopped into a few neighboring businesses.
Atmosphere, décor, ambience - A simple and quaint layout with several tables/benches inside and an equal amount of outdoor tables, chairs, umbrellas, and heating lamps. With the exception of the chalk-scrawled menu on a blackboard there wasn't anything else hung on the naked walls. The walk-up counter was fully exposed to the area behind it while the kitchen was hidden in the back. I didn't notice any TVs or background audio. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=YfrrbqCyEydjjwf-yMcAFw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw
Attire - It was totally casual so I was in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops.
Overall, as with all Vietnamese food, Gingergrass was a cleansing experience and I felt good about myself after I was done. Generally speaking, the prices were on-par with most Vietnamese restaurants and I must go back to try their noodle dishes, salads, and soups. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (total experience was around $17.00 before tip), and the portion size left me full but not stuffed. And, they accepted my credit card of choice...AMEX! read more