Mehhh, I hate having a disappointing meal. I was really craving pho, so I decided to check out Saigon Kitchen, a Vietnamese eatery located in the heart of Fort Lee.
The restaurant has a casual and cozy atmosphere with touches of traditional decor like bamboo sticks, wooden furniture, and open spaces with natural light. There are tables and booths to accommodate both small and large groups. I came in as a solo diner on a weekday afternoon and was seated immediately. There can be long wait times during peak dining hours, so I suggest coming earlier if you don't want to wait for a while.
The menu has your classic Vietnamese dishes like pho, banh mi, shaken beef cubes, lemongrass chicken, etc. They also have specialty Asian fusion dishes. Prices are fair and there's a 5% cash discount.
No complaints on the service. The servers are very friendly and warm. They start you off with complimentary hot tea. My food came out quickly. I ordered...
*Lemongrass Beef Grilled Skewers $9.95 (includes 2 skewers, spring onion, fried onion flakes, & soy bean peanut sauce) - The flavors were SO OFF. The peanut sauce had a funky taste. It barely tasted like peanuts. I don't know if they used too much vinegar or sugar, but either way... the ingredients were completely unbalanced!
The lemongrass marinade was not good at all. Meat that's been marinated with lemongrass usually has a very fragrant, tangy, and smoky aroma... this was not the case here. There was an overpowering minty/herbal/grassy flavor. Did they forget to add in shallots, garlic, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime, or soy sauce???? The beef was a bit tough and chewy... not tender at all.
*Pho Beef Combo (Phở Dặc Biệt) (includes beef broth, rice noodles, eye of round steak, brisket, tripe, tendon, meatballs, white onion, cilantro, & scallions with side of raw bean sprouts, thai basil, jalapeno pepper, & lime) $16.95 - This was decent... not bad, but not amazing. To my disappointment, the broth wasn't that aromatic, hot, or flavorful. It did not taste very beefy and the toasted spices like star anise, cinnamon, and coriander didn't shine through. Some of the cuts of beef were too chewy. The flat rice noodles were silky and fresh. They give you a lot of noodles and broth, but the meat portion is skimpy. I didn't enjoy my pho, so I had half of the bowl left over. I hate wasting food, so I packed it up and gave it to someone else LOL.
Not a terrible experience overall, but not memorable or great either. The staff is sweet and the ambiance is super homey... but the food was a disappointment. It didn't hit the spot and it didn't stand out from other Vietnamese restaurants I've been to...Maybe I have to try other dishes or give them a second shot...?
I'm not completely crossing this place off my list, but I'm not sure if I'd come back when there's better options in the area. read more