Kevin T.
Yelp
Tried this place based on it being featured on a local blog site. I haven't had the best luck with Viet-Fusion types of places but the food looked great and there were some classic dishes on the menu that caught my eye like Banh Xeo and Bo Luc Lac.
Service:
I think they are still trying to figure out the service model. It's small space with only about 14 high top seats. You order from the counter and they bring you the food.
Ordering and paying was simple but food all came out at different times and took a little long which I guess is standard for tapas, however, not standard for a traditional vietnamese joint. If you're not sharing, I recommend telling them that you want everything at once.
Overall, service was okay. I'll chalk it up to it being a new place and them still ironing out some kinks. Not a big deal.
Food:
We had the Banh Xeo, Bo Luc Lac and the Pho Bo Kho.
Two things you need to remind yourself to avoid extreme disappointment: portions are smaller size and dishes are modern interpretations, despite the authentic Vietnamese names on the menu.
Although modernized, the authentic flavours are there. They used tenderloin for the Bo Luc Lac so the meat was tender and cooked perfect med-rare. The acidity of the watercress salad cut through the meat nicely. The Pho Bo Kho was a good interpretation with nice chewy, thin rice noodles and leaner cuts of meat. The Banh Xeo was a disappointment only because I was looking forward to the traditional crispiness of the Banh Xeo accompanied with fresh herbs which is the hallmark of this dish. This version was more like a salad roll.
Overall:
Here's why I'm happy we tried Vit Beo but why we were left wanting and will not return.
The menu reads like an authentic Vietnamese restaurant serving up traditional dishes but we have read reviews describing it as "Vietnamese street food" or "Vietnamese tapas".
I should note that the adjectives "Vietnamese street food" and "Viet tapas" are from reviewers and not from Vit Beo itself. Although, herein might lie the problem. Vit Beo, to me, doesn't yet know where it fits in the food scene. As such, its customers may be confused.
We went in expecting either homely dishes shared in abundance (Vietnamese), or cheap eats eaten in unassuming surroundings (Street Food), or more subtle bites slowly consumed in a cozy atmosphere over drinks and conversation (Tapas). I think I would have been happy if even one of these experiences was met.
However, the portions were small relative to the price and although after each bite I thought "this tastes good", my next thought was "I could have gotten 'just as good' down the block at a traditional Viet joint for less money and for nearly twice the portion size.
As for being a Viet tapas joint, I wasn't feeling it. Through the layout and lighting I felt like I was sitting at a deli counter - somewhere I wanted to order, pay, eat, leave; not somewhere I wanted to savour small bite after small bite along with a beverage (or two...three...). This feeling was reinforced with the people queuing up to order at the counter just feet from you and with having to get up to go to the counter to get things like sharing plates, cups, etc....
The most unfortunate part is that despite there being dishes that showcased some culinary vision and talent in pushing the frontier of Vietnamese cuisine while respecting its heritage and flavours, on our drive home from Vit Beo this was overshadowed by jokes about the looks on the faces of the other customers when their small $14 bowl of Pho arrived or about how there were at least two other people (including ourselves) on their phones during dinner researching where to go to nearby afterward to get full.
In fairness, for similar reasons to the above, I've yet to find a fusion Vietnamese restaurant that works. If anyone has any suggestions in the Toronto area, I would love to hear about them. :)
