Of course being in Chicago, I've been getting a little homesick and in desperate need of some comfort food where I can find it. Recently Nina and I talked about searching for the perfect Pho place because nothings says comfort like Pho and Nina was completely on board.
This week with the weather changing a little and the holiday's tantalizingly close yet oh so very far I've decided to take Nina up on this adventure and off we went in search of Pho for dinner tonight. This is, however, a busy time for all of us at school with mountains of projects and finals looming dangerously close. We didn't have tons of time for a Pho break so we found a place that turned out to be less than a half hours walk from school and it was a beautifully warm fall night for us so we ventured off!
LOCATION: 567 W LAKE ST., CHICAGO, IL 60661
The sign outside was easy enough to find and as soon as we walked in we were in for a real treat. High ceilings and tight corners, this dining room had an air of loftiness while still feeling cozy. It was dark out when we arrived so candles and a low lighting situation made us feel like we were on a cute little date. How adorable of us. It location is pretty small and intimate but works as a whole space. They have a great chalkboard lunch menu on the wall by the door and a super clean and simple dinner menu that was given to us at our table.
Apparently Nina and I think alike and we both check out menu's for restaurants before we get there so it didn't take us very long to decide on what we wanted to order. We each ordered a small bowl of beef pho and decided to share the grilled baby octopus plate which came with cuttlefish ink rice.
Definitely a more modern take on traditional Vietnamese food but you know, when in America.
The broth itself was very flavorful with good spices and the meat was perfectly tender. There was a pretty good kick of cinnamon which is out of the ordinary but overall it wasn't a bad thing. Everything blended well together and, while different, it still was traditional enough to remind me of classic pho.
I wasn't really sure what to expect with the octopus plate but clearly Nina and I are all over octopus so it was a no brainer for us to split it. I was very interested in the cuttlefish ink rice and to me it resembled a couscous more. Still, it had a very familiar flavor I couldn't quite place. Delicious but elusive for sure. I was so intrigued but it I almost neglected the octopus. Cutting into it, it was a perfect consistancy. The octopus was super tender and not at all rubbery. It cut so smooth and was super clean. The flavor though, again, had a very cinnamon like quality to it. It was sweet yet spicy and bold at the same time. I actually felt that if it was served without the rice, I wouldn't be able to eat it. There balance definitely needed to be there and I was quite grateful for it because the octopus definitely couldn't stand on its own which I found to be a shame. I love seafood dishes where the seafood itself is the star and in this case, I found the cuttlefish ink rice to be more interesting and less negatively overpowering.
Overall, Nina said this place for her was worthy of a return visit. I on the other hand, wouldn't mind continuing my search for a solid Vietnamese restaurant to come back to. Not a bad choice, but too modern and experimental. I'd rather have a more traditional meal and leave the extra cinnamon for dessert.