Rice Paper Eatery Experience

He Said

I have been wanting to go to Rice Paper for some time now and finally got to choose the restaurant for lunch and it was top of my list. Now I have learned that some people less open to the idea of trying new foods hear Vietnamese and immediately turn me down, but what a mistake they are making. My first experience with Vietnamese was in San Jose when I was pressured into trying Pho, thank you unnamed client of mine. It was a delicious experience that I have since become addicted.
The problem with Rice Paper is that not only do I have delicious Pho options to choose from but also amazing fresh spring rolls, a page of them to be exact. But on this chilly day I was committed to getting my fill of the hot Pho. But as usual I was pressured into trying a few rolls just for tasting sakes. We did the crispy pork roll and the fresh surf and turf roll. Both were delicious and worth repeating any day of the week, though for the rolls I recommend coming for happy hour as the rolls are reduced in price. In all honesty the prices are fair in my opinion even during the busy meal times when everything is full price. The crispy roll come cut diagonally with mint, lettuce and a sauce. They recommend wrapping the roll in the lettuce with a few sprigs of mint. Delicious is what first came to mind followed by, “what a wonderful combination of flavors, the mint really changes it”. The second roll was shrimp and pork which had been marinated in something a little sweet. Along with the usual accompaniment in a spring roll all wrapped in rice paper. It had a delicious peanut sauce for dipping and if I had no self-control I would have taken the bowl and licked it clean. Just writing this is making me crave it.
The main event is the Pho. While everyone else at the table opted for the shrimp version I went with the filet mignon. There are others worth thinking about but we all felt we picked the right ones for our individual cravings. The filet was cooked perfectly and I didn’t need any of the sauces they provide you. Although I am sure it would have been great to use as a dipping sauce for the meat as the recommended to us. I think one of the great things about Pho is the ability to almost season to your own taste with the side of items you can choose to put in your soup or not. Not to mention that the noodles are the best noodles ever. The broth was just a little sweet as I remembered it from my trip to San Jose. Now that I found a group of friends who are addicted to the Pho as well I look forward to adding this into my regular rotation of favorite places.

She Said

As we approached the cute restaurant that sits on the east side of 7^th Street, I got the feeling I was really going to like this place. Cute and quaint with a friendly staff that greeted us as we entered the patio. “He” has been craving Vietnamese and has wanted to try Rice Paper for quite a while now. Me, being a Pho virgin, was excited to see what this Pho was all about.

We started our meal at an outside table ordering Pork Crispy Spring Rolls, Surf & Turf Fresh Spring Roll and The Fire Cracker Shrimp. Wow! All were excellent. The waiter suggested to wrap the Pork Crispy Spring Roll in lettuce and add a sprig of mint. What a vast array of flavors; the salty pork and fried roll were counterbalanced by the refreshing earthy taste of the mint and lettuce. The Surf & Turf Fresh Spring Roll was light and cool. Rice Paper filled with veggies, shrimp and pork which brought thoughts of summertime to mind. It was accompanied by a peanut sauce that was so delicious I wanted to eat with a spoon. The Fire Cracker Shrimp was my naughty selection. The shrimp were crisp and tossed in a fiery glaze with a perfect punch. Just enough heat to warm ya up inside but not burn your mouth. Unfortunately, the shrimp didn’t keep me warm for very long and the weather took a cold turn and a bee wouldn’t leave me alone so we moved our party inside.

Indoors the restaurant has a modern vibe, but still very comfortable. The bar was packed with patrons dining alone. We opted for the long community table in the center of the restaurant, and it was Pho time. Pho (pronounced like Fuh) is a Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, bean sprouts and meat. Boy, have I been missing out! This was Pho-nomenal! (yes, there was a ton of Pho jokes happening at our table) The steamy bowl arrives with a side of herbs & spices and you can choose what you want to add or omit. “He” suggested to go for it, so I dumped them all in. The fragrance is strong but so magnificent you would have guess you were walking through an herb garden. My first bite was mostly noodles but the noodles alone were delectable as they had soaked up all the wonderful flavors from the bowl. Each bite was better than the last and left me with a pleasant comforting feeling. The shrimp was tasty but I believe any meat in this broth would be.

The prices seemed very reasonable for the amount and quality of food. I was pleasantly surprised when the bill came which added to my new love for this place. If you haven’t tried Pho I highly recommend it, it was a great experience for my first time. I can’t wait to visit Rice Paper again… Pho-realz!