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Baoguette
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
120 Christopher St(between Bleecker St & Bedford St)
New York, NY 10014
Neighborhood: West Village
(212) 929-0877
- Nearest Transit:
-
Christopher St - Sheridan Sq (1, 2)
W 4 St (A, B, C, D, E, F, M)
Houston St (1, 2)
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
113 reviews for Baoguette
Review Highlights
"The vegetarian banh mi is so good."
(in 40 reviews)
"Satisfied my picky Vietnamese taste for Pho."
(in 51 reviews)
"I went with the sloppy bao which is a curried beef with..."
(in 11 reviews)
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113 reviews in English
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Review from Lindy G.
Manhattan, NY
1/5/2012
I've never actually been inside Baoguette, but I order delivery from them at least once a week. At least. They deliver quickly, and a few of their dishes are really quite good.
5 stars for the Sticky Fried Rice. That stuff is potentially my favorite (reasonably priced) dish in the West Village. It has a fantastic nut and green onion topping, and it is just the right amount of greasy. Occasionally this dish has an off-night, but I would estimate that it is fantastic 9 out of 10 times. I've had it at least 20.
4 stars for the Tiger Shrimp Rolls. They are fresh and delightful.
4 stars for the Crispy Spring? Rolls. They are a bit too salty for my taste, but I know that most people love salt, so I recognize that they are quite good even if they are not great for those of us who are salt sensitive.
3 stars for pretty much everything else. Some people love the Bahn Mi Sandwich. I think it's meh. Plus, if I want a Vietnamese sandwich, I am going to Num Pang. No question. -
Review from C. H.
New York, NY
2/9/2012
This place is kind of hard to review...
I've been going since they opened. The banh mi USED to be amazing, fresh tasting
and unbelievably inexpensive for the W.V. The service was horrible with the waitstaff being disinterested at best and downright hostile sometimes... But whatever. I live in a quirky neighborhood so a little shade isn't going to keep me from eating good and cheap.
The last two sandwiches I got from there (same ones, fried fish) have tasted like I bit into a pickled cod and slathered in sugar laden msg sauce. SERS GROSS.
BUT. The pho has stayed inexpensive and really good as well as some of the cold noodle dishes... What gives? The waitstaff is sweet as can be now too. I don't get it. But I'm still totally getting it. As long as they can keep managing pretty good food at very good prices with ok service overall. I'm down. -
Review from Daniel B.
Updated - 12/9/2011
Ordered a few bahn-mi sandwiches from here. They were good, but I would stay away from the veggie options. I had the regular veggie, and my friend had a "house special" -- both had this weird meat-ish soy protien type thing in them that was just... how can I say this... not a great thing to put in your mouth? I mean, it tasted okay, and its texture was okay, but somehow overall, you just didn't want to be eating it. The sandwich would've been better without it, just loaded up with the diakon and the carrot and the whatever else.
(I'm not vegetarian, so I'm not used to the fake-meat stuff. But my friend is a long-term hard-core vegetarian and she didn't like it either. So it wasn't just me.)Listed in: Pho Spots
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/17/2011
I came here twice to try the pho, and this review is of the pho only.
I had the pho real (a.k.a pho… Read more »
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Review from Lucy B.
Brooklyn, NY
1/18/2012
I love this place! I dined in and the seating area is nothing fancy but very comfortable and cozy with a nice vibe and pretty wallpaper. Service is great. The raw beef pho was delicious; the broth was flavorsome and light. The banh mi was extremely fresh and tasty. The chicken summer rolls were just ok; I'll be trying the crispy rolls next time. Try this place pho sure!
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Review from Andrea W.
New York, NY
1/15/2012
Favourite pho restaurant in the city, hands down. Fresh ingredients, great pricing, and decent service/seating. I only wish they delivered on a wider scale.
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Review from Rachel Ann D.
Jersey City, NJ
10/7/2011
The banh mi classic sandwich is delicious, and what makes it even more amazing is that it's only $6. Ordered it to-go at lunchtime on a friday, and even though it's a small place, the service is super fast thanks to this little vietnamese lady at the front of the restaurant who makes the sandwiches.
(One of the things that suck about take out sometimes is that it sits in the kitchen under the heat lamps until some busy waitress has a second to bring it to you - not here!)
Fast, delicious and the only reason i wouldn't rate it 5 stars is because the cashier was a snob. -
Review from audrey w.
New York, NY
Updated - 12/23/2011
I came back a few times after our initial visit and the quality has gone down tremendously. The bread isn't as good and the filling doesn't taste the same. It's a shame because I always looked forward to getting my bahn-mi fill from baoguette.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/2/2009 First to Review
Mmmmmnnnn. Finally, it has opened to the public. Today was opening day. Perhaps the newness of… Read more »
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Review from Greg P.
New York, NY
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Erica and I stopped in here to catch a banh mi break during a bike ride, and had the classic sandwich and a hot vietnamese coffee.
Pretty good sandwich, really good coffee, nice place. Would like to go back more in the evening to try some of the other items, and perhaps another banh mi also :P -
Review from Tommy N.
Manhattan, NY
1/8/2012
I ordered pick up. Good sandwiches, but nothing too special.
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Review from Don K.
Manhattan, NY
1/25/2012
I ordered delivery last week from these guys. Usually I'm satisfied with my meal. I ordered the crispy spring rolls. When it came, I bit into a spring roll and got what I expected along with some very unwanted hair like several pieces of hair. It was really gross. Totally ruined my experience, don't think I can go again.
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Review from mike l.
Brooklyn, NY
Updated - 9/9/2011
finally made it back for actual food and the only reason they added a star was because they managed to get everything in one bag. Surly service, bland pho and no tripe as promised. Plus, they've got a sign above the register that says "Eat shit & die" actually it says "We reserve the right to refuse service anyone we fucking please" (I might've added that last part) but seriously, why be that confrontational?
No reason to go back.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/6/2011
they'd rather let me walk out then accept a credit card for under $10. I get it, there are fees, but… Read more »
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Review from Helen Y.
New York, NY
12/27/2011
Pho Sure I've had better Vietnamese sandwiches than at this bahn mi outpost called now Baogette Pho Sure. I never microwave my food so when I came in here to get the catfish bahn mi, I was horrified to to see the "cook" throw a hero into the microwave. He had a look of total distraction on his face and kept looking around, as if he would rather be anywhere but behind the counter. I didn't see him cook anything else so I have no idea how he heated up the fish.It was quite bizarre. As soon as you come in there is this counter, where the cook does up your bahn mi. But in the back, there is also a kitchen. So methinks the production process is to cook the food in the back and keep a stockpile up front. The fish was warm, not hot so I guess it was already precooked. and sitting in a warmer behind the counter.The sauce on the fish was tasty, a combo of mustard and sriracha and some other mystery ingredients but the microwaved bread was starting to get that tough chewiness that happens when you nuke bread. Eeck...I will stick to Baogette Cafe on St. Marks. There the cook actually cooks the food up. The fish tastes much fresher and the bread is crispy and soft on the inside.
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Review from Jerome Espinosa B.
Staten Island, NY
11/9/2011
My friend and I were the last customers one evening here; I had their pho real (with almost raw beef slices that were cooked by the steaming soup) that I thought was awesome. My friend had their version of sloppy joe sandwich. We had dark lager beer from Laos, too, which I thought was mildly strong (and another 1 of which would have made me tipsy!). The cashier explained to me that the drawings on 1 side of their walls came from classical drawings by a known Vietnamese artist from the north, which she did after I remarked how lovely they looked on the walls. Service was, on the overall, OK. We'll be back for sure.
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Review from Diandra D.
New York, NY
5/30/2011
The Good: Baoguette has hands-down the best Vietnamese sandwiches I have ever eaten (the classic Banh Mi is spectacular, the Sloppy Bao a close second).
The Not So Good: I was not a fan of their bun. We ordered the chicken one afternoon, which came out with little flavor. The chicken had some taste, but it was presented in huge chunks that were fatty, so I barely ate any of it. Our waitress had no personality and made us feel like every request was an inconvenience.
My recommendation: Order the sandwiches and some appetizers to go and make a picnic out of it somewhere with better company and more scenery. -
Review from Christine L.
Newport Beach, CA
8/16/2011
O Baoguette!!! I wanted you to taste so good!!! Unfortunately, it was not the case. I love banh mi! Hailing from California and being half Vietnamese, I have expectations but I am always willing to give credit where credit is due.
I tried their specialty catfish banh mi and it was simply mediocre. I thought this sandwich would be the best one to try, given it is what Baoguette is famous for, but after the 2nd bite, my hopes were dashed. The weirdest part is that each individual part of the bahn mi tasted great but not together. Baguette was good, pickled onions good, heat good, cilantro good, mustard good, and catfish good. But in the end, all the flavors ended up fighting one another and thus, over powered the whole sandwich.
Sigh, I will give Baoguette another chance with another one of their sandwiches someday but for now, its a no thank you. -
Review from Taiyo O.
Updated - 3/14/2011 4 photos
I don't fancy their Pho but their hot soup was a perfect food for a cold night. Our waiter suggested to try new items. He pointed out claypot.
"Perfect for this cold night!" so he said.
Those two items were what our waiter recommended.
.
Spicy Pork - had a Japanese flavor, Sukiyaki. Eating with white rice (Jasmin) worked perfectly for me. It wasn't spicy enough for me though. I wish I asked for very spicy.
Chicken Ginger - soy, sugar and ginger worked well in a sauce. It's the same sauce from Pork dish but had ginger in it.
Those items were not cooked in a claypot unfortunately. I wish they were cooked in a pot. Then, hot pot keeps warm the dish for a long time but then, heat may overcook the meat...?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/10/2009
This review was written early part of this year.
Modern Vietnamese-Asian American space that I felt… Read more »
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Review from Angel E.
Manhattan, NY
11/1/2011
The coziest neighborhood spot!! This place is absolutely underrated.
The spicy hanger steak salad is so fresh and crisp...its a mouthwatering burst of flavors!!! They don't skimp on the steak and the prices are pretty amazing.
I love to go in here on a nice crisp sunday, get tipsy off some SAKE and warm up with a delicious bowl of Pho noodle soup.
I took off a star because sometimes they aren't the friendliest, but i feel like they're working on it!!! -
Review from elvir c.
3/24/2011
Did someone say Banh Mi? Oh yes, and a damn good one too.
Vegetarian veguette. With kung pao soy protein and the usual players. Ordered spicy, but this one seemed super spicy, so much that the top of my head started to sweat, haha! But tasty indeed. Lots of protein but not enough pickled veggies in my opinion. Fresh, crisp, substantial and filling.
Nicely toasted crusty, chewy, dense baguette held everything well.
Overall, a solid sandwich. Banh Mi likey. -
Review from Ashley O.
Westminster, CA
1/17/2011
With its cozy and warm interior, this place is perfect for a cold winter night when you're craving Vietnamese comfort food. Besides offering up some hearty bowls of pho with catchy names like "pho sure" and "pho real", Baoguette serves inventive and tasty banh mi.
As with most first-time dining experiences, I often ask the waiter/waitress for recommendations or personal favorites. I was taken aback by the overwhelming enthusiasm of the waiter as he suggested I try the veguette, their vegetarian banh mi. Sign me up! I'm all for trying new and unique menu offerings. As with all their banh mi, you can customize the spice level according to the amount of heat you can tolerate.
I was floored by the abundance of flavors and textures of the veguette - kung pao soy protein nestled with all the standard fixings in a warm, toasty baguette. You don't have to be be vegetarian to appreciate that this sandwich could pass for the real deal. I shared the veguette and the classic with my epicurean counterpart, but by the end of the meal, I secretly wished I had ordered the veguette all for myself. Don't get me wrong, the classic baoguette is good, but the veguette stole the spotlight.
If you're looking for something delectable and different, don't pass up the chance to be vegetarian for the night.Listed in: Bewitched by Sandwiches
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Review from Dan R.
11/2/2010
On my first visit to Baoguette, my reason for ordering the Sloppy Bao (spicy red curry beef, green mango, basil, and jalapenos) was two-fold:
1) It was listed as a signature sandwich and when I'm at somewhere new's mercy, I'm gonna go with their specialty.
2) I'm a slob of an eater to begin with, so I figure - why not order something sloppy from the get-go to save myself the embarrassment?
That being said, the Sloppy Bao is like Sloppy Joe's hot mess Vietnamese cousin. She's not the most classically attractive thing out there, but, man, is she a good time. The meat is so finely minced and pretty spicy to boot, offset nicely by the shredded green mango. It's not the biggest banh mi (if it can even be considered such) I've taken down, but it certainly packs a punch.
For the table, we also ordered the Special Sticky Rice (bbq chicken, chinese sausage, scallion oil, and crushed peanuts). It came out in a giant ramen bowl of sorts with a presentation that looked more delicious than it actually was. Again, the meat was the stand-out here, but the rice was super-sticky and a little on the bland side. Regardless, it's certainly recommended alongside that hot bitch Bao. That girl's a firecracker.Listed in: Bad-Ass Sandwiches
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Review from Wing L.
1/4/2011
This place is definitely a "pho sho", as the sign on the restaurant says. Though, I'm not here to rave about their phos. I'm here to talk about their pork sandwiches on a french baguette. With a generous helping of veggies and roasted pork tucked inside a crispy baguette, this sandwich steals the spot light. If you can handle the spice, tell them VERY SPICY, it's not too spicy that you won't be able to enjoy it, but it will give your taste buds a good kick in the pants (if they wore pants).
Also, their sticky rice is AMAZING!, do try it! I'm Chinese so I'm used to eating sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves.. But there's something about Chinese traditional sticky rices that begs the question.. "where's the meat!?" The rice tends to overpower the meat. Not at this place, the portion is so generous! Abundance of Fatty pork and Chinese sausages. I tried counting the Chinese sausages thinking I'd have fingers remaining but there was a lot! If pigs fly, they'd land on this sticky rice lol.
Good place for a quick bite. Decor is minimum but the food makes up for it. Yosh! I'm sold! -
Review from mae s.
ASTORIA, NY
2/15/2011
Lame food, who the heck puts taco ingredients ontop of sticky rice?
The rudest waitress I have ever encountered. Talked back, sarcasm and had major additude for no reason (I'm really not a demanding or rude person- I promise!). I tried to not give her a tip at all, but my sweet friend forced me to at least throw her a dollar....one dollar she didn't even deserve.
Never again, bye. -
Review from Megan H.
New York, NY
1/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was a cold slushy night and a warm bowl of pho sounded so good. WRONG. The pho is very uninspired at this Baoguette outpost. The broth was very watery. Steer clear and head to Chinatown for cheaper better pho.
Also had two of the banh mi sandwiches (original pork and vegette). Both the pork and veggie "meat" had a cloying sweetness I could not get past. The only plus- loved the bread! Wish I had several of the rolls at home to make sandwiches on. I took a lot of the meat off and ate the bread with veggies.
Don't plan to return anytime soon. Perhaps good in a bind, but there are better options in the area. -
Review from Darwin G.
Updated - 7/5/2010
Deviating from my natural habitat, the East Village cousin Baoguette, getting some pizza on Bleecker did not work out with their absurd dinner lines. Baoguette was quick, delicious, and a clear choice to be our alternate plan.
The differences:
No soft serve ice cream
More accommodating for sitting down and having dinner
A more extensive menu
For appetizer's the shrimp toast reminded me of a dim sum dish on little slices of their baguette. The sandwiches my friends ordered obviously are the same, but I was more adventurous. Chicken thigh over rice. A sweet light sauce that can be poured all over it. Cucumber, daikon, and carrots on the side.
Baoguette is no one trick pony. Their food is fantastic, cheap, and its a fine place for a casual dinner.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/9/2009
I've been to the one on St. Marks a few times. This place is a lot bigger and it really well… Read more »
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Review from Meredith X.
Hoboken, NJ
2/17/2011
The service is mediocre. The multiple times that we have been here, the servers were so rude and impatient when taking orders and delivering checks!
The banh mi is delicious though! I love the baguette that it comes on it is so crispy and they put just enough of all the ingredients! The vegetarian one is actually very good as well but definitely not on part with the original. I'm not sure what type of replacement meat they use (tasted like gluten?) but it was overly sweet as mentioned in some of the previous reviews.
Easy place to grab something to go or come in for a quick bite. -
Review from Diana Z.
New York, NY
12/11/2010
This is my standby takeout place. First, the noodle soups are sooo hearty and delicious - especially in the winter. Second, the cold noodle dishes are a fantastic thing to keep in the fridge for later eats. Third, the bahn mi is legit! My favs are the vegette (I'm not even vegetarian - but this is really tasty) and steak/egg.
I wouldn't recommend the vietnamese iced coffee (overpriced and not that good) and the sloppy bbq pork bahn mi. Oh, but try the MASH drinks - I love the blood orange flavor (kind of like Orangina)! -
Review from Aaron C.
6/4/2010
This is more for Pho Sure (the sit-down Pho/Banh-focused section at the back) rather than Baoguette (the barstool quick sandwich joint up front)...
Despite being all the way in the village, we've been here at least 3 times over the past month or so (they're so good, I lose track).
1st trip I was quite impressed with the large Tiger Prawn Summer Rolls & the Pho Sure, mild broth that was not too sweet (unlike most of the dressier viet joints), tender beef, with plenty of fragrant basil leaves thrown in.
2nd trip I was a bit underwhelmed by the classic Baoguette, though wifey's Catfish Banh Mi looked yummy (reminiscent of ChaCaLaVong, for those who've ventured to Hanoi for this unforgettable grilled tumeric fish dish).
3rd trip, I finally got around to ordering rice... and made it a sticky rice with chinese sausages and grilled chicken. Simply fantastic. It reminded me of the under $1 glutinous rice market breakfasts I used to have as a child back in Malaysia, except that this was cooked vietnamese-style... tender, fragrant, well marinated with a hint of spice. That'll be my favorite dish here from now on!
A side note: the service used to be really good, but we got a very irritable new waitress last night who shoved us into a corner for a good 15 minutes while we waited for a table at the rear. Nonetheless, looking past her fake smiles, it was a wonderful tasty simple meal. My fave in the (west) village to date -- probably because I have picky asian tastebuds!Listed in: Best in Class
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Review from Vi N.
4/19/2011
to really see how good their banh mis are here, i had to order the classic, and suprisingly, it's pretty tasty! i wouldnt go as far as saying it's the best banh mi ever, but compared to most banh mi spots I've had in nyc, baoguette classic banh mi gets 2 thumbs up!
it's kinda pricy for banh mi, but it's nyc, everything is pricy =[ -
Review from Audrey J.
11/9/2009
"Is that...char siu?"
While I'm pretty sure that the "classic banh mi" here is anything but (classic, that is), this place gets my stamp of approval for offering a decently tasty and generously portioned $5 (sandwich) meal option in the middle of you're-charging-me-$35-for-a-lobster-roll-when-I-k now-lobster-is-dirt-cheap-you-shameless-price-goug ers territory.Listed in: Short & [Sometimes] Sweet
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Review from jane d.
New York, NY
2/9/2010
If you're a pho snob, don't bother with the version, here. The meat is really nicely sliced -- very thin -- but the broth tastes like it's five spice mixed with water. I'm hardly exaggerating. It really is almost that bad.
OTOH, the "classic banh mi", while not exactly classic as Audrey J. pointed out, tastes pretty good, anyway. The bread is proper bahn mi bread with rice flour mixed into the wheat, resulting in a lighter, crispier and more tender texture than your average baguette. There's a nice schmear of pate, and a good amount of pickled vegetables and cilantro. However, as some other Yelpers have noted, the crumbly roasted porky stuff is a touch too sweet. In the other extreme, the "barbecued" chicken sandwich is a bit bland: The chicken is very lightly marinated and tastes pan fried or sauteed, not grilled.
I wouldn't go to Baoguette for pho except in case of a real phomergency, but if it's banh mi you're after and you're not a stickler for authenticity, you could do worse than the "classic". Two stars for pho, three for banh mi. Since there ain't much competition in the W. Village, I'll probably be back, driven by desperation. -
Review from Geezy B.
New York, NY
5/26/2009 2 photos
I feel privileged to have Baoguette not only near my work area, but now near my apartment.
I like this Baoguette location over the St. Mark's one because it's more quiet and personable. Quiet is not good for business, but I really hope this particular location sticks around despite the less walking traffic on Christopher St. vs. St. Mark's St.
p.s. - I still ain't buying their $8 bowl of Pho or Bun Bo Hue. Y'all know that ain't right. I'm from San Francisco. C'mon now. -
Review from Selma E.
Manhattan, NY
12/23/2011
we have the barbecue chicken baguette which is very good...BUT the wait staff's attitude is abysmal...unsmiling...surly...curt...and graceless. we went yesterday and it's the last time we go there. do yourself a favor, and order take out and avoid the rude waitresses.
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Review from kathleen c.
New York, NY
12/15/2009
In a desperate search for pizza, I stumbled upon Baoguette/Pho Sure. Cheap Vietnamese sandwiches but not as dirty as Mr. Lee's of Irvine, CA fame? DONE.
I was quite confused as to whether the place did bahn mi or pho, but it turns out that there are two parts to the restaurant: the front, which has just a few high tables and stools to sit and eat your bahn mi, and the back, which has sit down booths to eat pho. I asked the owner (who was extremely--maybe too much so--friendly and attentive) which was which, and he told me "We are BOTH." Can't argue with that.
If you've had baoguette anywhere else, it's pretty much the same, just in a swanky Greenwich Village locale. I'm not sure if they also serve young coconut juice at the other places, but this one had some, which to me tasted exactly like... southeast asia. My friend wasn't too into it (too alkaline for her, we decided), but if you're into that kind of thing, then try some!
I got my standard Baoguette order--BBQ chicken, and they adjusted the spiciness for me because I'm a weaksauce like that. I'm not sure what they do to the meat, but it tastes so tender and delicious. All the flavors melt together and then you've got a bit of pickled cucumber and cilantro to finish it off. So delicious.
If i'm ever in the area and need to eat something quickly and on the go--this would be my first choice! -
Review from greg w.
New York, NY
10/30/2011
The only reason they are not getting a 5 is because of the service. I think the guys are pretty nice its the girls on the team they need to go! We go at least twice a month and they need to get some new help. The pho is one of the best I have had and the price is right. I will keep going since I don't have a decent place in my Hells Kitchen neighborhood. The baguette sandwich is also super yummy...
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Review from Dan T.
1/13/2010
Looks like the classic Bahn Mi has crept up from $5 to $6. I like how the bread is hollowed out to accommodate more Bahn Mi goodness within while maintaining the crunchy crust of a toasted baguette (akin to enjoying the muffin top without having to deal with the extraneous muffin stem). The ham mixture (sorry - "pork terrine") had slightly sweet sickly tang to it, but was redeemed by the standard pickled radishes, mayo, and other usual suspects.
The pho is also a satisfactory showing, demonstrating respectable flavour in the broth before any potential dousing in sriracha or hoisin sauce. But honestly, it is REALLY hard to screw up pho. Plus, it just pains me to pay $8 for a regular bowl of pho when you can get comparable (if not more complex and interesting) offerings for dollars cheaper elsewhere.
A quick sneak off my friends' plates gave a hint of succulent wonderment to be had with the hanger steak, but a bit of a salty mess in the curried ground beef of the sloppy bao. Granted, perhaps it needed to be consumed in conjunction with the other components for balance, but I'll have to give it another go before the final verdict.
So if you just happen to be walking down Christopher Street and have an insatiable craving for Pho or Bahn Mi that must be immediately satisfied, this is not such a bad place to satisfy said craving. But if you are actually planning ahead or can keep your urges at bay for just a smidgen longer, just head over to Chinatown and knock yourself out for dollars less. -
Review from Lauren M.
Manhattan, NY
10/29/2010
Another yucky Baoguette sandwich that I have to throw in the garbage. I have been to this location 5 times and had the classic each time. 2 times excellent, 2 times disgusting. I gave it a fifth and final tie breaker chance today, and the verdict is: GARBAGE.
So, what's the issue? Primarily the flavor of their pate. The sandwich isn't all bad, but on the two occasions both my husband AND I had to throw them out, the sandwich had a stinky, barnyard, offputting odor (like a really badly corked wine). I want to like this place since it is affordable and right by my house, but I can't eat a funky smelling/tasting sandwich. Although the pate was the primary problem, the bread was also cold and hard. Another inconsistency with this shop.
SO- today I went in, explained what happened and we decided we would go light on the pate (mind you, i actually love pate, and have never met a bad pate until baoguette. I even eat banh mi's in chinatown where you might think you would be more frightened of pate. AND THE SANDWICHES ARE WAY BETTER IN CTOWN AND CHEAPER than baoguette). Anyway, we did less pate today. I got through about half the sandwich, then started chewing on rubbery sticks of meat. So, although the barnyard smell and taste was not there today, the texture was all wrong. Rubbery meat sticks intermixed with fat gobules from the headcheese style meat they add. Yuck. I spit out two fat globes (like a fat slick on my tongue) and just gave up.
The tiebreaker is over and Baoguette lost. Never the "Classic"ly bad again.
Maybe I will try their catfish though.... As I said, I want to like it! -
Review from Claudia D.
Manhattan, NY
2/18/2011
While the sandwiches are great the service lacks a bit of ingredients, I just went to order a sandwich to go, and the obnoxious girl at the register told me that there is a minimum for credit card charges... Well... Don't we all know that : IT IS A VIOLATION OF THE MERCHANT AGREEMENT TO SET MINIMUMS FOR CREDIT CARD CHARGES????
FYI it is, people don't take that if they accept credit cards, they should just charge the card period.
I then call to talk to the manager and he said to me that it wasn't his rule but Ben"s rule which must be the owner...
Dear Ben, get a new cashier with less attitude, hire a manager that speaks English, drop the BS, and start accepting credit cards for every purchase, just so you know for a $8.50 sandwich the difference for your $10 minimum is only $1.50 it is ridiculous to turn around a regular customer for that... -
Review from Tu Anh H.
Manhattan, NY
9/29/2009
I want to like this place. I really really do. That's why I came here 3 times. The 3rd time just killed it for me and I'm never coming back.
I live in in the MD/VA/DC area where the Vietnamese population is pretty large compared to that of New York so let me start of by saying, I KNOW MY PHO, also having been a visitor to LA (where Viets run rampant), and growing up in Vietnam...you get the drift.
The pho here is mediocre and the fact that people rave about it makes it all the more sad. I found it to be too salty and oily, which is a big NO NO. Pho should never ever be oily.
The picture print out of the owner posing with Martha Stewart doesn't impress me one bit, because I'm pretty sure Martha Stewart wouldn't know good Pho if it bit her in the derriere, let alone step foot on Vietnamese soil. In fact, it's probably misleading to you white folks or people like my aunt who loves Martha and Oprah into thinking this is good quality Pho. No.
It's just watered down, Americanized crap. Anthony Bourdain will tell you. He's been to Vietnam a handful of times.
And 2 stars for the awful crap service. They really tried, but they forgot our drink orders, mixed up other people's orders with ours, and one time, after telling us to take a seat anywhere (we choose the booth), they asked us to move because it was lunch hour (2PM is rush lunch hour??), while the two booths next to us both had 2 occupants each.
Pretentious, slow service, sloppy service, and bad pho for sure.
As for the Banh Mi, thank god they have other express locations. -
Review from Mark L.
New York, NY
5/11/2009
Went back to the Pho Sure area on opening night.
The Chinese sausage and duck egg with pan-fried rice may have been "Street Food" but was impressively plated and highly tasty.
Tried a couple of the rolls which were also really nice.
Eager to try to Baoguette's Bahn Mi and I think the Pho side is / will be BYO.
My recollections are fueling some powerful cravings at present... -
Review from Ruby M.
New York, NY
5/29/2009
I had their signature Baoguette sandwich and found that it didn't compare with Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches in the East Village. I wasn't expecting the pork to be fried and took a nasty bite of some organ that made me want to gag. I'm sure it was a mistake, but I plan to never order that sandwich again. The taste of blood when unexpected is never fun. Then again, the taste of blood isn't fun when expected unless I turn into a vampire by Edward Cullen.
On the other hand, they are super friendly at this location and loved their papaya salad.
