Pho Nouveau

Pho Nouveau Restaurant Review:

Pho Nouveau’s floor-length red velvet curtains buffer downtown traffic noise, while red brick walls and bistro-style seating create sensible warmth and provide a refreshing change from typical Asian restaurant design. The menu offers the usual mix of Vietnamese entrées including charbroiled pork, chicken and beef accented with lemon grass, sweet onions, dried chili peppers and curries. Most noteworthy are Sizzling Saigon made with coconut milk, turmeric and rice flour, and the Banh Hoi trays with a choice of meat, lettuce wraps, noodles and sauces. But what most Boiseans flock here for is the pho. The well-balanced broth is packed with meat and noodles, infused with fresh ginger and star anise, and topped with cilantro, basil, bean sprouts and lime. Beverages include both domestic and Asian beers, and there’s a small wine list, too. For traditionalists, the lunchtime menu offers banh mi.